The frame technique for making shoes and sandals

The frame technique provides the most reliable way I have found to successfully make patterns for custom shoes and sandals. Perhaps you became interested in shoemaking because you don’t have standard-shaped feet –  this technique could be just what you are looking for!

The technique is based on the assumption that these shoes will be stitched by hand (although a few people in my shoemaker’s gathering are working on stitching shoes on a sewing machine), so getting stitch marks matching between the upper and the sole is essential.

 I have made videos that show the technique. One is made using the technique over a very wide and deep last representing a foot – https://youtu.be/gASfeyd268c. The next is made over an actual foot – https://youtu.be/5tMtFNIY2E8. And here’s one for making custom sandals – https://youtu.be/XVVIK-fZYxQ.