How to Make Faux Fur Slides

Hello everyone! Today's post will show you how to utilize left over faux fur fabric scraps to create custom faux fur slides. This post is a little different than usual, as it doesn't require strict sewing. Read below for all the details! 

I know there are a few other tutorials online on how to make fur slides. In comparison, I hope this tutorial provides some different techniques for a better fitting faux fur piece. Rather than just cutting a rectangle of fabric and gluing it on, our goal here is to have a fitted piece of fabric to whichever type of slide you wish to use.

The faux fur I'm using comes from a previous project, a pastel faux fur bomber jacket I made for New Years. The link to that is here!

MATERIALS

The following are the materials you'll need for this project. 

• A pair of slides 
• Scraps of Faux Fur 
• Strong Glue that will affix the material of your slide to the backing of your faux fur. I used E600. 
• Tracing Paper (any paper will do)
• Muslin Scraps (or leftover fabric 
• Sewing Clips, like these (optional)

I know that might look like a lot of supplies, but don't worry! These supplies will help your slides look more polished. 

PROCESS

The actual process of making these shoes is fairly straightforward and simple.

Step 1: Prepare your muslin by drawing a grain line on to a scrap piece (a bit larger than your shoe). While this is not totally necessary, it will help establish a grain line that can help you cut out your faux fur.

Here's what the slides looked like before doing anything. 

You only need one line, but I drew a few just to be sure they were centered. 

Step 2: Place the muslin over the slide and start shaping it around the strap part of the slide. 

 I find it helpful to use the wonder clips to hold the muslin in place.

You might need to trim the fabric where the strap meets the sole of the shoe, in order to get the fabric to lie flat and shape correctly. 

Once you've clipped and shaped the muslin around the entire strap, you should have something that looks like this:

Step 3: Now you'll outline around the edges of the strap on to the shoe. I used a pen, but chalk or a marker would also work. This step will develop a pattern to cut the faux fur. 

Step 4: Now, you'll remove the muslin from the shoe flat and trace it with tracing paper. Then we'll add seam allowances around the edges. 

Simply place a piece of tracing paper over the muslin fabric and trace.

This image is simply to show the tracing paper over the muslin. 

Then, it's time to add seam allowances around the outer edges of the pattern. I chose quarter inch seams in this case.

Once you cut the pattern from paper, you can roughly see how it'll work when cut from the final fabric.

Step 6: Use the pattern to cut out your faux fur. 

As I did in my previous faux fur project, I traced the pattern on to the wrong side of the fur and also cut from the backside, mindful  not to accidentally clip too much fur.

I also found it helpful to trace the seam lines on to the back side in preparation for the next step.

Step 7: Glue the edges of the fur down to get them ready to apply to the shoe.

Before starting this step, you might want to trim the fur in the seam allowances down on the right side of the fabric. I forgot to photograph this, unfortunately!

This step is probably the most time consuming, depending on the glue being used. Alternatively, you could stitch the seam downs by hand.

Place your glue of choice in the seam allowances and then fold over and hold until dry. Because of the extended dry time, I used pattern weights to keep the edges down for an extended period.

Once you've completed this step, you should have something that looks like this.

Step 8: Carefully glue the fur pieces onto the shoe strap itself.

Now it's time to connect the fur piece to the shoe itself! To do this, start on one side of the shoe (toward the sole) and apply glue in the area on that side. Then press the fur on to that side of the shoe, matching the side edges and strap border.

Once you've glued down the first section, work your away around the shoe, applying glue bit by bit as you attach the fur.

Let the shoe dry a bit, and now you're done!
(Note: The glue will take some time to fully set.)

You can trim the fur around the toes however you like, but I prefer the shaggy toe look.

Here's a grainy photo of me wearing them. They match my Esther Loves You dress perfectly! 

I actually finished these shoes back in January and just now got to finishing this post. Although I can't wear these everywhere, I've worn them out a few times and they're comfortable. So far, the fur has held up well. 

Thanks for reading! It's been a busy spring, but I'm going to have some blog posts detailing my senior collection up very soon! 

If you have any questions, please leave them below! 

xoxo Anna Kate