My adventures in (DIY) shoemaking -- part 11

[shoefan]

Here are pictures of my latest efforts (previous pair is posted here: http://www.styleforum.net/showthread.php?t=195174).

This pair is a 'full brogue' (a.k.a. wingtip) in a reddish brown leather. I did a beveled waist and a fiddleback sole, though both could use some improvement. The sole was stitched on with an 11 SPI handstitch, a bit more than previous efforts.

The last is a narrow round toe that I made myself; it is the same last I used for the tan pair of short wing adelaide oxfords posted a couple of years ago. The fit on these lasts is now outstanding.



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[Xenon]

Shoefan, let me be the first in this thread to congratulate you both on the finished as well as the last. Excellent.

This is an inspiration to me and I hope to be able to follow in your footsteps!

 

[tjc4golf]

I thought your last pair looked excellent. And for the most part these look good. But the shape of the wingtip, in particular the area right behind the toe medallion (most noticeable in first pic), looks mishapen and my eye is drawn to that. If I force myself to look beyond this area the rest of the shoe looks pretty good.

 

[Blackhood]

Lovely looking shoes, even better for the fact that you made them yourself. I would be proud to own something like that.

Having said that, I can't fail to agree with the following:

Originally Posted by tjc4golf

And for the most part these look good. But the shape of the wingtip, in particular the area right behind the toe medallion (most noticeable in first pic), looks mishapen and my eye is drawn to that. If I force myself to look beyond this area the rest of the shoe looks pretty good.

 

[brokentelephone]

Originally Posted by shoefan

Here are pictures of my latest efforts (previous pair is posted here: http://www.styleforum.net/showthread.php?t=195174).

This pair is a 'full brogue' (a.k.a. wingtip) in a reddish brown leather. I did a beveled waist and a fiddleback sole, though both could use some improvement. The sole was stitched on with an 11 SPI handstitch, a bit more than previous efforts.

The last is a narrow round toe that I made myself; it is the same last I used for the tan pair of short wing adelaide oxfords posted a couple of years ago. The fit on these lasts is now outstanding.



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Incredible! Planning on customers? I would love to buy a pair !

 

[A Canuker]

I think that is great.

 

[Newlaw]

Look awesome! How many hours all in do you think these took you?

 

[hammer07]

Congrats! Love the progression from pair to pair.

 

[Harold falcon]

Absolutely awesome.

 

[Newcomer]

Absolutely awesome. It is great to see the progress that you have made! And personally I am diggin the bevelled waist, I think it looks great.

 

[acecow]

I can't even imagine what you had to go through to achieve such excellent results. Congratulations!

 

[shoefan]

Originally Posted by tjc4golf

I thought your last pair looked excellent. And for the most part these look good. But the shape of the wingtip, in particular the area right behind the toe medallion (most noticeable in first pic), looks mishapen and my eye is drawn to that. If I force myself to look beyond this area the rest of the shoe looks pretty good.

You are correct that the inside/forward curve of the wing cap is a bit off. This pair was the first time I've used a gimping attachment on a sewing machine, and using it on a tight inside curve is definitely something of a challenge. If you look closely, you can also see a bit of an imperfection in the quarter/vamp edge below the eyelets in that first picture -- that curve is not so smooth. Still, and fortunately, these and the numerous other shortcomings are not really all that noticeable in person.

 

[Ataturk]

I understand many shoemakers buy completed uppers and just do the rest of the shoe. I have no idea where you'd get them, and I'm not saying you should do that -- but it might be an option for something like this. I can't imagine doing a brogue like that -- very impressive.

 

[Steve Thomas]

 

[cptjeff]

Agree on the critisicim of the upper. The medallion is off, the shape of the wing is off. The last is alright, though the toe seems a little blobby.

However, it looks like you did a great job on the sole and waist. But I really must say that your last few pairs have been better IMO.