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Sandal Making for Beginners

A complete guide to making sandals

from home

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This eBook is copyright 2011 by I CAN make shoes

www.icanmakeshoes.com >>

ISBN number: 978-1-907520-03-7

eBook publishing and design by: www.andwhat.co.uk >>

Photography by :Chris Brazel

[email protected] >>

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ContentsClick to skip to section

Supplies >>

What you will need >>

Step 1 - insoles >>

Step 2 - straps >>

Step 3 - soles >>

Finished >>

Strap patterns >>

Insole/sole pattern >>

Other sandal styles >>

Welcome to I CAN make shoes.The place where dream shoes are made, by hand, from home. Your new shoedrobe starts here!

In this interactive eBook ‘Sandal Making for Beginners’ you will learn how to use simple techniques to make your own pair of sandals (pictured below) from home.

We encourage you to try out different styles and be creative with your straps.

Introduction

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SuppliesThere are a few basic materials needed, most of which you can find from local haberdashery or craft shops.

Other key materials such as soles, insoles and shoe glue are available from our online shop at:

www.icanmakeshoes.com/shop >>

Please note that leather materials are used throughout this book, but this method of sandal making can be done with a range of materials to suit your taste or scrap box!

We encourage you to experiment and would love to see your creations. Please share your results by posting pictures to our twitter or email them to:

[email protected] >>

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FeedbackPlease send any thoughts/feedback to:[email protected] >>

http://www.facebook.com/ICANmakeshoes

http://twitter.com/#!/ICANmakeshoes

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What you will need

1. Shoe glue and brush (brush in tin)2. Soles (Rubber stick on soling)3. Insole material (leather)4. Material for straps (leather)

5. Insoles (Texon board)6. Foam inserts (Craft foam) 7. Silver pen 8. Pair of strong scissors

9. 2 x buckles10. Small hole punch 11. Strong masking tape

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Step One - insoles1.1 Patterns for the insoles are available on page 27 >>

Using the guidelines, cut your insoles to the desired size.


1.2 Glue the foam insert onto the insole by applying a thin even amount of glue to the outlined area.

1.3 Also apply a thin even amount of glue to the foam insert.

You want this glue to almost completely dry before you join the two glued surfaces.

HELPFUL TIP:The glue is a rubber solvent so it only sticks to itself. This is why you need to apply it on both surfaces that you want to stick together.

The glue sticks better when it is tacky or almost completely dry.

1.2

1.3


1.4 Trace around your insoles onto the underside of your leather. Leave about a 1cm extra folding allowance around the whole area. Then cut out.


1.5 Apply a thin even amount of glue to whole top surface of the insole.

1.6 Then apply a thin even amount of glue to the underside side of your insole material.

Wait for the glue to become tacky.

1.7 Place the insole face down onto the glued surface of your insole material.

1.8 Once you have joined the pieces, smooth over the area with your fingertips.

HELPFUL TIP:Make sure you cover the entire surface of both parts, and remember tackier glue = stronger hold.

1.5

1.6 1.7


1.8 While evening out, make sure there are no air bubbles in the gap between

the foam and the insole.


1.11

1.9 Turn the insole over and apply a thin even amount of glue just around the edge of the insole.

1.10 When the glue is tacky, fold the excess material over and stick it down so that you have perfectly covered the insole.

1.11 Use your thumbs to create small pleats in the material around the toe and heel areas of the insole.

HELPFUL TIP:Try to keep the pleats as far away from the edge of the insole as possible, this will prevent a bumpy edge line.

1.9

1.10


Step Two - straps2.1 Patterns for the straps are availableon page 26/27 >>


2.2 Using the patterns provided, trace your straps onto the underside of your leather. Remember to do 2 of each, one for the left foot and one for the right foot, and mark them accordingly.

IMPORTANT HELPFUL TIP:It is very important that once you cut out a full set, you flip your patterns upside down to get a full set of straps for the opposite foot. Otherwise you will end up making two left feet..

2.3 When cutting out your patterns try to be as neat as possible, you want to avoid jagged edges.

HELPFUL TIP:Use a thick leather for a raw edge look. Or for a more professional finish to your straps you can stitch together two pieces of softer leather.

2.2

2.3


2.4 Whilst standing on your insole, position your straps on the foot in the desired position.


2.5 With your foot inside, fold the straps (one at a time) underneath the insole so that they fit you snugly, then mark on the insole where you want the straps to go. (You may need a friend to help you at this stage).

2.6 Once you have marked all of your strap positions onto the insole, you can glue them in place.

HELPFUL TIP: You want the straps to fit you snugly at this stage, depending on the material they may stretch slightly in time.

2.5

2.6 2.62.6


2.7 On back strap A (the shorter of the two) you will need to attach your buckles.


2.8 Punch a small hole about 5mm into the thinner section, and then thread your buckle through the strap.

2.9 To secure the buckle, apply a small amount of glue to the back of the thin side of the strap, and do the same beneath the buckle on the thicker part of the strap.

2.10 Once the glue has become tacky fold the thin part of the strap onto the thicker part and squeeze together.

HELPFUL TIP:Remember the buckle goes on the shorter of the two back straps. You want the buckle to end up on the outside of the ankle.

This can get confusing so try practising on the paper pattern first.

2.8

2.9 2.10


2.11 When positioning your back straps remember that they should be on a slight backward pointing angle so that they wrap neatly around the ankle. Trace in position before gluing.


2.12 The inside strap should be slightly shorter, so it wraps around the back of the ankle and sits on the outside of the foot.

Using the same technique as your front straps make sure you measure the strap to reach the outside of your ankle snugly, and mark its position underneath the insole.

2.13 The outside strap should be long enough to wrap around the whole ankle from the back, and do up on the outside of the foot.

Fold the straps underneath the insole and glue in place from your markings.

HELPFUL TIP:To make sure your positioning is perfect, double check your strap positions by doing them up on the foot before gluing them onto the insole.

2.12

2.13


Step Three - soles3.1 Patterns for the soles are

available on page 27 >>

Using the guidelines, cut your soles to the desired size.


3.2 Trim any pleated pieces of material from the bottom of the insole to minimize bulk.

3.3 Apply an even amount of glue to the entire smooth side of the sole, right up to the edge.

3.4 Then apply an even amount of glue to the entire underside of the insole, right up to the edge.

Wait for the glue to go tacky or almost completely dry.

HELPFUL TIP:Make sure you get the glue right up to the edge of the soles and insoles, you don’t want to have any unstuck gaps when you stick them together.

3.2

3.3 3.4


3.5 Slowly stick the sole to the insole. Start by lightly joining the heel section together.


3.6 Then lightly join the toe area, keeping a gap in the middle.

3.7 Once you have lined up the front and back perfectly you can squeeze together the sides of the shoes.

3.8 Once the sole is in position, give them a tight all over squeeze.

HELPFUL TIP:Make sure you especially squeeze in the gap where the edge of the straps are sandwiched between the sole and insole.

3.6

3.7 3.8


3.9 Finally punch holes evenly along the thin ends of the long strap, to fit your ankles.

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Well done!

You have just made your own sandals, now go and show them off!

Now you’ve mastered this pair get creative and try with different styles, see last page for a few examples.

Front Strap B

Back Strap A

Front Strap A

Back Strap B

(*) See next page

back to Step 2 >>


(*)


Insole Pattern (this page)

Please note, use this pattern for your soles as well. Flip the pattern upside down to get the left and right feet.

Strap patterns (previous page)

(*) Extend straps as long as you need them, to wrap around your ankles snugly. Make the paper pattern extra long and then cut it down to size, making sure you leave enough excess to fold underneath your insole board.

HELPFUL TIP:Make sure you print patterns A4 at 100%(most printers default to ‘fit to screen’ which will make pattern too small)

back to Step 1 >>

back to Step 3 >>

For more patterns and ideas go to:

www.icanmakeshoes.com >>

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A complete guide to making sandals from home - I CAN …icanmakeshoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/I_CAN_make-shoes... · A complete guide to making sandals from home ... Please