One of the more recent hobbies I’ve picked up is cordwaining, aka, shoemaking. After I started leather working as a hobby a couple of years ago, I realized how much I enjoy it. Then after my shoes wearing out on my and having to find new ones, I realized how difficult it is for me to find comfortable shoes that fit good because I have larger than average feet. I also couldn’t even find the style that I really wanted. Even I looked at expensive shoes, they are more traditional styles. I wanted an open back, closed toe slide. I live in Florida in the sand where its hot. The issue I have with open toe sandals is the sand gets into the shoe and under the feet too easy, so I wanted a closed toe. This is kind of the realm of slippers, but any slippers I looked at where clearly meant for indoor and light duty use. I wanted something a little more robust. So I did a ton of research, bought a book, and bought some Munson shoe lasts and have a go at making my own shoes. I modified my shoe lasts to the measurements of my feet so making shoes around them is like making shoes around my feet.
Meet my custom slides. Made from buffalo leather uppers with blue pig suede on the inside, around the collar, and around the welt. Then vegetable tanned cow leather insoles with a goodyear welted midsole, also cow leather, but cheaper chromed tanned leather. Then I glued Vibram rubber soles to the bottom. I wanted a good high quality sole and Vibram seems to deliver. A proper goodyear stiched construction would also have had me stich the rubber sole on the bottom through the welt, but this was my first shoe and I felt the glue should hold good to the midsole.
The shoe as of the picture below is after about 7-8 months of daily use. As my first pair of shoes I made myself, I am quite pleased with the outcome. These are easily the most comfortable shoe I’ve ever had. I plan to make a several other pair in the future. I have some other more traditional designs I would like to try like a Norwegian derby shoe, but its on a white wedge sole and its Velcro, though it will look traditional. I also want to attempt making a boot.
