Phil2011

Hi Kgirl! Thank you very much for such detailed explanations! Well, if I understand well (english is not my first language), your wish is to make ankle high footwear which could fit like a second skin, with minimalist construction? If I had such a project, I think that I first could buy a pair of leather gym slippers. I could dismantle them to draw patterns from the different parts. Then I could use my own leather to make a similar new pair and I could draw the ankle part to sew it on the new slippers. I think I wouldn't use a snap to close them, but shoe lace on external side for better fiiting. What do you think of this idea?..

Hi Kgirl91 ! How about your project? It sounds very interesting to me because it's a style of footwear I would like to make for my wife! Please post some news and pics! Thanks a lot in advance!

Hi, there! I'm Philippe, from French Guiana! Leathercraft is a hobby for many years! Fifteen years ago I learned the job of saddles and harnesses maker, but unfortunately no bank lended money to start a business. So I've had to do something else... But leathercraft still is one of my favourite leisure activities. I mainly enjoy to make moccasins and most oftenly I create the designs. Here is a pic of my wife Soraia and I. I want to make moccasins for her, but I never made so small mocs: her feet are 8.5" long only (21,5cm)! I Wonder if anyone could help me in getting patterns for this size! Thanks a lot in advance!

Hello, there! Here is another pair of moccasins I made for my gf, 8 or 9 years ago: The construction is one-piece construction (side-seam). I used a thick but extremely soft leather. There is a removable leather insole. The size is 5US wmn (36EUR). My gf enjoyed to wear them at office! she had many comments and then I made two pairs (without beading) for her coworkers!

Thanks a lot for your comments, Half Goat and Black Rivet! Yes, it's rather difficult to make footwear without pre-existing patterns! I've had do make various attempts on my gf's feet to get the right design!.. You're right, Black Rivet, these boots are extremely soft! I intentionally used the softest parts of my leather piece to make the feet and soles to reach my gf's wish about "leather socks". Of course there is no lining and no insole. She most oftenly enjoyed to wear her boots barefeet, or with socks in winter time.

Hi, there! Ten years ago I made knee-high soft soled boots for my gf of that time: I didn't have pre-existing pattern. To make the foot of the boot, I dismantled a french slipper called "charentaise" to draw the patterns for upper part and sole. Then, I made the leg of the boot following the measures of my gf's legs. These boots are made of a cow leather, quite thick but extremely soft at the same time. The soles are made of the same leather (two layers). The size is 5.5US wmn (36EUR).

Hi! Eight years ago, my gf of that time told me she wondered if I could make a pair of soft soled boots for her, as soft as possible. She told me that her wish was for "leather socks" she could wear at home, as slippers. Here are the boots I made for her: She enjoyed them a lot and she used to wear them every evening at home. Her size was 38EUR (10" long, or 25,5cm). Only one regret: I didn't have enough leather to make these boots knee-high...

Hi, there! Some years ago I made these boots for my gf : I made them from a used (but in perfect condition) coat. I made the pattern thanks to a pair of cheap copy of UGGs: I dismantled them and I used each piece to draw the patterns. The soles are made of gray suede (lined with sheepskin soles I glued on the suede. Everything is hand stitched. The size is 5US wmn (36EUR).

Hi, there! A big "up" for my topic, because my wife Soraia (we married last month!) is waiting for moccasins from my hands!

Hi, there! Long ago I posted pics of various styles of moccasins and soft soled boots I made, most oftenly for girlfriends I had along the years. Last year I met another woman and we're going to marry ! I showed her the pictures of moccasins and boots I made, and she wants some! But I meet a difficulty: her feet are very small: 8.5 inch only (21,5cm)!.. I never made so small footwear, I don't own any pattern... Does anyone own patterns in this size or knows where I can get some?.. Thanks in advance !

Thank you!

Hello, there! After a very long absence, I'm back on the forum! Well, my former computer was out of order and I couldn't get all my data back. Among all what I lost was the link to this forum. I just found it again, with new topics to come soon!..

Thank you, Suicide! Yes, of course, wearing them indoor only could help them to last for longer! On the other hand, I like them so much that wearing them outdoor is something I wouldn't like to stop! Well, when the soles will be worn out, I'll replace them once again!..

Hi Paul, Happy New Year, and thanks a lot for your comment! No, I didn't preshape the leather soles. First, I drew the outline of the rubber sole on cardboard, then I drew a new outline 3/8 inch wider. I glued a smaller sole onto this large one, then I glued the sole onto the shoe, then I handstitched. I don't know about oxidation, but certainly these shoes were not designed to last for so many years! My deck shoes and my slip-on are more than 20 years old!..

Hi! In 1983, the french brand TBS issued this deck shoes called "Yole": This moccasin was produced for men, women and children, in more than 20 colors and combined colors. The leather (with no lining) is thick and extremely soft and supple. The rubber sole is thin and extremely flexible. The "Yole" mocs instantly were very popular and you could see them anywhere! At this time I owned three or four pairs till the early 90's. Two years ago, I found this pair on french Ebay: The leather is in ivory color. These mocs are in very good condition, but the rubber sole turned yellow. There is no other problem, so I wear them normally! It was great to find again these great mocs! To give a continuation to the huge success the "Yole" met, TBS created new designs with the same leather and the same soft and flexible sole. As an example, I bought this pair of slip-on in 1990 or 1991: I like them a lot because they really fit like a second skin! Unfortunately, some time ago the rubber soles became stiff and cracked like old tires... As it was impossible for me to throw these mocs away, I decided to give them a second life: I removed the rubber soles and I replaced them with leather ones. There are two layers of this thick and soft full grain leather. Have a look: So, now I can wear my mocs again! I use to wear my mocs outdoor but only when weather is fine because I don't want the soles to be damaged with water! I also like to wear them to drive my car.

Hi, Suicide! Congratulations for these wonderful mocs! What a fine work! Which size are they? Is there a padded sole inside?

Thank you Suicide! In France, leather is not sold to the weight but to the surface. So I can't tell you about the weight of this leather. It's cow leather, yes. The thickest part I used to make the legs of the boot is around 1,5mm thick. The thinest part I used to make the feet and the soles is around 1mm thick only!

Hi! 10 years ago, I made a pair of soft boots for Corinne, the young woman who was my girlfriend at this time. She had some requirements: she wished the boots were calf-hi or higher, with a very simple design, and as soft as possible. Corinne even said she would enjoy to get "leather socks" that should fit "like a second skin"! So, I bought a very thin and very supple leather, and here is the result: I also followed Corinne's specific requirement about using the thinnest and softest part of the leather I bought to make the feet and the soles. Corinne enjoyed to wear her boots with thin socks or barefoot. Size is womens 7.5US (38EUR).

Thank you Twin Oaks! This young woman wished her boots to look slouch and very soft. That's why the leg of the boot looks wide...

Hi Tina, thanks a lot for your comment! Yes, my gf enjoys these mocs! She owns several pairs of slippers for home (Isotoner, ballet slippers, etc...) but she prefers these mocs! That's why I think I'll make another pair, with two-layers soles for outdoor wearing!

Hi Suicide, thank you for this tip! Certainly it may help! Following your explanation, I went to a sports store and I took some measurements on french made jazz shoes (with padded suede sole) : I measured three pairs, in french sizes 34, 35, and 36. Here is the result: 34: 8" Long, 2 6/8 wide (on the widest part of the sole). 35: 8 3/8 L , 2 7/8 w. 36: 8 6/8 L , 3"w. As I already knew, the difference from a size to another one is more important on length than on width.

So, I wish someone who read this could tell us! I like a lot the mocs on your pic! What is the sole made of? Do you have other pics of the mocs you make?

Hi! Some years ago I bought these Tandy patterns: I started to work, but as you may guess I met the same problem as any user of these patterns meets: size of upper part and size of sole don't match... So, I don't plan to use these patterns any more!.. Well, I already made softsoled tall boots by designing the patterns by myself. But I'm looking for other patterns to be able to make various styles. Thanks in advance for help!

Thanks a lot for your comment, Luke! I feel flattered! Well, it's a very good idea and I wonder if I could do it! But I miss the knowledge to be able to draw patterns of different size from a first pattern... If you would explain, that could be great!