DIY Shoes?

[Capa]

Does anyone else here make shoes? I've recently started making high heels and flat "ballet pump" style shoes but am looking to move into making completely hand-sewn walking boots... Not sure where to start with it as I've never made a boot before, but I'm sure I'll figure it out!

I know it's probably a long shot, but I thought I'd ask. I'm hoping someone here does as I'd like to pick their brains about making shoes without using lasts! LOL

[preppingsu]

I'm sure someone will be along to share their information if they have.

However, if you feel able we would love to see some photos of the process of your making shoes. That would be very interesting!

Thanks

[short circuit]

Yes I would injoy seeing that too do you have the old singer the big leather one?

[Capa]

Well, I have plenty of photo's of my most recent pair of high heel shoes in various stages of the making... I can post those if you want! LOL I am just waiting on a new pair of lasts for flat shoes at the moment as I was borrowing the lasts for ballet pumps until this. I only make shoes for myself at the moment because the shoe lasts are so expensive and time consuming to get everything sized up (heels, shanks etc.)... My kids are desperate for me to make them some shoes but I'd really like to learn a way to either do it without the need for a last at all, or to figure out a way to make-shift a last to fit their ever-growing needs! LOL At £100 per pair of shoe lasts alone, and considering they grow like weeds and I swear the day I buy them shoes, but the following day they're too small I don't want to be making that kind of investment. Plus I figure if there ever comes a day when I need shoes and don't have a last in the right size, I need another way of being able to make them!

I do have an old antique singer (the hand crank style) but I don't use it at the moment as I bought it for restoration purposes. Although it works perfectly well the paintwork on it is flaking and I was worried about damaging it further if I used it. I currently use a Toyota 2440 semi-industrial sewing machine, bought from fleabay for next to nothing!

[CrazyDane]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRBDukox ... grzWgrG60U

I'll dig out mine I made last winter with rabbit fur inside, made mine up to under my knee and a outer boot too as I want to be able to be outside all day in the winter if I have to on a hunting trip.

Think this links to the best video about how to make your own handsewn "shoes".