I made some new shoes! and they lace up at the back of the heel.
Yah, sorta weird… It’s not often you see shoes laced up at the back of the foot, well never, actually! Seems a fiddly awkward place for the laces, however I can slip them on and off without untying the little bow, which is pretty useful.
I’m so happy with my shoe-making lately, I feel like I’ve actually “got it” down pat at last. The making is easier for me, they’re staying together well, and feel sturdy and comfy on my feet and like they can withstand the knocks. My winter boots were the ones that kinda sealed the deal for me. LOVE THOSE THINGS SO MUCH!!!
And I’m very happy with these ones too. I reckon they’re going to be great come spring. The colour, the shape, the style; all very classic and basic but I think they’re kinda fun too. I like how they’re all plain and modern from the front view, and at the back view has that funny little mediaeval leather lace-up.
The pattern and design is my own. The fabric is some beige suedette-faced upholstery fabric, given to me by my good friend A who was having some bench seating recovered. She kindly gave me some of the offcuts, and it’s actually brilliant stuff for shoes! Tough, yet pliable and with that nice fuzzy suede surface but without the high maintenance of real suede. I’ve cut off a bit of a length, because I reckon that it might come up good if spray painted too… which opens a whole new and colourful world to me, shoe-wise. Excited! and no, I still haven’t got up the courage to cut into my Icelandic fish leather yet. I don’t know why I’m still scared of doing that, but I am! Maybe I’ll manage it before my Year of Handmade is up!
The shoe laces were cut off from some of these caramel leather laces, the leather strips I bought in Japan. As shoe laces those strips were quite long… far too long really, which is terrific. Means I can get another pair of short laces out of each set!
I lined the shoes with some very thin, pale gold suedette from Spotlight, the same type of stuff I’ve lined all my other shoes with, and the exact same stuff as my paisley oxfords. I glued the layers together with PVA, and have also hand-stitched the layers together around the opening edges in beige upholstery thread, for a more finished look.
Inside is a foam inner sole, covered with the lining fabric for a neat, co ordinating look. I made the toe puffs and heels counters with stretch cotton denim as for all my previous shoes, as described in this post here.
btw, I’ve received several emails asking me for tips on how to make shoes… thank you to all those who are showing an interest in my adventure! I still consider myself a beginner, or maybe an advanced beginner, but I am always happy to help others by sharing what I’ve learnt along the way. Please, if you do want my tips and advice then read through my posts on shoe-making, it’s already all laid out there! I don’t see a lot of point in writing it all out twice; although I am considering a step-by-step on making a pair of shoes. Possibly in video format. I’ll see how I go 🙂
The back seam, where the laces are, is not super neat… it was actually quite hard to sew this part and to gauge how this was going to lie on the finished shoe… not to mention forming the shoe and installing the heel counters. I ended up having to take it off and sew the back heel seam temporarily to make the shoe, and then carefully unpicked it and re-finished the top edge of the seam and re-sewing the edges again by hand. The hand stitching and that general sort of lumpy-bumpiness going on at the back of the shoes definitely adds that “handmade” look to them. LOL! but I can live with that. After all they ARE handmade! 🙂
Carolyn your shoe-making is quite fascinating – love this color….will go with most anything!
These are gorgeous – the colour and the style! I think we might get some fine days in winter and these would be perfect. I hope I get to meet them in real life 😉
that style would work well for ankle boots too. I love them
I love the laces up the back! Great shoes!
WOW…these are super stylish! There is no stopping you….much to my delight!
I love the neatness and classic look of these shoes and comfortable. I can’t imagine how wonderful it must feel to have a custom made shoe to wear and when someone asks, “Love your shoes! Where did you get them?” You can answer, “I made them.” A teachable moment no doubt. 🙂
they look fantastic – and I could see those being worn with jeans or skirts. I’m curious if you put any arch support or other shaping inside the footbed of the shoe. Side note – I have some suede wedge boots (Fly London) that tie up in the back above the ankle and they are a bit of a pain – as I learned when at the airport and you have to remove shoes etc. I do not recommend on that occasion, haha 🙂
thanks Beth! up until how I haven’t put any arch support in mine, but you can put in a “shank” which is a shaped metal strip, to strengthen and stabilise the sole. When I find something I can use for this purpose I will be doing this too. In the meantime, you can always slip in a padded orthotic, just like you would with a regular, unsupported, rtw shoe. This is an easy fix, and gives all the support you need. 🙂
Oh, and I just wanted to add; I don’t need to undo that tie at the back to put on or take off these shoes, thank goodness! They just slip on and off and I can leave the bow neatly tied up 🙂
You’re getting even better with each pair. I love the laces at the back – it’s unique and very beautiful. Great colour too for the shoes, they’ll go with anything.
Classy classic shoes with a twist, love them and they will be so versatile.
fantastic! I was explaining to a friend of mine how there was a blog I followed (you) and the person made shoes and boots…..had to send the link as they didn’t believe me. (they also plied me with far too many tech questions……) well done. I love the slight square toe on your shoes – what I generally am always trying to find in rtw
Clean modern shoes with a little twist!
These are my favourite of your shoe making. I think they look handmade in that professional artisan (and expensive) way.
The lacing detail is so fun! I’d love to see your step by step shoemaking. Not that I’ll have time to try it myself, since I’m still trying to restock my wardrobe with basics, but a girl with oddly sized feet can dream, right?
Man, those are CUUTE! Your shoes are looking more and more professional. Sorry if I missed it, but do you sew these with a regular machine? Or do you have a specialized machine?
thanks Shams! I just use a regular machine, always, except for small areas of hand stitching. I admit, a specialised machine would make some bits a lot easier and eliminate the need for hand sewing 🙂
Lady, your talent is out of this world. Beautiful shoes.
You are getting so good at this!
Super cool style! A pair with a decorative zipper would be super neat too!
Fascinating – what a fun pair of shoes. You are amazing!
Those look amazing! The shape is so great and everything looks so neat! The lace at the back is such a fun detail! You really know your shoe making now!
Reminded me strongly of these: http://sevillasmith.com/collections/all-shoes/products/a3-prototype-terilyn-2-275
I can totally imagine you making/wearing any of her designs. Also, she’s a super-cool handmaker of shoes!
These are fantastic! Love everything about these….. the clean look in the front and the lace-ups in the back. Enjoying riding along on your shoe-making journey! 🙂
Very cute and the back lacing is a fab detail!
Hey Carolyn, the shoe is beautiful !!! I really loved the color and the lace style !! They are amazing!! I can’t wait to have something like these !
XO, Alena <3
Pingback: white oxfords (shoes) - Handmade by Carolyn
I love this shoe!! I have about 20 yards of “leather” upholstery fabric. I think I could practice making quite a few pairs of these shoes. I just started following your blog…. I need to do some back tracking and hopefully get an idea of how to start making my own shoes. You are AWESOME!