Turn shoes

Here are some half done turn shoes I’m working on. The mostly completed shoe is still wet from being turned in the right way. They’re welted construction and still need a heal stiffener and another piece above the instep to be added. I may reinforce the eyelet areas as well.

I have lots of leather like this if people want to make themselves medieval footwear. It’s hard work, but footwear is typically the area that lets down most medieval and fantasy costumes. Xena boots are okay if you can get them, but a proper hand made turn shoe really does finish off a costume. Especially when you’re sitting around the camp fire with your feet up and people get a chance to look at your costume in detail.

Before I turned it in the right way I was worried they’d be slightly too tight and I’d have to give them to my wife. Happily (for me) they are a perfect fit (I should trust my measurements more by now). Aside from being very damp, it is very comfortable and more so than most modern footwear. :smiley:

They look good. So what, you wet them to make them stretchier for the turning?

Wetting them makes the leather more stretchy and makes the sole flex more. I used very heavy sole leather and I was worried it was too stiff to be able to turn inside out.

Before I turned it I filled the shoe up with water and it was water tight.

Here is the pattern I used. The upper and sole pattersn have been overlaid onto the same graphic.

I’ve drawn my footprint over the top of the sole. You will notice that the sole is narrower at some points than my foot. This still works.

If you print this at a scale where your foot is the same size as the footprint, it may work. :smiley:

I recommend 3mm+ stiff leather for the soles and 2mm soft leather for the uppers.

Here is a graphic of the main stitch used around the sole.

as sewn and after turning

Here is the order I sew the seams.

Enjoy!

Thank you!
Er, please excuse my ignorance, but what do you mean by ‘rand’?
And what, half centimetre seams?

A rand is a thin strip of leather that stops your seams leaking. It is pretty much triangular in cross section and can be cut from the same leather you cut your upper from. Sometimes also refered to as “welted” construction.

They are a very small amount of extra work to do and make a big difference. Leave them out if it looks too tricky and plan on doing them on your second pair.

The seams are done using saddle stitch. I use one sharp leather cutting needle (triangular cross section at tip with sharp edges) and one sharp non-cutting needle as well. If you sew along for a bit using the cutting needle you can then sew through the same holes in the opposite direction using a non-cutting needle. This stops the thread being cut.

I did a picture of the same type of stitch http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/6837/leathersurcoatrn9.jpg[/img]]here but it isn’t a side-edge seam.

Derek, these are looking pretty good.
Are you planning them for indoor use only, or general purpose? If the latter, are you planning some kind of anti-skid on the outside? I imagine that leather soles would be rather slippery, and not too cushiony.

They are for inside and outside use. I’m making some because my last two pairs have begun to wear out.

They are actually better outside than inside. Polished wooden floors are the main danger. When it’s muddy, I wear them with wooden patterns (like a cross between wooden jandels and clogs).

I don’t put any anti-skid stuff on.