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About
my book
MAKE YOUR OWN SHOES My book, MAKE YOUR OWN SHOES, is 87 pages and contains 81 professional, detailed illustrations, from making the lasts to finishing the shoes. The lasts are made from plaster of Paris. I show how to make a set of lasts using a pair of shoes. (Yes, this first pair of shoes is destroyed in the process — but you'll be able to make plenty more shoes once you have your lasts!) I also show how to cast your feet. If you want a truly custom pair of shoes, you may want to do this. You can alter your plaster lasts after making a pair of shoes, by shaving away plaster to make the shoe smaller, or adding plaster to make the shoe larger. I also show you how to change the shape of the toe as fashion changes. No need to make a new set of lasts. Your last determines the height heel you will use. I have three sets of lasts: high, medium, and flat. The basic pattern in the book is for a classic ladies' pump. You can change this to suit you. Tops of the shoes are sewn on a regular sewing machine. The shoes are entirely put together with cement. I recommend a cement called Barge. It is used in the shoe industry and all shoe repairmen use it. It is actually stronger than nails. You can also use Tandy Leather Cement, which is the same as Barge. Soles are hand-cut (with leather scissors) from tooling leather. You can buy this at a place that sells tooling leather for making bags, belts, etc. They would also have the cement. I have a pattern in the book for making a counter, which is the stiff part of the shoe just above the heel. If you go to my page on "Materials Used in Shoemaking," I have more details about getting supplies. |
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