Making your own shoes

[thebuttonchick]

So I'm vegetarian and I don't buy leather. Buying sneakers, tennis shoes, trainers, whatever you want to call them makes me want to rip my hair out.
Does anyone have any idea how to make tennis shoes? I think it would be pretty awesome to say "Yeah I made them". I'm really good with a sewing machine and understand construction really well. But I need a jumping off point.
Thanks for the help.
Bre

 

[-dj-]

did you forget to take your medication today??

 

[sidecar_jon]

difficult id say... hard to make anything resembling a "normal " shoe. I know aguy who makes his own feet coverings but they in now way look like shoes, they are rather laced up saddles over canvas things....

http://www.hollowtop.com/sandals.htm has some sadnles made from car tyres. Good luck!

 

[Thermo]

car tyres....well it worked for the vietcong

 

[Stoday]

My dad could have helped. He used to work at the Wheatsheaf Boot & Shoe Co in Leicester where he ran the handmade departement. Handmade shoes for people with deformed feet.

Unfortunately he's been dead for 20 years and the factory's closed down.

Sorry - I can't help

 

[thebuttonchick]

Well as helpful as all those responses were.....
Does anyone else have any idea?
In Response: My medication...I probably should get on that.

 

[oilman]

Try here and search on "making shoes". Tennis shoes might be a bit different, but the basics should come in handy.

 

[Ukwoody]

What about ordinary plimsoles? They're only cotton aren't they?

Woody

 

[Ukwoody]

Oh. sorry. My Tongue was wagging but has now heeled but my sole isn't in it and I'm still watching Cagney and Lacey. They're in Wellington NZ.

I'll just go and take my Uppers...
Groan...

Woody

 

[sidecar_jon]

What about ordinary plimsoles? They're only cotton aren't they?

Woody

but they are molded rubberised soles, not really a DIY job. I had a pair of shoes made once. Seemed a simple construction (though they were leather) i dont see why one coudlnt make them of some other material.

http://www.visi.com/~norseman/viking_shoe.html (simple shoes, vikeing ones")

http://www.housebarra.com/EP/ep02/11shoe02.html (realy cute sandles)

http://moas.atlantia.sca.org/topics/shoe.htm (shedloads of shoe links)

 

[DIYIdoit]

Hello Buttonchick,

Why don't you buy a cheap pair of shoes and take them apart. Learn how to make an pair exactly the same out of your own materials and then try changing the design.

You'll never have to buy shoes again.

 

[dg123]

Make clogs from wood.