ESPADRILLES STITCH WITH SOLES AND STEP OUT IN STYLE!

You’re never fully dressed without a smile and a good pair of shoes, so as you’re putting together your perfect outfit for those stylish escapades,

don’t neglect your tootsies. Stitching some homemade shoes needn’t be a chore – in fact, you’ll find that as well as being quick to make, they are a truly chic way of expressing yourself. As this espadrille project proves, making your own footwear is good for the sole.

ESSENTIAL KITStrong outer fabric and lining, 60cm square Heavy-duty threadSturdy darning woolThin darning needle and pinsPre-made espadrille solesIron

ESPADRILLES1 Download the templates

and cut out the eight fabric sections. Lay a lining on top of each piece of upper material, with right sides facing. Sew the four sections to the relevant opening for turning, marked on the templates.

2 Cut the seam allowances diagonally at the corners

and clip into the curves, then

THE KNOWLEDGERemember to use a heavy-duty thread, as the ordinary sewing type will break when it is being pulled through; linen thread is best. Whichever type you use, cut a fairly short length and use a needle thin enough to pass through the holes.

Easy

MATERIAL CONSIDERATIONSChoose a strong but soft material such as denim for one of your two fabrics. If the material is too thin in both layers, the shoe won’t be stable enough. However, if it’s too robust, it will be difficult to sew the sections on to the soles by hand.

turn each piece right sides out. Shape the corners and edges neatly, and iron flat. Sew up the openings by hand with a blanket stitch.

3 Pin the fabric pieces in place on both soles.

Once you have threaded sturdy wool through the darning needle, sew the fabric upper on to the sole. Continue stitching around the entire sole in an anti-clockwise direction.

4 Use a back-stitch to attach both side pieces to

the upper toe sections. It’s a good idea to try on the shoe before sewing together the two fabric sections; this will help you determine precisely where the final seam should go, ensuring a perfect fit.

PROJECT DESIGNERS sophie pester & catharina bruns

Make It Today | Online Project

Use a cheerful, complementary colour for your edging to best

accent the fabric selection

This project is taken from from Supercraft: Easy

Projects For Every Weekend by Sophie Pester and

Catharina Bruns (£12.99, Dorling Kindersley),

dk.com

DISCOVERMORE MAKES

ESPADRILLES

The Espadrilles Supplies section of The Makery is a veritable shoe-making one-stop. It stocks soles for £9.95,

Gütermann top-stitching thread for £2.20, linen for £4 and a varied selection of

fabrics sold by fat quarter, which is all you need to make one pair.

themakery.co.uk/collections/espadrille-supplies

Make It Today | Online Project

1. Shoe size UK9 (EU42)2. Shoe size UK8 (EU41)3. Shoe size UK6—7 (EU39—40)4. Shoe size UK5 (EU38)5. Shoe size UK3—4 (EU36—37)

back centre

sole

outerinner

turn opening

turn opening

EASY ESPADRILLESMAKE IT TODAY, ISSUE 17, Online projectDesigner Sophie Pester and Catharina Bruns

Make It Today | Online Project

1. Sh

oe

size

UK

9 (E

U4

2)

2. S

hoe

size

UK

8 (E

U4

1)3.

Sho

e si

ze U

K6—

7 (E

U39

—40

)4

. Sho

e si

ze U

K5

(EU

38)

5. S

hoe

size

UK

3—4

(EU

36—3

7)

back

cen

tre

sole

out

erin

ner

turn

ope

ning

turn

ope

ning

EASY ESPADRILLESMAKE IT TODAY, ISSUE 17, Online projectDesigner Sophie Pester and Catharina Bruns

Make It Today | Online Project