The Armour Archive

of the shoe-making variety!

Tried my hand at a simple pair of turn-shoes (using available leather etc, so it's not totally correct). These were just an experiment to see if I could do them, with a view to (a) making myself shoes/boots as I need them and (b) possibly expanding my product range.
The Leather on these is about 1.5mm thick and a soft tan with a texture. I plan on using a slightly firmer veg-tan next time. Machine sewn, I'm going to be looking at the budget end of the market if I decide to make these for sale. I added an extra 1.2mm firmer veg-tan sole and will either make some pattens or add a hard sole. Fit is nice (my size - UK 12 or EU 47 or USA 13).
Will be trying new patterns - next personal project is high riding boots.

These aren't perfect (note roughly added heel-stiffeners) but have proved to myself that I can do it, so that's a plus!

Man, my first pair of shoes (and last, too) were much worse, and tons uglier than those. They were way too wide, so they didn't have the nice fitted look of the real ones. Way to go, and good luck with future patterns.

Thanks!
These fit pretty well - I have really wide feet!

looking good, only critique I can add is if you rework your pattern a bit you wont have to lace around the heel. Looking good though

Mercenary wrote:Man, my first pair of shoes (and last, too) were much worse, and tons uglier than those.

My first shoes weren't even real leather. I dare not wear them in brightly-lit areas.

Mike - I'm trying to picture how those toes were sewn before you turned them right side out. Are there a few stitches on the outside (after turning) at the tip to keep them slightly curled up?

Hew wrote:

Mercenary wrote:Man, my first pair of shoes (and last, too) were much worse, and tons uglier than those.

My first shoes weren't even real leather. I dare not wear them in brightly-lit areas.

Mike - I'm trying to picture how those toes were sewn before you turned them right side out. Are there a few stitches on the outside (after turning) at the tip to keep them slightly curled up?

Nope just a turn shoe - the slight upturn is either down to the pattern or a happy accident I guess. I'm hoping for better results when I get some decent leather. Didn't have enough thin veg-tan to do a pair. The additional sole is just glued on, with a small flap to help protect the leather at the tip of the toe.