Those Ruby Slippers... Not!

Ruby slippers? Like Dorothy's shimmery heels that took her back to Kansas? Well, not quite.

When Jenny's blog post suggested a June challenge using denim jeans, I let her know to count me in. I could accomplish two things at once: 1) Make something I intended to make anyway, and, 2) "upcycle" (the correct "green" term) something already worn out.

The something I intended to make is slippers.

The something to upcycle that was already worn out was denim jeans.

In the current issue of Australian Homespun magazine (No. 83) is a pattern for "Ricrac Rose Slippers." To make a customed-size pair of slippers for myself, I began by placing my foot on the sole pattern provided and re-drawing the shape to fit my foot. Then I made plastic templates and cut out two slipper shapes: the sole and the upper. The outside of the slippers are the denim; the inside is the floral print.

Using a size #80 denim needle in my Bernina, I sewed through multiple layers of fabric and Hobbs Heirloom 80/20 batting. After they were sewn, I had difficulties turning each slipper right side out. So much batting and denim together are bulky, and took a bit of wrestling!

But the effort was worth it. After hand-sewing the instep opening closed, and adding a ricrac and button flower I took these pictures. The top two photos are those of the slippers that appear in the magazine. Photos at the bottom are ones I took of my denim slippers.
While mine aren't nearly as femininely pretty and delicate-looking, and are certainly not presentable for public viewing, I'm pleased with them for wearing around the house. They'll be perfect footware in my basement sewing room where it can be on the cool side, even on a hot, sunny day. The denim should also hold up well to occasional machine-washing.
Now that I have a good fit on the pattern, it will be relatively easy to make another pair. Or maybe next time I'll make these cute denim slippers.