Shoe-liner socks are socks that act as a lining for the shoes, which covers only a part of your foot- just enough to cover where the shoes touch your skin.
You do not have to spend anything to make these socks. An old knit-top/ t-shirt fabric would do. This way, you can make it in all the colors you want. You also need some 1/4 inch wide elastic.
Take a piece of knit fabric. Use old knit tops/t-shirts/Pants- anything which stretches – it is better if it is a cotton jersey just for the fact that it is a more comfortable material than synthetic material. Remember that the shoe liner socks are worn to prevent the shoes chafing the skin of your feet and cotton fibers are softer/breathable on the skin.
Cut the fabric in the dimension – 8 1/4″(or 8 1/2″ for longer foot) by 8 inches.
Fold by the middle and keep it in front of you so that it is now 4 inch by 8 1/4″.
Mark the following dimensions.
It will look like this when you open it.
Cut out an elastic piece 1/4 inch wide and 11 1/2 inches long.
Keep the main piece rightside to the inside and stitch the larger (front) curve together (red line on the picture below).
Fold the top edge 1/4 inch to the inside and press in place.
Keep the elastic to the inside and stitch together.
You will need to make two rows of stitching to secure the elastic.
Finish the last seam – that of the back of the foot.
You can trim the seam allowance close to the stitch and finish the edges with a zig zag stitch – this will make the curves look nice and flatter.
My daughter has very very sensitive skin – She gets rashes when a zipper coil edge or even the fabric care label rubs on her. And to my horror when she wore a new ballet shoes recently she got a lot of rashes on the top part of her foot. A shoe liner socks would have helped, I think. But with a small modification; If you are allergic or have sensitive skin, you will need to stitch the elastic into a casing – for a sensitive skin, even the elastic can chafe skin.
Related post: Different types of socks. ; Washing tips for socks
Updated on September 9, 2022 by Sarina Tariq
I have been able to make five pairs so far – one for each day of the work week. Very soon, I shall make other colours to wear with my sneakers, to sleep, and maybe to just be fashionable…
Thank you so much for this! I have been looking for black foot socks and could not find any. I have been able to make 3 pairs so far, and they are so comfortable! I used cotton lycra and the fit is the best. Thank you once again.