[Off Topic] Making shoes

Jewelry Discussion
21

You could make a pair that parody men’s tuxedo pumps, called court
shoes in England. Highly polished black leather, low vamp, slip-ons,
with the traditional grosgrain bow echoed by a bow of crystals.

Here are some from Brooks Brothers:
http://www.ganoksin.com/gnkurl/ep80af

Just a notion.

Elliot Nesterman

22

Hi Helen,

Leather is a very interesting material, and if you know where to
select your leather from the hide you can do a lot more with it.

Here’s a quick example. There are basically three types of leather
you can get from any hide.

  1. The leather from the spine, this leather has little flexibility
    and is usually used for strapping and belts

  2. Leather from the belly, this leather has a lot of stretch, and
    when treated in certain ways can achieve incredible stretches look at
    Comdeia masks (traditionally these masks use a wooden form, but you
    can still sculpt leather without the wooden form).

  3. Leather from the shoulders and hips, this leather is halfway
    between belly and spine in it’s flexibility. This is good for a lot
    of applications.

When you know how to use each type of leather then you can do more
with it. Sure it’s good to use a last to make shoes, but you don’t
need to if you know a few tricks.

The real advantage of a last is that you can make a shoe without the
client being present. There’s less adjustments needed for the final
fitting. A last is also a labour saving device.

I’ve been doing leather work longer than I’ve been doing any other
craft, I picked up a few tricks along the way :wink:

Regards Charles A.

P. S. Oh and when you start leather hardening techniques that’s where
you can have a lot of fun too :wink:

23

swirls sounds good for formal and very great gatsby atm seems to be
the thrill lol let us see a picture when you have finished them!
Teri

24

Stretching the leather is something of importance too knowing each
type of hide and its stretching to judge proper use in the medieval
days the cordwainer put the shoes together, but the leather was
prepared by a separate artisan a currier/tanner.

25

Hi Charles, Are there some books that take you this far with
leather? I have done little bits through the years, and would like to
try some leather stretching and sculpting. Thanks, Thomas III

26 
Are there some books that take you this far with leather? I have
done little bits through the years, and would like to try some
leather stretching and sculpting. Thanks, Thomas III

A lot of it was due to experience and listening to seasoned leather
workers.

However there is a book that will help you on your way.

"The Prop Builder’s Mask-Making Handbook" by Thurston James

The section on leather masks is the section of most interest to you.

Kindest regards Charles