Sewing Sunday: Happy Boots

Happy Sunday and welcome to the 2nd installment of Sewing Sundays! Fall has come and gone and winter is officially here!  With this cooler weather I have been wearing my boots in full force: riding boots, dressy boots, cowboy boots, bean boots...you name it!  To help store my boots and maintain their shape, I started looking for boot inserts.  After searching Pinterest I found people used pool noodles and old magazines to support their boots. The ideas were clever, but not so cute! So I decided make my own :) They were simple, fast, and turned out perfect!  Here is to no more sad, frumpy boots:

Here is what you will need:

Scissors

Measuring tape

Pins

Fabric

Ribbon

Matching Thread

(You probably have everything you need on hand)

Step 1: Measure a rectangle, mine rectangle was 22x11. My boots are approximately 16 inches tall from where my heal sits to the top of my boot.  I also added a few inches because I wanted the boots inserts to show, this is your preference. You will also need to allow 2 inches where the ribbon will be inserted and a half inch inseam. In total the length of my material was 22 inches:

16 inch tall boots+ 2 inch ribbon allowance+ 1/2 inch seam allowance+ about 3.5 inches showing. 

For the width of the insert I measured around my own ankle and added a few inches so the insert would fit snug. My final width was 11 inches including a 1/2 inch seam allowance. 

Final material measurement: 22 inches by 11 inches. And you will obviously need 2 cuts of this measurement (1 for each boot).

Step 2: Fold down the top of your fabric one inch (see the left picture) and pin. If the "wrong" side (or back of your fabric) is facing up, fold and pin towards you (my material was reversible, so it did not matter for me).  We want all of the ugly seams on the back of the fabric. This fold will be where the ribbon will be inserted. Sew a straight line across from one end to the other. 

Next, fold the rectangle so the two long edges meet with the "right" sides together, the "right" side is the side you want to be visible when your project is finished. Sew down the long edges with a 1/2 inch seem allowance. Rotate the material and then continue to sew the bottom of the fabric, finishing with a few backstitches. At this point you should have an inside-out tube with a clean opening at the top.

Step 3: Now for the fun! Flip your tube so the finished side is now visible and stuff it with your filling. Make sure to stuff it tightly so your boot insert is strong. 

Step 4: Your last step is to run the ribbon through the top seam you created in Step 1. Just as you would thread a drawstring, pin a safety pin to the ribbon and guide it through the hole. Pull the ribbon ends together and tie a bow! I chose to do a drawstring so the stuffing could be easily removed or replaced and the insert could be washed, you don't want stinky boot inserts. You could also add deodorizers in the stuffing if you have stinky feet ;) . 

I hope this tutorial was informative and you are able to make your own cute inserts! It was pretty easy to figure out and can easily be adjusted to fit any pair of boots. Let me know how your project goes! Here is to no more sad, frumpy boots!

With Love, 

Katie M. 

Sewing Sunday:

I have recently become interested in sewing.  My mom has sewn for many years and I have finally decided to learn the skill for myself.  When I was young my mom made me dresses and Halloween costumes, and as I grew up those costume request turned into new pillow shams and curtain projects. Now that I have my own house, the list of possible sewing projects is endless! Time to learn for myself.

I always wonder how people learn to sew,whether by classes, family tradition, or by simple trial and error. I will be doing a mix of the listed, but mostly trial and error with a lot of calls to my mom.  I have decided to dedicate some Sunday posts to new projects I am attempting...whether they be good or bad. 

My first project was an infinity scarf; I have to say it turned out great! I chose a simple black material so my seams wouldn't matter if they didn't line up.  I found a tutorial via Pinterest (at Shrimp Salad Circus); the tutorial was very helpful with great pictures and directions.This is how it turned out:

I only had to use my seam ripper one time :). It was a great first project for beginners. Here is a quick picture of my sewing station! Seems like the perfect nook to be creative and I don't have to put my sewing machine away after each project.

I have "pinned" a few more sewing projects and I currently have another project in the works that I will post about next week!  You can check out my inspiration and other tutorials via my "Sewing Projects" board on Pinterest! 

With Love,

Katie M.