The art form of those who make shoes, or cobblers and shoemakers, is an impressive and difficult task. While the attention to detail is crucial, this is a rewarding skill that with a little practice, nearly anyone can master. This article will follow the subsequent pattern to detail how to make shoes:
- Initial Steps and Tools Required
- Measurements
- Leather and Fabric Cutting
- Attaching the Fabric to the Sole
Making Shoes Step by Step
When you start making shoes, first, you need to decide which type of shoes you want to create. The choices are almost endless; with the selection include items such as boots, shoes, sandals, or etcetera. A good starting point would be a simple, basic style shoe. There are several tools that the shoemaker will need to purchase to be able to complete their task. These tools include:
- Thread
- Thick, sturdy leather for the sole
- Fabric
- Plastic for shoe pattern
- Scissors
- Shoe Last
- Masking tape, Paper and Pencil
- Knife
- Shoe cement
- Insoles
How to Make Shoes
The fabric that is utilized for the upper portion of the shoe is up to the preference of the shoemaker. The upper portion of the shoe can be made from fabric, leather or even canvas.
A shoe last, or wooden shoe form, will aid in the construction of the shoe significantly. This will help the shoemaker design the upper portion of the shoe.
Measurements
First, the shoemaker needs to begin by taking accurate measurements of the person’s foot that the shoe will belong to. If you are unable to measure this person’s foot, ensure that you measure a foot of someone who wears the exact same size shoe. To take these measurements, have the person stand on a piece of paper, with their shoes on, and trace around their foot. Repeat this step again on the other foot. Cut out these tracings.
Leather and Fabric Cutting
The shoemaker should next cutout the soles for the shoes. The shoemaker should take the tracings and cut from the leather purchased to make the soles. You need to ensure that the soles are exact replicas of the tracings. Cutout the leathers soles for both the right and the left foot.
To create the portion of the shoe that covers the upper part of the foot, the shoemaker will need to use the shoe last. Begin by extending the shoe last to match the size of the shoe being made. Cover the last in the plastic that was purchased for the pattern of the upper part of the shoe. Secure this material tightly around the last. Now, cover the plastic on the shoe last with the masking tape. You will do this using short strips of masking tape and work until the entire shoe is covered with at least two layers of tape. Now flip the shoe last upside-down and cut along the bottom of the last so that the taped fabric can be removed. Trim the pattern so it can lay flat, this can be done by trimming the front and back of the middle portion of the plastic.
Take the fabric that was purchased to be the upper portion of the shoe. Cut this fabric exactly to the pattern created from the shoe last. Remember to flip the pattern over to make one left foot pattern and one right foot pattern.
Attaching the Fabric to the Sole
To attach the upper shoe portion to the sole that you already cut out, you will need to utilize shoe cement. First, you will want to sand the inside portion of the upper part of the shoe fabric. This prepares the fabric to ensure maximum adherence. When using the cement, apply the cement to both the sole and the upper portion fabric. Allow for the two materials to adhere. Drying time may take 15 minutes or longer.
It is up to the preference of the shoemaker if they want to add laces to these shoes. If this is decided, then cut down the front top portion of the shoe with scissors and then use a shoemaker’s awl. A shoemaker’s awl is a mental spike with a wooden handle, the end of the spike has a curved tip. The awl holds two pieces of leather and ensures that holes are placed evenly on either side of the leather or fabric. After the desired numbers of holes have been placed, then pull shoelaces through these holes and repeat on the other shoe. Finally, add the insoles that you purchased to the inside part of your shoe to add comfort and support.
Making homemade shoes may seem like a daunting task but it is one that with some practice, you will quickly be able to master. You will be able to craft comfortable, sturdy shoes that your friends and colleagues will be envious of.
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