Poor Man's Moccasins

I enjoy making moccasins out of leather, but good leather can be really expensive! As a result, I invented "blue jean moccasins". Although they may not technically qualify as tough, hiking footwear, they are a definitely a cheap and easy alternative to most indoor, and outdoor, shoes. Enjoy!

1. Scissors

2. Ruler

3. Pen/ Pencil/ Marker

4. Paper for a pattern

5. Blue Jeans

A. Trace out your foot on a piece of cardboard or thick paper

B. Cut out the pattern.

C. Place the pattern on a large piece of paper (The paper should have a crease down the middle of it.)

D. Place the widest part of the foot approx. 1/2" away from the center crease

E. Mark with a pencil the widest part of your foot (from the ball of your foot to the base of your little toe). Also mark a point (a.k.a. "Point 1") that is 1/2" away from the widest part of your foot near your little toe. Keep holding your foot on the piece of paper.

F. Now trace approximately 1/2" around the toes, until you hit the center crease.

G. Draw a line straight down from "Point 1" (mentioned in part E.) to the end of the paper

H. Mark a point (a.k.a. "Point 2") 1/2" from the heel of your foot. Draw a line that intersects the center crease and the line drawn straight down from Point 1.

I. Fold on the crease line and cut out your pattern.

J. Unfold your pattern. It should, essentially, look like both your feet are stuck together. An example is shown in the pictures.

The 1/2" measurement may vary depending on whether the arch of you foot is "tall". I had to try a couple times before I got it right.

A. Use the same pair of blue jeans for the shoes, so that, when they're finished, they won't be different colors.

B. You can use tape to hold your pattern to the blue jeans, or you can just hold them together.

C. Trace and cut out your pattern.

A. Turn your pattern inside out and sew along the edge, from the toe to the heel.

B. Turn it right side to and cut a "T," starting about halfway up the middle of the moccasin, and with approx. 1" "handlebars" to each side. Turn inside out again.

C. Fold the moccasin fabric so that the two top edges (which will eventually become the "throat" of the finished moccasin) are together. This action will create a lengthwise fold opposite the two top edges (throat). This lengthwise fold will fall roughly along the center of the moccasin sole and will form an imaginary line running from heel to toe.

D. On the back end (heel) of the moccasin, measure over 3/4" from the lengthwise fold created in the previous step and mark a dot. Beginning at that dot, draw a 1" line to run parallel to the lengthwise fold(see picture #6). Cut on the line. This process is important in eventually providing shape to the finished moccasin heel.

D. Sew the top part of the heel

E. Turn right side to (you should have a piece of blue jean sticking out)

F. Fold up and sew into position.

G. You're also going to sew along the edges of the blue jeans that are exposed so it won't fray.

H. Fold down sides and sew into position(there should be a gap so you can thread a shoelace through)

I. Thread a shoelace through(this step is optional, if it is snug enough you may not need shoelaces)

Now repeat the steps to make the opposite shoe. Just make sure you don't accidentally end up with two shoes for the same foot. : )

Congratulations! You have finished the poor man's moccasins. You can wear them around the house, and impress your friends with your homemade blue jean moccasins. Enjoy!