My huge pussycat furry slippers are falling to bits. After getting them out every winter and repairing the soles with sticky tape, I think it's time to bin them. Sad I know but they don't keep my feet warm any more with ruddy great holes in them. I feel a little bit sentimental about letting them go because they were a gift from my sister. She bought herself a pair at the same time, which were ditched a long time ago, whereas I tried to keep mine going for as long as I could.
Anyway, today my feet were cold so I need to find something else to wear in the house. I'm too mean to buy any new slippers, so I had a look at the footwear I already have. I bought a soft pair of boots from a charity shop in the summer for £2.50. They are clean because I've only worn them a few times going to town, and they are so so comfy. They are also big enough to accommodate my knee high thick socks.
I don't like walking around the house with outdoor shoes and boots on, it wears the carpet out and scratches the vinyl floor covering in the kitchen. I can't afford to replace them, they have to last. So then I had an idea, why not make some soft soles which can be attached to the bottoms of the boots. I found a carpet offcut and drew around them.
There you go, a soft sole which will do no damage to the floor, and keep my feet warm at the same time.
You might find that a pair of v big mens' socks would pull over the boots & protect your floors. They'd be less trouble.
ReplyDeleteMetta from F.
When i was a child we put old socks over our boots so we did not slip over on the ice. Could you not do that, maybe the sleeves from a felted cardi or jumper would do the job. If you left a gap so you could get the boots undone it would be easy to get them on and off.
ReplyDeleteCleaver soul you! Not sure I would be patient enough to put them on, great idea though.
ReplyDeleteX x
My goodness, Ilona. These contraptions make your boots look as if you have attached snow clamps to them. All you need to do is wax your vinyl flooring and skid about as on ice, lol. I think Metta`s idea of large men`s socks might have been a less cumbersome way of going about it.
ReplyDeleteThank you for making me smile once again!
ReplyDeleteI attached some foam inner soles from £1 shop to my long socks, cosy slippers for £1. Your idea is good though and well done, free is always best.
ReplyDeleteA bit like crampons without the spikes! I was lucky enough to win a pair of hand made slippers from - Handmade Slippers - Pothies. They are wonderfully crafted slippers, made out of about 15 strands of varied fine knitting yarn, and crocheted. They are a very simple design and I want to keep them nice as they would have been so expensive had I bought them. How lucky I am to have won them, I think.
ReplyDeleteI have no idea how you come up with these great ideas Ilona but they work....hope no one decides to steal your idea and patent it.
ReplyDeleteI was hoping to have seen a photo of the 'huge pussycat furry slippers': I'm guessing these are slippers that are like kitty cats, similar to the ones that look like bunny rabbits. I had something of the kind once. If you want a new pair for free I suspect that not spaying or neutering such slippers can lead to kitten slippers that grow into your size by the time the next winter sets in. OK, maybe that doesn't really happen—but it'd be nice. And cheap.
ReplyDeleteI think if you popped into pound shop and brought a pair off fleeced insoles same as link
ReplyDeletehttp://www.e-outdoor.co.uk/2155651/products/hunter_unisex_luxury_shearling_insoles.aspx?origin=pla?kwd=&gclid=COqXqNSC_LoCFfHKtAodHVkAz an either sew/glue to a good thick pair of socks :) instance slippers :) as long as you wear socks under you won't have to wash them much and you feet will be toasty.
Could you cut outer soles from the carpet using the old slippers as a pattern, glue them to men's heavy socks and put the fleeced insoles inside? Use everyone's suggestions! I hate having cold feet.
ReplyDeleteHi Ilona, - wonderful idea. I'm wondering if it might work to stitch a few inches of material around the carpet insole and then sew elastic into the edge/hem of this so that you can slip them on and off easily. I always look forward to reading your very inspirational blog. Debbie from Cairns, Australia.
ReplyDeleteI'll keep that in mind Debbie. Lots of good ideas here.
DeleteYou could always knit yourself some slippers using double-thick yarn. They'd be soft and warm, and very easy on the floor coverings.
ReplyDeleteHave you considered knitting yourself a few pair? My mother used to make bootie slippers for us by knitting a long rectangle with eyelet holes along the two long edges, then chain crochet laces, and gather the toe, lace them up the front. She used double thick yarn for extra cushioning and warmth. I have looked for a pattern like that but never found one. Should be too difficult though for someone who knows how to knit.
ReplyDeleteGood idea to knit some slippers, will try that. I needed a solution to my cold feet pretty quickly, now they are warm, I can think about the knitting idea.
DeleteYou could easily make some simple shoe covers with elastic around the top...do a Google search for surgery shoe covers to see some different types...we use the ones with the seam up the front and they are perfect for fitting over different size shoes...
ReplyDeleteThat is a bloomin good idea, thanks.
DeleteLooks a bit uncomfortable and also a bit dangerous. Pull some thick socks over old athletic shoes; really snug.
ReplyDeleteFalls are the things to fear after 60.
It's best to be careful not to fall at any age.
DeleteYou are so innovative, and you bring a smile to your readers with your novel way of solving problems. I don't think anyone has ever developed your shoe lace, looped, carpet underlay turning out door boots into indoor foot warmers.
ReplyDeleteThere is a pattern somewhere on the internet for making cosy slippers from old felted jumpers, I haven't tried it but it looked simple and I loved the idea of warm felt slippers for free!
ReplyDeleteI like the sound of that, something to try in the future.
DeleteShould've saved this one for April, haha.
ReplyDeleteI'm the last person to ask about fashion but i thought slippers had a clue in the name. They dont look like they can be easily slipped on and off.
I'd go for converted ugg (style?) boots.
Great idea though and you've done a great job but you need to think of a good application for them before you go on Dragons Den. I'm out.
Dave.
The pics of your boots gave me a laugh!
ReplyDeleteIlona, did you not knit slipper/bed socks when at school I know we did. I am sure there are still knitting patterns at the wool shops or even to be found in the charity shops A knitted pair of slippers can have a soft lining put inside and a sole stitched or glued onto the bottoms . My slippers cost me £5 in one of the cheapy shoe shops and they are washable, washed them and they did not shrink or lose colour. Danneke
ReplyDeleteYes! In the 1970'S when I went to ballroom dance classes, one of my pairs of dance shoes was too big for me. My Father traced around my feet and used an offcut of my bedroom carpet to make me a pair of insoles to make the shoes better fitting and more comfortable. He still does this sort of thing today (he's 97) - saved us all a fortune over the years.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes Natalie