As we are getting close to recital time, our felt Ballet Slipper Bookmark Pattern makes a great gift for dance teachers.

Ballet Slipper Book Mark pattern

Monday evening Michelle called me up and said, “Hey, Mom. Can you do me a favor?” Experience has taught me 2 things… first, I seldom say “No” to my children, and second, no matter how busy I am, I am going to get busier. “What do you need?” I ask. “Well”, she starts, “Wednesday is the girls’ last day of dance class for the year, and I want to make something for Miss Jodi. When I was looking at our projects, I was thinking, I bet lots of people would like a ballet slipper book mark. Do you think you could design one for me? I’ll make it, but I don’t have any of the supplies at home. So if you design it, and put together a kit of the materials, I will make it. Of course, you could blog about it, and you’ll probably want to make one yourself so you can take pics for the tute…” Well, you get the picture!

So, Monday night I designed a Ballet Slipper Bookmark Pattern, and Tuesday I made two. I think they turned out adorable, and Miss Jodi loved it. Although the girls gave 1 to Miss Jodi to use as a book mark, you certainly could make 2 to use as decoration. Enjoy!

ballet slipper bookmark pattern

 

Felt Ballet Slipper Bookmark Pattern Materials for 1 slipper:

  • Pink felt
  • Tan felt
  • White felt
  • Pink grosgrain ribbon – 1/4″ x 48″ for lace and 1/4″ x 6″ for ribbon
  • Embroidery thread
  • Pattern

Make a copy of pattern.

 

Ballet Slipper Bookmark Pattern Directions:

Cut out ribbon and felt as follows (Hints for cutting out felt can be found HERE):

  • 2 pieces pink for ballet slipper
  • 1 piece tan for sole
  • 1 piece white for inside shoe
  • 48″ of 1/4″ pink grosgrain ribbon
  • 6″ of 1/4″ pink grosgrain ribbon

Note: Since the slipper is not perfectly symmetrical, you will want to stitch them together in the way they were cut out. When you are done appliqueing pieces to the front and back of the slipper, the 2 pieces will be blanket stitched together with the appliques on the outside. When appliqueing pieces to the slipper make sure you are sewing the appliqued pieces on the right side of the pieces.

Using pattern for placement, sew sole to slipper back using a running stitch and 2 strands floss. Set aside. (Note: I forgot to take a pic when I was sewing on the sole, so this pic shows the sole when the slipper is all done.)

Using pattern for placement, pin the inside of the shoe to the slipper front.

Lay the ballet slipper bookmark pattern next to the slipper. Fold the ribbon in half to find the center. Slip the center under the white inside of the shoe following the pattern placement. Pin the ribbon in place.

Beginning directly above one of ribbons, and using 2 strands of floss, sew the inside shoe and ribbon to the slipper using a running stitch. Sew until you catch both ribbons at the front of the shoe.


Fold each ribbon diagonally on the front of the slipper, overlapping in the center, following pattern placement. Pin in place.

Fold each ribbon diagonally behind the inside of the slipper, overlapping under the inside slipper piece, following pattern placement. Pin in place.


Finish sewing the inside to the slipper. When you come to the 2 side crossed ribbons, slide your needle to the back, and tack in place from behind so you cannot see the stitching on the top of the side ribbons. Continue stitching around the top, catching the top ribbons in place between the the side slipper and the slipper.

Using the 6″ of ribbon, tie a small bow. Cut the ends on angles and flatten the bow between your fingers.

Pin bow to the slipper using the pattern for placement. Pin in place. Tack the bow to the slipper from behind. Keep your stitches hidden so they cannot be seen on the front.

Place the wrong side of the slipper front on the wrong side of the slipper back. Pin in place. Blanket stitch the 2 pieces together using 3 strands of floss.

Cut the ends of the ribbons on angles to prevent fraying, and tie the ends together in a bow. It is now ready to be used as a book mark. If you wish to make a pair of ballet slippers, tie the two slippers together.