Tag: shopping

Handmade Shoes for Men

Paul gave this book to me for Christmas. It is simultaneously both the best and the worst book that I have ever owned!

Handmade Shoes for Men tells you pretty much everything you need to know about making men’s shoes by hand. The only automated part of the process is the carving of individually-tailored lasts. Every other part of the construction of the shoe is done by hand.

The brilliant part is that I can do this! Secrets have been revealed! I can learn how to make shoes!

The terrible part is that all of the equipment is very specialised, and sometimes expensive, and I still can’t afford to go on any of the courses that teach shoemaking properly. 

But… I’ve learned everything I know about dressmaking and corsetry from a healthy combination of reading books and making things up as I go along. Perhaps it would be possible to learn at least the basics of shoemaking the same way?

I have plans for the lasts I bought from Ebay, and I’m still working on ideas for some developments to the soft slippers that can be made without lasts.

I only wish I’d been brave enough to study Fashion when I left school. I could have had more than ten years’ experience as a shoemaker by now, and be creating beautiful work like this:

Petrol blue wingtip ankle boots by Pakerson, at Forzieri.

(I’d make mine in fuchsia pink, of course…)

Rain, rain, go away!

I’ve been a bit quiet around here lately, mostly because all the things I’m making are for other people’s Christmas presents, so I can’t show you any pictures for another couple of weeks! 

It’s also been absolutely pouring with rain for days and days. This is the second day in a row where it doesn’t seem to have bothered to get properly light. Did I miss the memo about England being moved to the North Pole?

Once my Christmas sewing’s a bit more complete, I think it’s time to have a go at making a raincoat.

 

This is Simplicity 3966, a discontinued pattern from the “Built By You” range. (That should give you an idea of how long I’ve been meaning to get around to making this raincoat!)

The “Built By You” patterns are designed for Simplicity by Wendy Mullins. Not only does she have her own clothing collection, she also writes sewing books and designs these patterns.

Ooh! In fact, although this pattern is discontinued by Simplicity, it’s still available from Wendy’s website.

I plan to make a hybrid version – the longer length coat (right), with the full length tabbed sleeves, and the storm cape (left).

I bought the fabric from John Lewis a couple of years ago. The sales assistant gave me a very funny look when I bought five metres of pink and white spotted oilcloth, and told her that it was going to be a coat, not a tablecloth!

I’m hoping that the resulting coat will have something of a Cath Kidston feel about it. I might just have to treat myself to a pretty handbag or purse, to complete the look…

That’s better.

For anybody looking for the knitting patterns – they’ve moved!

I’ve been working with a shopping cart plugin here on WordPress, but it couldn’t accomplish everything I needed from it, so back I go to good old Etsy, with a new account.

The shop is looking a little bit empty at the moment. This is because I have a stall at my local Art Market next Saturday (13th), and I didn’t want to list lots and lots of items on Etsy, only to end up removing them a week later. So, I’m going to wait until after the Market, and list anything that I happen to bring back.

I’ve still got plenty of sewing and knitting projects on the go that will keep me busy up until the middle of October.

I am taking corset orders for October, if anybody wants one? The shipping deadline for items to reach the USA in time for Christmas is October 30th, so you’d better start thinking about it now! If I receive payment by September 28th and your measurements by October 5th, you can have a corset in time for Hallowe’en! (Or Christmas, if you’re in the US!)

Towards the end of the year I’m hoping to be able to devote a bit of time to drafting some patterns for my own designs, and doing a lot more work with organic, Fair Trade and recycled fabrics. I keep talking about them, but so far I’ve been too busy to actually do anything about it. I need to remedy that very soon.

Knitting Patterns in the shop…

This weekend I finally got around to sewing the zip into my green cardigan, and I spent several hours yesterday putting the finishing touches to the knitting pattern for it. It’s available in sizes from 30″ to 54″ chest, and you can make it from any chunky yarn that you fancy.

I’ve added the pattern to the shop, where you can buy and download it as a PDF file.
I’ve also added a free pattern for you, which is the Simplest Scarf in the World.

Last week I started work on a raglan shrug design, which I’m currently knitting up from my black Colinette Point 5, although even as I’m knitting it I’m thinking of ways to make it better. Once I’ve worked out all the kinks, I’ll write up that pattern for you as well.

If you do download any of my patterns, I’d love to see what you’ve made!

Please feel free to leave comments linking me to any photographs you’ve taken and are happy to share. You can also find me on Ravelry.

[EDIT] All currently available patterns can now be found in my Ravelry store!

Simplest Scarf in the WorldZip-Up Cardigan with Moss Stitch Edging

Shoe Envy.

I really must get a move-on and work out how to make little canvas shoes.

The Nice Man Who Knows About Feet told me that I shouldn’t be wearing Converse any more, so I sold my yellow pair with daisies and ladybirds to . I still have a pinstripe pair that didn’t sell, and I keep looking at them, and wondering whether the next time I put them on they’ll magically be okay for my feet.

(Note to self: This didn’t work with the Doc Martens, so it seems unlikely that the Cons would be okay.)

Because I am a sucker for punishment where shoes are concerned, I’ve just been to look at the Converse section of the Schuh website.

Look! They have Converse with Little Red Riding Hood on them!

I immediately want to make a little red gingham dress to wear with these.

I’m not so keen on this year’s ladybird design, but I do rather like this blue and yellow floral pair. I’m sad that these Sailor Jerry low-tops are men’s, because that means they don’t come in my size. They’re so pretty that I’d happily have worn these with all my summer skirts.

Mind you, if I’m looking at Converse, I ought really to be looking instead at Ethletic Sneakers. It would be really easy to buy a cream pair and paint on them, and then I can have whatever design I like, as well as supporting Fair Trade and renewable resources.

Having said that, has just pointed out that the Little Red Riding Hood Converse are part of (PRODUCT) RED, which has a global fund to provide anti-retroviral drugs, to help fight the AIDS pandemic in Africa. I’ll be looking out for that one red eyelet if I do decide to buy a pair of Converse in future.

I’m still quite a few steps away from being able to transform the slippers I’ve been making into outdoor shoes. I just need to resist the urge to give in to temptation in the meantime!

El Naturalista – Iggdrasil

I’ve just bought a lovely new pair of shoes.

Aren’t they nice?

The reason I thought they were worth mentioning is that El Naturalista go to great lengths to make their shoes as eco-friendly as possible. In their eco-policy they explain how they use recycled rubber for the soles; a product which would normally be classed as industrial waste. They also promise:

To promote natural materials and dyes
To avoid polluting substances
To protect and sustain the environment
To use biodegradable substances where possible
To recycle materials where possible
To pay producers fair prices
To promote traditional skills
To support appropriate technology
To operate with transparency

And they make gorgeous, comfortable shoes in lots of lovely colours!

You can buy them online from the El Naturalista website. In the UK, they’re also available in Jones the Bootmaker, Footprints, Shoon and Schuh.

Ananse Village fabrics

This morning I received an email from Ananse Village. They’re a company based in California, who have a Fair Trade agreement with craftspeople in Africa. They sell clothing, musical instruments, jewellery, masks, baskets… all sorts of things.

They contacted me specifically to draw my attention to the fabrics, which I have to say are absolutely amazing.


The images above represent a 12″ swatch, and the prints are all made with wax. Some of them are amazingly detailed.

From a personal point of view, I probably wouldn’t want to have the fabrics shipped from Africa, to California, and then on to me. There must be a more direct route of buying African fabrics like this in the UK.

There’s no denying that the fabrics are gorgeous though.

But I can’t even drive…

Know what?

I might possibly be persuaded to have more than two driving lessons, if I thought I’d ever be able to drive around in one of these:

It’s a Morgan LifeCar. It’s a prototype at the moment, but it’s designed to run on hydrogen fuel cells, which produce zero harmful emissions. Just water, I believe.

Ice Cream Light Fittings.

I need these light fittings.

Immediately.

They’re designed specifically to be used with energy-saving lightbulbs, particularly the curly compact fluorescents, which are often described as looking like an ice cream. Perfect!

Ice cream light fittings not your style?

How about a skull called Dave?

Awesome.