Skip to Content

How to Sew Baby Booties & Free Pattern

This photo and video tutorial teaches you how to sew baby booties, the best baby booties that don’t fall off your infant’s feet! 
 
Have you ever found a baby product that you just love? These baby booties are a copy of the Zutano baby booties, the best baby shoes/socks that I have ever put on my 3 kids’ infant feet.
 
They don’t fall off! They are made out of soft knit fabric so in between a sock and shoe and the elastic around the ankle makes it so they don’t fall off little feet. I loved them so much I decided to make my own version and share the pattern and tutorial with you! So keep reading for the full tutorial on how to sew baby booties with a free downloadable pattern.
 
If you would like an ad free version of the pattern and instructions click HERE to purchase the pattern for $5.00
 
Baby Booties with free pattern
 
I am a Fairfield World master maker, this post is in partnership with them and features their awesome interfacing. This post also contains affiliate links, which means I make a commission if you click over and purchase something I recommend. This helps keep patterns and content on this blog free to you! Thanks for supporting Handmade in the Heartland!
 
 
full sewing tutorial for baby booties

For this sewing project I used some special tools that are really fun to have on hand if you do a lot of sewing for little ones. The Babyville line of products by Dritz has an awesome snap set with pliers and lots of fun colors of snaps for whatever projects you’ll be making. This project is pretty simple and takes an hour or two depending on how fast you are.

free pattern for baby shoes that don't fall off!
 
 

Supplies for sewing baby booties:

This pattern fits size 0-6 month infants.

If you would like to print out the entire instructions and pattern together you can purchase the downloadable pattern kit for $5.00. Everything you need to make the booties is found in this blog post, but if you prefer an ad-free version to print you can purchase the pattern kit. click here to go to the baby booties pattern. 

 

*Choosing Fabric- I chose to do the outside of the shoe in a print and the inside in a solid, you could easily do 2 solid colors, or all of it the same color to make it even more simplified.
 
I’ve also made a FULL VIDEO TUTORIAL. So if you like video more than photos watch it while you sew!
 
 

free pattern and tutorial for baby booties

Instructions for How to Sew Baby Booties

Step 1:

Print & cut out the pattern, I like to print the pattern pieces on card stock if I am going to use it more than once. Cut your fabric.  Each pattern piece you will cut 2 lining fabric and 2 self fabric. You will also cut 2 pieces of interfacing with the shoe bottom (oval) pattern piece.
 
how to sew knit baby shoes
For the following instructions you will be doing every step twice because you are making 2 booties.

Step 2:

Fuse the interfacing to the backside of the lining fabric for the bottom of the shoe (Oval pattern).
 
how to make baby booties with free pattern

Step 3:

Pin the right sides together of the front of the shoe “tongue” pieces- right side of self to right side of lining, as seen below. Sew around the top edge using 1/2″ seam allowance.
 
soft baby shoes free pattern and tutorial

Step 4:

After you sew the self and lining together (shown below) then flip it right side out and iron.
 
process of sewing baby booties
 
Make sure you iron it so that the seam has a crisp edge.
 
how to sew soft knit baby shoes
how to make baby shoes

Step 5:

Sew the sole of the shoes together with the wrong sides together, the interfacing should be sandwiched in between. Use 1/8″ seam allowance. see photo below
 
knock-off zutano baby booties

Step 6:

To sew the elastic onto the back of the shoe you’ll want to mark on the fabric where the elastic needs to go. On your pattern piece it shows a line of where the elastic should be sewn onto, using a ruler and pencil measure on your pattern and then measure on your fabric and draw a line onto the fabric for your guide, draw on the backside of the fabric. See photo below.
 
how to make zutano baby booties

Step 7:

Next find the center of the pattern and pin the center of the elastic to the center of your line. see photo below.
 
make your own zutano baby booties

Step 8:

Stretch the elastic to the end points of your line on either side. Leave the center pinned so that you will evenly distribute the stretch of the elastic when sewing.
 
sewing simple baby booties

Step 9:

Sew the elastic down to the fabric. When you begin sewing at one end of the elastic backstitch so it is sewn down well. Then pull the elastic so that it lays flat with the fabric as you are sewing. It will create gathers as you sew it down stretched out. Back tack at the other end as well. I just did one strait line of stitching through the center of the elastic.
 
full sewing tutorial for baby booties

Step 10:

Sew the right sides of the lining and self fabric together for the back of the shoe pattern. You will need to pin a lot and make sure as you sew you press the top flat as to not sew in any gathers from the elastic. Sew at 1/2″.
 
Sewing baby booties

Step 11:

Flip the pattern piece right side out and iron flat. Now attach your snaps! Use the instructions on the Babyville pliers packaging to show you how to put them on.  You can see the photo below for where I attached them. I put an option for 2 of the bottom snap end so that the shoe could be tighter or looser depending on how big the baby is.
 
How to sew baby booties
 
For the second shoe put the snaps on the opposite sides of the back- so if you put the inside snaps on the right side, put them on the left side on the second shoe. See the photo below.
 
How to sew baby booties
Here are some photos of using the Babyville pliers.
Sewing baby booties at home.
Sewing baby booties that don't fall off!
This photo and video tutorial teaches you how to sew baby booties, the best baby booties that don't all off your infant's feet!

Step 12:

Assemble the shoes. To sew the pieces together find the center of the bottom sole of the shoe (there should have been a notch on the pattern), center of the open part of the tongue pattern, and center of the open part of the back piece.  You will pin the back piece to the bottom piece first, right sides together.
 
This photo and video tutorial teaches you how to sew baby booties, the best baby booties that don't all off your infant's feet!
 
Start pinning at the center and the pin out from there. It should look like the photo below when you are done pinning the back piece to the bottom.
 
This photo and video tutorial teaches you how to sew baby booties, the best baby booties that don't all off your infant's feet!

Step 13:

Next pin the tongue or top of the shoe to the bottom. Start at the center and then pin out from there. The edges will overlap with the back piece a half an inch or so. See photo below.
 
This photo and video tutorial teaches you how to sew baby booties, the best baby booties that don't all off your infant's feet!

Step 14:

Sew all 3 pieces together using 1/2″ seam allowance. I have a serger so I used that but you can easily just use a regular stitch and then zig zag the edge or use pinking scissors to trim the edges. Turn it right side out and you are finished!!
 
This photo and video tutorial teaches you how to sew baby booties, the best baby booties that don't all off your infant's feet!
When I make projects like this I like to cut 3 or 4 out and sew them all at once. It takes a little bit longer but I love having more colors for my baby or making more for gifts. Since I’m already doing it I might as well make a few!
Free tutorial and pattern for baby booties
Now that you have learned how to sew baby booties please share your creations with me!!  I’d love to hear in the comments or tag me on Instagram (@handmadeintheheartland) or Facebook! It makes me so happy to see your creations!! 
free tutorial for sewing soft knit baby shoes

If you enjoyed learning how to sew baby booties you are definitely going to want to whip up an easy taggie toy or my kids favorite starfish pillow! Happy sewing friends!

If you would like to print out the entire instructions and pattern together you can purchase the downloadable pattern kit for $5.00. Everything you need to make the booties is found in this blog post, but if you prefer an ad-free version to print you can purchase the pattern kit. click here to go to the baby booties pattern. 

If you’ve enjoyed this project sign up for my weekly newsletter in the form below and you’ll also get my free sewing project guide with 4 fast, easy and useful sewing projects right in your inbox!

Sewing Projects

Find your next sewing project in this list of adorable sewing ideas!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Terry

Tuesday 13th of September 2022

Can you use knit for the outside and fleece on the inside?

Terry

Friday 9th of September 2022

Does the 0-6 months actually fit a newborn.. the pattern looks so big.

Carmencita

Tuesday 5th of April 2022

thank you for the guide for the bootie. I am going to make it and will let you know. God bless!

Adorable Baby Gifts to Sew - A Little Craft In Your Day

Wednesday 20th of October 2021

[…] BABY BOOTIES From Handmade In The Heartland […]

handicraft export import handicrafts manufacturers handicraft items for export

Saturday 3rd of April 2021

this is great.thanks a lot for this pattern.after watching your video and following the post i finally made it!! learnt something new today. thank you so much!!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.