shoe making...

[bunkie]

hey jo...are you there???

i was reading this site you posted...http://www.simpleshoemaking.com/index.htm...about the 'lasts'. i wonder if we could make our own? they cost there like 300 bucks?!

[spacecase0]

I have made my own shoes before,
it was really fun and lots of work.
the hardest part was making my own patterns.
I bet that you could copy your foot to use for a form for less than $300
the silicone needed to make an exact copy would not cost that much.

[mnjrutherford]

HEY! WElllll, to become a "cordswainer" MIGHT cost a pretty penny both in equipment and learning. HOWever, I did find a lady who is a teacher up in Massachusettes. From what I was able to gather, she's considered one of the top folks in her field. From her site (I'll put the link below) I checked out several sites which led me on to other sites several of which referred back to her. I thought that was a good endorsement. Now, she charges about $500 for a 3 day workshop with a 2 person limit. BUT, she says she can be flexible. I'm wondering "how flexible". SO I wrote her a little note and put it in the mail last night. She has a book that she can sell us a B/W reprint of for $25. I'm thinking that should be a first step. She also indicates that if you are only gonna be making for yourself and family, you only need the lasts for your styles and size. Example, I will never need a set of high heels, so I can get myself a single last, a single last for Mike, and probably 2 or 3 different size lasts for the boys. A single set of lasts can be had for about $25 to $40 depending on new/used and wood/plastic. It's when you purchase a "run" (a range of sizes and widths of a single style) that you really spend the big buck-a-roonieos.

If she would trade teaching time for knitting time... well, that would be perfect for me. Travel costs are kinda out for me plus I can't really leave my guys. If Mike could drive, that would be one thing. But he can't so I really don't like the idea of leaving. I was thinking though, IF you could come here, AND I could pay her travel costs (you could both stay here and that would offset food and lodging costs) maybe she could come down and teach us both AND we could pay her with some knitting? I promise the food will be good! ;D

www.simpleshoemaking.com/

There is the link.
Tell me what you think.
Handmade shoes are really sweet!
Made by me? HOW NEAT!

ok, I gotta scoot for now...

[mnjrutherford]

OOo, thanks SPace, This lady sells patterns as well, they run about $10 a pop.

[bunkie]

yeah right jo! if i can't get off the farm to go to the 'meetup' this fall, you know i can't make it cross country!!! ;D

hey space, what do you know about all this? where did you learn about it? any info would be appreciated.

[spacecase0]

I learned show making mostly by trying it,
I have been playing with various industrial things for many years now and have lots of tools now,
making shoes had no websites devoted to showing you how to make them,
so I just started to build them,
I noticed that you really need something to insulate when making the souls of the shoes,
my first attempts were very cold to wear,
and finding something to make the tops out of that was stiff was something that I never got quite correct.
the stitching came out the first few times I tried, now I use very strong and thick thread.
I also like using zippers in my designs so that I can sew it together easy in separate parts, then just zip the entire thing together.
I guess it was just all trial and error...

[mnjrutherford]

hmmmm.... Is your reasons for not leaving a surmountable issue? I was kinda toying with the notion that I might could get the lady to join us in Indiana for a workshop there. I'd have to talk to Karen about that of course. And I haven't even found out if she is willing to travel either so it might all be moot.

Space, are you interested in this?

[spacecase0]

I think that I should pass up on it,
I live a very long way from there....

[JanetM]

May I ask what types of shoes you are wanting to make? I have looked all over to find the start of this conversation but to no avail. I do have some thoughts if I might be able to help you some. I used to live near a town that had a shoe factory. It is closed now but there must be hundreds of 'last' running around somewhere. I worked there in my younger days for 2 weeks before getting laid off. The last were solid wood.
One other suggestion: I was watching a sewing program and they were making their own dress dummys. They were putting a plastic bag split up the front, with a neck hole. They slipped in on themselves like a sleeveless jacket. They then took duck tape and taped tightly all around the whole area the bag was mainly chest, hips, back etc. After they did this in several layers they took a pair of sheers and cut but up the back, slipped out of the bag and taped it back up. Thus, creating their own standing dress dummy. Now, why couldn't you do the same with your feet?
I do know that regular shoes are made by tacking the insole on the last and building the shoe around it after the sections are stitched together. Hope this helps. Janet

[mnjrutherford]

Thanks for chiming in here! If you can source some of those lasts, it would be awesome. The start of the thread was in the thread about the Seed Swap being planned for Indiana this September. If you find some of the lasts, we might be willing to purchase them. How many would depend on the cost. How do you size a last? My husband and I have same size feet... do they go more by measure? style? anything you know will add to our knowledge bucket!

Forgot the first of your post... TYPE of shoe. Serviceable. No fancy heels. Boots would be good. I have the styles found at Renaissance Faires in my head when I'm thinking about it. The lady we are trying to contact makes shoes and boots of those styles.

[JanetM]

Let me ask around and see what I can find out. There is a size printed on them somewhere I am sure. It just makes sense it would be. What sizes are you wanting?

[bunkie]

hi janet! so glad you joined in.

i'm with jo on the simple, work type shoes.

i'm size 9, 9 1/2
ed is 7 1/2

space, when you make them do they come out a little bigger or smaller?

jaanet, i like the idea you mentioned about the plastic bag and pattern. don't know why it wouldn't work for shoes.

oh jo, a 'e-course' on shoemaking would be cool! ;D

[JanetM]

I am sure a last is sized for the foot size so what ever you put around it should fit that size foot. If I remember right, the shoes they were making at the time I worked there, which was a long time ago, was just a regular loafer. I am sure they updated the last of the styles. I don't think they ever make any high heel shoes so a regular last should cover most styles with a 1" heel, like a flat. We will just have to see what responce I get from my post on another site. The site I posted on was one Crothersville, In., where the shoe factory was at, has set up on Facebook called Crothersville Folks Past and Present. There are around 600 of us on there all with C-ville contacts so I am hoping someone will come forth and get me a lead. Sure doesn' hurt to ask, I always say. . .

[mnjrutherford]

Awesome! I wear a ladies 9, my husband wears a mans 8. My foot is 9.5 inches from the back of the heel to the tip of the large toe, and my husband is the same length. My sons are 8" and 8.25". I don't know how you would measure width or if that is even important. We are probably all the most average width or wide.

In case style matters, we want flats. I'm not good on tippy toes!

NOW then, I have heard from Sharon today. She suggests that we begin by getting "The Make-it-Yourself Shoe Book" by Christine Lewis Clark. She said she located a used copy for $50. Pricey, but for those of us who are serious about the matter, worth it. I also sent her a link to this thread so she can see what we are talking about.

Additionally, she asked what sort of things I have available for barter. I told her knitting, certain baked goods which can travel well, seeds...

OH yes, she isn't exactly interested in teaching us, BUT, she did refer me to a gentleman by the name of Glen Leasure who studied under her tutelage. He is located in Virgina, so much closer to us. I've prepared a letter which I will get off in the mail today or tomorrow.

[mnjrutherford]

Feb 18, 2010 12:44:08 GMT -5 bunkie said:

oh jo, a 'e-course' on shoemaking would be cool! ;D

Of course!

I'm kinda banking on the book for now since I haven't seen anything online yet. I'll report more later. LOVE the onion guarding kitty!