Sharpen your leatherworking skills while learning to build yourself a pair of custom sandals that you shape specifically for your feet, employing a variety of bespoke shoemaking techniques. Learn about different types of leather, their particular properties and best uses in the construction of custom sandals. Numerous embellishment methods will be covered to personalize your work including punching and brogueing, hand edging stitch methods, and dyes and dye waxes. Shoemaking techniques include installing a shank under the insole and using clinch nails or wooden pegs in the heel stacking process. All levels welcome.
Level: Beginner
Instructor: Deborah Robertson
Click here to read Deborah's biography!
This class reflects the 20% discount for our Summer Series program!
Members: $240
Non members: $288
Materials fee: $85-125, depending on type of leather and trims selected during class
Materials provided by instructor: Marble slabs, Landis 5-in-1, Singer treadle sewing machine, Wen belt sander, nylon thread, insole leather, outsole leather, upper leather, lining leather, shanks, clinch nails, pegs, pegging awl, beeswax, shoemaking hammer, skiving knives, tack hammer, anvils, dyes, punches, rawhide mallet, decorative rivets, rubber soles, extra Speedy Stitcher coarse waxed thread, leather scissors, card stock, wing divider
Materials students should bring: Please bring the following: pencils, ruler, paper scissors, bone folder, CS Osborne scratch awl No. 478, beeswax, Xacto knife and blades, wool daubers or paint brushes you don't mind getting dyed, rubber gloves, Speedy Stitcher Sewing Awl with coarse waxed thread. Please feel free to embellish your sandals with buttons you bring from home. Bring if you have them: skiving knife, tack hammer, French curves, wing divider or compass, and your choice of leather cutting tools (be they leather scissors, round knife or blade).
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