How to Create Shoes & Boots for Miniature Dolls

Trace each of the doll's feet to make the sole pattern. Give yourself a tiny bit of extra room around the outside to account for the seams.

Draft the patterns for the basic shape of the top and sides of the shoes. Use a piece of thin string to measure the dimensions of the feet in order to draft patterns for two roughly triangular pieces that will wrap around the back of the ankle and the side of the foot, as well as one pieces to cover the top of the foot. If you're having trouble with the shape, use a piece of modeling clay to help you figure out the pattern shape by creating a flat sheet of clay, wrapping it around the doll's foot, then carefully peeling it away to see what shape it's in.

Amend the patterns to give the shoes or boots the shape you want them to have. Extend the patterns for boots and add extra details like folds. Again, use a sheet of modeling clay to help you.

Cut cloth pieces from the patterns. As with the soles, give yourself a little extra room around the outside of the shoes to account for the hems.

Assemble the shoes inside-out. Sew the pieces together using tiny whip stitches (stitches that go around the hem, like on a baseball). Make sure the side of the fabric that you want to form the outside of the finished shoe is on the inside.

Turn the shoes right side-in.

Construct soles for the shoes, if desired. Use your sole patterns to cut additional pieces from thick leather. Glue these on with leather cement. Add additional, smaller pieces for the heel, if desired, cut from just the heel portion or the sole pattern.