Animal Boots Size Chart + Materials List

Animal Boot size guide 

Click here for the printable Twig + Tale Boot Size Chart for measuring your child's foot.

Suggested fabrics 

Exterior:  This pattern is suitable for most medium weight woven fabrics.  Soft wool blends (my favourite), denim, cord and other fabrics  with reasonable structure will work well.  Softer fabrics such as fleece will create a slouchier boot.   

You can use recycled felted sweaters, which do make a lovely cosy boot - although you may need to go up a size or two to accommodate the thicker fabric.  Instructions on how to felt a sweater are at the bottom this page.

Lining: Light weight cotton, flannel or other soft breathable fabric.
Insoles: Wool from felted woolen sweater or blanket. 
Soles: Suede, leather, sewable non-slip materials
Ears/Antennae/Horns:  Non-fray fabric such as felt, fleece, suede or leather.

Fabric & notion requirements

  • Exterior: Less than ¼ metre/yard - scraps
  • Lining: Less than ¼ metre/yard - scraps
  • Ears: Tiny scraps!
  • Insoles: Less than 1/8  metre/yard - scraps
  • Soles: Less than 1/8  metre/yard - scraps
  • Elastic: Up to 18” (45 cm) of ¼” (6mm) wide elastic
  • Spool of coordinating thread
  • Embroidery thread or yarn to stitch the facial features
  • A water-erasable marker to mark the features (optional).
  • 4-6 binder clips/magic clips/small pegs or something similar if using leather or suede soles, as pins will damage the leather. 
  • Leather sewing machine needle if using medium weight or heavyweight leather for soles. 

 

Animal specific notions

  • Tiger, Bat, Deer, Giraffe, Ladybird  - scraps of non-fray fabric or fabric stabiliser for the additional face/body patches
  • Lion mane & tail - Yarn or small scraps of fur or felt
  • Dragon and Bat wings - scraps of interfacing
  • Bat Wings - black felt  
  • Tiger stripes - scraps of black felt 
  • Antennae/Antlers/Ossicones for Ladybird, Snail & Giraffe  - tiny scraps of no-sew applique paper
  • Frog eyes and feet - scraps of felt in green and white
  • Dino frill -  scraps of felt
  • Shark teeth, gills and fin - scraps of felt in white, black & red
  • Snail shell - (Optional) extra yarn or thin strips of coordinating fabric to make a more dimensional spiral.

How to felt a sweater

To start with, you need to source a sweater made from natural animal fibres, such as wool, mohair, cashmere, angora, or merino wool.  Check that the percentage of natural fibres is at least 80% - otherwise it will not felt.  “Superwash” or "machine washable" wools will not felt.

Wash your sweater on a hot wash using a regular laundry powder.  Do not use a gentle wool cycle or wool detergent, as they are designed NOT to felt your wool!  You may need to put it through a hot wash twice.  If you have a dryer, that will also help felt your sweater.  Use the hottest setting.

Return to the Animal Boots Pattern