boot extensions

I found these boots at Payless and got them in brown and black during BOGO. they can be worn "up or down", but I wanted them to also be taller, so I whipped up some extensions that go over the top of the boot.

I measured the boot where the bottom of the extension will wrap around, how tall I wanted them to go up my calf, then measured how big around my calf was at the point I measured up to on my leg.

I made a pie wedge looking pattern and rounded the top and bottom a bit and tweaked it to fit around my leg.

I added an inch on each side the eyelets went on, and half an inch to the top and bottom for seam allowances. I used the measurements sans the seam allowances for the lining and spray glued them to the insides of the vinyl. folded the seam allowances over the lining and straight stitched down. vinyl doesn't fray so the edges don't need to be finished, and the lining is sandwiched on the inside of the seam allowances so that's taken care of.

nifty tip for top sewing vinyl or other "sticky" fabrics if you don't have a walking foot - put scotch tape on the bottom side of the presser foot. helps it glide better and not get stuck. I used to use baby powder... which is probably really bad for the machine if it collects inside and dries up the oil :\
also, pounding the vinyl with a hammer in the corners helps flatten the thickness of the fabric down so it's not so bulky to sew over when you have multiple layers.

once all the stitching was done, I just measured for the eyelets (the extra inch seam allowance and the lining doubled as a stabilizer), pounded those in place, and then laced them up with some black t-shirt yarn. I think I'd like to find some good stretchy elastic instead so they're easier to get off and on, but the shirt was all I had that I could make work at the time.