There are so many steps to make sneakers. First is creating a quilt by sewing fabrics together, then quilting the quilt to a foam backing. Then trace the pattern pieces onto the back of the foam, and sew it to the lining, right sides together. Next step is to turn the pieces right side out and give a good ironing. After this I add the pull tab on the back and embellish by sewing on various components, guided somewhat by the recipients list they give me of what they like color wise, theme etc. Then time to punch holes for the grommets for the shoelaces to go through. Fortunately I purchased a press to do this relatively easily. The first pair I used a hammer, which took forever. After holes are punched, you need to switch out the attachments to punch in the actual grommets. A shoelace guide is sewn to the tongues.
Once the pieces are ready the time consuming process of sewing the fabric to the soles with waxed thread begins. It's getting more efficient with each shoe but easily two hours each. The tongue placement and the back of the foot are a challenge and require quite a bit of maneuvering, and just as much patience. Using an awl, good quality thimble and a headlamp is helpful!
I'm going to start using contrasting thread to make this easier, mainly so I can SEE what I am doing.
I am hoping to keep the price at $450 for now.
Scroll all the way down to the bottom and then back up for photos of the step by step process.
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| sewing the fabric to the rubber sole |
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| punching holes in the rubber soles with an awl |
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| punching holes in the fabric to guide the sewing |
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| punching holes and adding grommets for shoe laces |
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| adding a little tab to the tongue pieces to help keep laces in place, and embellishing |
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| turning aside out and adding back pull tab at the ankle |
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| the basic quilted part before embellishing |
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| turning aside out and adding back pull tab at the ankle |
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| cutting out pattern after tracing and sewing |
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| quilted to the foam side down on right side of lining, tracing pattern pieces |
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| making the quilt |
then quitting it to the foam.
