Leather One Piece Shoes

One of the most important things I'm going to need for shows are a good pair of socks and shoes. Now, I don't think I've quite got a handle on Naalbinding (I don't even have the wool for it, let alone a needle), but leatherwork I can do. And rightfully so, since this is going to be my new craft in the Living History group I joined.

I started by using a shoe I borrowed as a template, since it fit me so well.  After drawing out out on a piece of thick leather I then cut it out using a Stanley knife.

Time to check that that it fit my foot well enough - it did. Although one problem I was finding was with how to put the back of the shoe together. One, it was a complex shape, and two, it was a good 5 cm off from the end of my heel. Clearly something wasn't quite right, and I'm guessing it's the thickness of the leather. I remember the shoes I borrowed being a much thinner, suppler leather than the one I am using.

With my shoe cut out, it was time to get punching. This was a bit of a stumbling block - I'd never used punching pliers before. I've tooled and cut leather, but it took a lot of puzzling to figure out how to get the thing to actually punch, and my hand feels bruised after all those holes!

I think it was worth it though. After a bit of cutting down and refining to make it a better fit for my foot, and some leather thonging, this is what I was left with. My first shoe!

It might not be the most pro thing in the world, but it's a good start. I'm looking forward to getting better, and seeing just what I'm capable of making. I think I can improve them by sorting out that last strip on the right, but other than that, they are so comfortable!