Costume Boot Cover Tutorial - downloads

[suprneko]

(Sorry, I seem to take horrible pics. )


This tutorial will show you how to drape a costume boot cover, to wear over an existing boot.

You will need:
non-stretchy fabric for the soles (I used faux leather)
4-way lycra blend stretch knit

First trace around the bottom of the boot and add seam allowance. This is your sole pattern. Cut out 2 out of the non-stretchy fabric, making sure to cut one left and one right side.


Next take your stretch knit and fold over about 1.5" off the top. Stretch the fabric over the entire foot area of the boot and pin at center back. You don't want to stretch it to the maximum but it does need to be stretched and as smooth as possible. Make sure to keep some fold along the entire upper edge, this will later become your seam allowance. Play with the fold until the area seems smooth.


Smooth and stretch the fabric down and pin underneath the boot, again keeping the fabric as smooth as possible. Go around the entire boot, including the toe and heel areas.


Mark the fabric along the entire edge of the bottom of the boot (you can kinda see my white marks going along the edge).


Trim the seam allowance at center back AND along the upper edge.


Cut a rectangular piece of the lycra. It needs to be wide enough to go around the widest exposed part of the boot plus seam allowance, and tall enough to cover the exposed center back section plus seam allowance PLUS an additional 2".


Place the upper edge of the rectangular piece 2" above the top of the boot, keeping top straight edge of fabric parallel to the top of the boot. Pin at center back - stretching and smoothing the fabric, making sure to cover all exposed sections (plus a bit extra for seam allowance).


Trim center back of the upper section to seam allowance. Do the same where upper and lower sections of the boot cover meet, make sure you add seam allowance to both the upper and lower sections.


It would be a good idea at this point to mark your pieces, just make sure you know which is the outside of the fabric and if the piece is for the left or right boot.

Unpin the fabric and lay flat. Add seam allowance to the seam that meets the sole. Cut mirror pieces for the other boot - the pieces may look a bit rough, this is the time to cut and smooth out the edges.


Sew the center back seams of both the upper and lower lycra pieces, using a stretch stitch. Stitch the lower section on to the sole, right sides together (I only used two pins because of the nature of my sole fabric, the holes don't disappear).


Turn right side out and stretch it over the boot to check the fit.


Take it off the boot and stitch the upper portion to the lower portion, matching center backs and using a stretch stitch. Turn boot covers right side out.

Ta-da! You're done. Stretch the boot covers over the boot and tuck the top in (you may need some type of temporary adhesive to keep the top of the boot cover tucked in, especially if it's not fitted at the calf). Since my boot is a fitted zipper type, the naked boot needs to go on the feet first, then the cover can get stretched on.