How to Make Leather Shoes

Pricey at the store, leather shoes can be handmade economically.

Making things by hand seems to add to their value, causing you to appreciate the product more and giving you a certain feeling of pride and confidence. Additionally, handmade clothing items can be more budget-friendly than comparable store-bought products. Certainly, leather shoes fall into this category. With an easy pattern and a few leather scraps, you can create your own unique and useful footwear.

Things You'll Need

• Thin, soft leather scraps
• Sewing machine
• Poly or cotton thread to match the leather
• 10 mm elastic, at least 1 foot
• Sharp scissors
• Ruler
• Chalk
• Tweezers
• Hole punch (optional)
• Leather shoe pattern

Instructions

1. Measure one foot, and use chalk to trace the correct size pattern pieces onto the leather. Cut out the pattern pieces.

2. Use the hole punch or scissors to punch two holes in each upper part of the pattern. The elastic will fit here.

3. Sew one side of each casing piece in place. Insert the elastic and sew the other side shut.

4. Decorate the top pieces of the shoe, if you desire. Working with the shoe inside out, sew the top piece to the sole, carefully aligning them.

5. Right sides together, sew the backs onto the soles, overlapping the top piece a little bit.

6. Before turning the shoes right-side-out, gently guide the ends of the elastic through the two holes on the front piece. Adjust for the desired tightness and sew in place.

7. Turn the shoe right-side out.

Tips & Warnings

• You may need to manually sew some pieces to avoid breaking sewing machine needles. Use your discernment and knowledge of your machine to determine this.

• Heavier leather will be more difficult to sew but will provide a more durable shoe.

References

• Make your own soft leather ohelene-shoes -- pattern pieces
• Make your own soft soled leather shoes. Tutorial.