Today, I wanted to make a pair of sandals, so I went ahead and did it. I found this style called “Margot” online, and I thought, “Hey, that looks pretty good, I can totally do that.” So, I got started.
First, I grabbed some leather scraps I had lying around. I’ve got tons of these from other projects. I picked out a nice, thick piece for the soles and some softer stuff for the straps. It was all just stuff I already had, so that’s a win, right? No need to buy new materials.
Next, I traced my foot onto some paper to get the basic shape. This was kind of awkward, but I managed. Then, I cut out two of those shapes from the thick leather for the soles. Cutting through that thick leather was tough! My hands were definitely feeling it.
After that, I cut out long strips from the softer leather. I made sure they were long enough to go over my foot and wrap around a bit. I didn’t measure anything precisely, just eyeballed it. I figured I could always trim them down later. I cut four strips in total, two for each sandal.
Then came the tricky part – attaching the straps to the soles. I used a leather punch to make holes in the soles and the straps. Let me tell you, punching through that thick sole leather was a workout! I was sweating by the end of it.
I used some strong thread and a big needle to sew the straps onto the soles. I just did a simple stitch, nothing fancy. I had to use pliers to pull the needle through sometimes. It was kind of a pain, honestly.
I tried them on every so often to make sure they were fitting okay. I had to trim the straps a few times to get them just right. I wanted them to be snug but not too tight.
Finally, after a few hours of work, they were done! They’re not perfect, but hey, I made them myself. They’re comfortable enough, and they look pretty decent, I think. I might add some buckles or something later to make them look a bit more finished, but for now, I’m happy with them.
- Got my materials together: Leather scraps, paper, scissors, leather punch, needle, and thread.
- Made the soles: Traced my feet, cut out the sole shapes from thick leather.
- Made the straps: Cut out long strips from softer leather.
- Attached the straps: Punched holes, sewed the straps onto the soles.
- Tried them on and adjusted: Trimmed the straps for a good fit.
Here is a summary what I did step by step:
So, that’s my Margot sandal-making adventure. It was fun, a bit frustrating at times, but totally worth it in the end. If you’re looking for a fun little project, give it a try! Just be prepared to put in a little elbow grease.