How to Add Toe Guards to your Soft-Sole Shoes

I don’t know about the rest of you but my son has a tendency to drag his toes when he walks. He wore little holes in three pairs of his soft-sole shoes before I started putting “Toe Guards” on them. The first time I put on a toe guard it was on a pair that were already assembled and had holes in them. But its definitely be easier to add the toe guard to shoes prior to assembling them.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Leather
• Sewing Machine
• Scissors

1. 

   Trace top of shoe piece onto a piece of paper. Then reposition the top of the shoe down about ¾ to 1 inch and trace edge again. This should result in a shape similar to the one shown below.

2. Fold the paper in half with drawing side showing and cut following only one set of guidelines; this will create a more balanced toe guard. Cut two from contrasting leather and sew over the top piece of the shoe. Continue with assembly.

3. When repairing a shoe with a hole in the toe area . . .
   Undo the seam across the toe section almost all the way up to where the leather overlaps on the side. Lay the top piece over a piece of paper and traced the outside edge. Then mark the location of the hole on the paper so the toe guard will be large enough to cover it. Folded the paper in half with the center of the top area and draw a curved end to the other side of the guard – ending up with a banana shaped drawing. Then cut out contrasting leather and sew it over the top piece of the shoe.

Tips & Warnings

• The shoe end will be a little stiffer so you may want to add a ¼ inch to the pattern length if your child “just’ fits their shoes.
• If making your shoes from scratch, sew on the toe guard at the same time you add the appliqué.
• Purchase soft-sole shoe patterns for standard soft-sole shoes, Mary Janes, Roman Sandals, and Boots at http://www.makethemyourself.com.
• Do not use leather that is not colored all the way through for a toe guard.

[acone]

on 11/24/2008 sWEET! Thank you so much for the tips! Literally!