Birkat Chaverim Blog

Here is a tutorial for the build a bear shoes based on the Martha Stewart pattern. We decided that the straps should be removed since they complicated the project. Since the Build a Bear needed more coverage on top and has wide legs an extra length of felt would be needed for the strap to go all the way around.

1. & 2. Use your pattern that you created (see previous post for more information about that) to measure and cut your shoe upper and your shoe sole. In this case the center section was cut out for a strapless shoe.

3. Pin the upper and lower pieces together wrong sides out, leaving a seam allowance. I found it easiest to start from the top center of the shoe since the back can be difficult to sew for a beginner sewer.

4. Turn right side out.

5. Embellish with whatever you’d like. In this case a crocheted flower was added. However, any type of embellishment can be added-  buttons, felt decorations, ribbon or whatever you can dream up. I’ll post some other shoe examples in another post. Sorry you can’t see the crocheted embellishment, I forgot to take a final picture and the shoes have already been sent to someone as a birthday present. You can see something similar for dolls in this post.

Continued working on the patterns and sewing. This week some of the girls brought Build a Bear clothing they already had and interestingly enough, one of our patterns turned out to be quite similar to theirs. Its good that she brought the clothing, because we almost forgot to leave holes for the tails!

This week one girl decided to take a break on the sewing to design her short’s applique. She was inspired by an Old Navy shirt that my daughter outgrew with a cute knitted cat applique. The cat had very cute button eyes. Note the applique in the photograph, as well as the in process pair of shorts. I also included a photo of a tshirt with the cutouts where the shorts pieces would have been.
Next week the plan is to finish up the pants and start skirts, I think.