Historical Shoemaking 101: Making Wood Heels

[@theresaanndiaz3179]

I loved watching your process. My library had a book called, I think, " Every lady her own shoemaker" which made me want to make shoes. Watching you made me realize that I would rather pay someone else and whatever they charge is probably a bargain.

[@cincocats320]

Same. I love the concept of making shoes, but after watching Nicole's and some other shoe making videos I have realized that it isn't a process I would actually enjoy doing. But I love that this info is accessible for people that want to give it a try.

[@TheMetatronGirl]

So fascinating. You make the whole process look so easy…which I suppose the concept actually is, but being able to understand a process and implementation are totally different things. Those beautiful heels are very obviously the result of years of practice, and no small amount of talent. I really appreciate you taking the time to film the whole shoemaking process up close.

[@sep.s]

In terms of larger tools like sanders and if you live in a city or larger town, it's worth checking out if you have a makerspace near you to see if you can use some of the tools at the space, rather than having to buy everything.

[@tjs114]

Many of the MakerSpaces have apparently folded due to the liability insurance they have to carry. We had 4 within 50 miles and they've all closed shop.

[@lolitabubbles26]

@@tjs114 That really sucks = /. I know some universities will allow people to book their workshops. If that helps at all.

[@mienafriggstad3360]

Also some rental places that rent yard work equipment; also rent sanders ect.

[@Wingedshadowwolf]

Poplar and birch. This is one of the few times someone mentions wood types that I can harvest from my own yard, for a project!

[@lovecats6856]

Poplar. Cool. This may be the only thing that tree is good for.

[@nysaloudon311]

@@lovecats6856 there's a type of poplar in Northwest America that has wonderful fibers. It's known as Cottonwood. It was used a lot by indigenous Americans for textiles, cordage, etc. So not so unuseful a tree :)

[@sophroniel]

I don't know why it makes me so happy seeing a woman using shop tools to make stuff but, as a woman who has gotten into making bone needles recently (as well as fixing antique stocking machines which is an absolute rabbithole), it's something that people still think of as "masculine"... which is bonkers, cos crafts are crafts and not gendered lol. Either way, you deserve a much bigger following than you have and as always your videos are useful, informative and so well made 😉🥰

[@spacecase0]

As someone that has a lot of rabbits and I've actually seen a bit into the rabbit holes they create, I wonder if a lot of people really think about what actual rabbit holes look like. Anyway, I loved your comment and completely agree.

[@jenndixon1002]

As someone who is female and sells power tools....I completely agree. I simply cannot understand why people still think that using tools is "for men" or planting a garden is "for women".

[@faameexplains1192]

Oh stocking like socks I was thinking warehouses

[@bluewingsprite]

I love stocking machines, is there anywhere to learn more about your process?

[@gibberishname]

The 2 different sides of the Japanese saw aren't related to the "harshness" of the cut. One side with the staggered teeth is for "cross-cutting" against the grain, the one with the bigger, flat-edged teeth is for "rip cutting" with the grain of the wood.

[@spacecase0]

I have watched almost every shoe making video I can manage to find. Yours are absolutely fantastic. Mostly because you have actual experience and tell us exactly why you are doing each and every step. thank you

[@x1435]

I really appreciate the fact that you won't show us last carving yet because you want to gain more experience first. Anyone can make a video showing their first last carving, but not many people can teach the subject from a master's point of view 🙂

[@mathildlamarre6676]

Girl, carving pumpkins should be a breeze for you. I need this knife collection before Halloween.

[@becauseimafan]

😂🎃

[@alycrochet]

Your hair and makeup is gorgeous in this video. The darker lipstick and the eyeshadow work so well with your hair color

[@rytazmuro767]

This video made me realise why I struggle to find a comfortable modern shoe to wear. The detail about toespring is a revelation!

[@hillshounds]

Will I ever make shoes? I doubt it very much. I am still fascinated by the process and love these videos. Ditto tailoring and making beautiful clothing. I enjoy watching all your videos very much while I am knitting.

[@annlidslot8212]

Hi, You managed to sneak a class in shoemaking 101 past my defences. I'm so glad you did, I'm all for unsolicited education. I'll never even come close to making any shoes for myself, but I'm going to follow this class in awe, even if I fell asleep during my first viewing. No no stop... That's a good thing. I have some medical issues going, that has introduced me to Ms Insomnia, and you getting around that roadblock is all good. Your calm voice and that little piano tune did what sleep meds failed to do for some nights now (I don't like to remember the count, but it's about 4-ish, so thank you) and I got four hours in I think. That will stop me from getting sleep deprivation psychosis, in your face Ms Insomnia. My second time around have me in awe at your skill. Yes, I know that you have had training and practice. That doesn't take away the elegance of your skill with the tools of your trade, though. I'm looking forward to your next installment, be that sewing related, making your own last, something a bit silly with Ms Abby Cox, or whatever will come comes. I love them all. Thank you. Yours, Ann

[@ingemariesongbird]

I love watching things like shoes being made. It helps me to truly understand why a great shoe should also be a well made one.

[@enjoyingthecrisis5931]

We use a product in gunsmithing for fitting stocks called "Inletting black" that may help you as far as the chalk problem. It's made specifically to transfer to and not soak into wood so you can see contact points and carve them away. I'm not sure on clean up on the last itself after though. You might want to put a little bit of Ren Wax on there first.

[@TudorositiesbyMaureen]

I had a very detailed mechanical drawing class in high school. The various views of the heel reminds me of this technique.

[@etainne2001]

i love watching you do shoes. I know you do lots of other things, but no one does this like you do.

[@bunhelsingslegacy3549]

Thank you thank you thank you for mentioning centre lines!!! I mark the CL on EVERYTHING I DO, whether it's crocheting, plate steel armour or a cotton shirt...

[@hazeluzzell]

I love watching you work. A true artist.

[@meghannevans2411]

I really love all of your videos. This one specifically however, you were so soothing and your music is so soothing that I fell asleep on the couch. Dreaming of beautiful shoes. My husband says that they looked beautiful when he finished it so now I'm going to watch again.

[@kitdubhran2968]

Oohh. Thanks for this. I have a pair of shoes that are wonderfully built. Except they have the standard hollow plastic heel under the leather. I’m incredibly brutal to shoes, and one of the heels is cracking apart. So I would love to know how to make and replace it with a good wood heel. ❤️❤️❤️

[@YetAnotherJenn]

Same! I love my boots and was thinking of hand carving heels for them. I thought they were stacked leather and sadly found out they were not once I had spent a winter with them.

[@kitdubhran2968]

@@YetAnotherJenn oohh. Yes! I might look into stacked leather as well, since that’s an alternative option that might be less hard to do. Maybe. 😂

[@nataliestanchevski4628]

This reminds me of an animal carving class I took when I was 12. I still have a scar on my hand, 32 years later, because I like to pull towards myself with tools lol.

[@mayloomis9638]

Belt sander! I stole my dads a few years back and just keep hoping he doesn't ask for it back... Love that thing :)

[@HosCreates]

I'm never going to make my own shoes but as a shoe lover I find your invaluable knowledge of shoes making helpful in buying quality shoes built to last

[@katherinemorelle7115]

Do I ever have any intention of making my own shoes? No. Even if I wanted to, I’m disabled and just can’t even work up to the sort of strength and ability I’d require for it. But do I still pay extremely close attention to every video in this series? Yes. Yes I do. Also, learning about how shoes work, how they’re made, it’s not just interesting, I’ve also been able to learn why most modern shoes just don’t work for me. I have ridiculous banana feet- extremely high arches and insteps. My feet are fantastic for going en pointe (not that I can do that anymore), not so great for modern shoes, which tend to be made very straight. They all press very painfully on the top of my instep- I’ve never found a pair of runners that don’t hurt my feet (good thing I can’t run anymore anyway I guess). But old lasts were curvy! They actually look like my feet. Not something I would have learned without Nicole. Now, if only more shoes were made on those curvy lasts! As it is, I now have one pair of closed in shoes that don’t hurt me at all (the AD Londoners). And I think I’ll just have to be happy with that. I’m a wheelchair user, so they’ll likely last me the rest of my life anyway. Silver lining right there!

[@talithacrow7530]

I have so obnoxiously flat feet and weak ankles, so I have trouble finding shoes that are both pretty and comfortable for me. I've kinda settled on different types of slightly heeled lace up boots. My Camille boots and a cheap heeled combat boot I got at a thrift store are my most comfortable and worn shoes

[@veronikaczr1105]

And those shoes were made of leather, which means they would adjust to your feet (to certain point). They were also pretty expensive (while lasting long), but that wouldn't bother me so much, because I don't need 10 pairs of shoes and change them frequently. I need one or two pairs that I like and that will last long

[@katherinemorelle7115]

@@veronikaczr1105 yep. I actually haven’t worn any other shoes since I bought my ADs. I don’t need to- they go with everything and they’re extremely comfortable. They were expensive, sure. But worth it to me. I really hated that I could only wear ballet flats in winter previously.

[@annlidslot8212]

@@katherinemorelle7115 Hi, Goodness me, I hope you don't live anywhere with snow and sub freezing temperatures. That would have been brutal. I'm glad to hear that you don't have to do that anymore. I live in Scandinavia, and have yet to buy a pair of AD shoes. They are all so pretty and I have trouble deciding on "my" style. Yours, Ann

[@amelianannette972]

reading this comment... are you me????? lol. former ballet dancer here, great feet for ballet and shitty feet for literally everything else.

[@peggyriordan9857]

This was great! I can't imagine the hours it took to be able to make all of these pieces and have them come out properly. WOW! You are so talented. Thank you for showing us how this is done. I will certainly appreciate my shoes more and the people who make them...even though most come from China now and the people are not paid properly for their talent and hard work. Thank you again!

[@calicolyon]

I needed to calm. Thank you for your videos!

[@agimagi2158]

Very interesting! Watching the sanders is very satisfying!

[@jswc3]

This is such a great tutorial. Thanks so much!

[@grimnirnacht]

I love this. I was trying to find out how to make shoes over a year ago. These vids are so perfect and easy to understand ❤️

[@WhiteArcenio]

This video is really awesome. You did wonderful work 👍👍👍

[@nixhixx]

Fascinating.... And such a thorough walk-through.

[@zephiel70]

This is so danged interesting. I already like fiddling with wood, this is just incredible to watch.

[@susanrobertson984]

I love your shoe making videos. ❤️❤️

[@raraavis7782]

Yet another hobby, I'd love to take up. This was very interesting, thanks for sharing the process in such detail!

[@rebeccac5021]

This is such a beautiful video

[@michellecornum5856]

Tricky and hard to do. If things go wrong here -- ouch! I have a pair of shoes that look like they should be easy to wear, they are a flat platform, but the bottom of the shoe is just a tiny bit narrower than the top of the platform, and it's really easy to lose your balance. Which is curious, if they were ice skates, balancing would be easier to stand on, and something that wide should be no problem, but they have tripped up several people. I once had another pair that were just miserable to wear, my balance was off, my back hurt, my calves hurt. I finally took a good look at them, and one heel stood almost a quarter of an inch taller than the other.

[@CraftQueenJr]

Can you add links to your measuring tools in the description? The clear ruler with the cut outs and the peg thing both look useful but I have now idea how to find them.

[@LindaUrsin]

About Dremels, don't turn them up too high. They will burn the wood (been there, done that)

[@reginaschellhaas1395]

Fascinating, thanks!

[@janetfoltz9090]

Do you mean "tracing paper" used with a tracing wheel? That's what we called that stuff when I used it learning sewing in 4H 50 years ago. As always, this is an interesting video. Thanks

[@auditoryeden]

This is an all-around great intro to woodworking imho.

[@cecilialang5856]

Love this video! Did you have a video where you make a wooden last? :)

[@fatimamohammed7623]

Thank you for this Vedio 😅 I was really tired 😪 of searching to know what shoes heel is made from …. 😊❤️

[@skullslace2426]

That reminds me of the time I started group dancing and our very experienced, incredibly wise "coach" demanded that all girls wear the same shoe model with exactly 5 inch heels. Having a UK shoe size of 3 1/2 that time, I struggled profusely. Thankfully, he learned that that type of demand is bs, and I quickly found shoe models that fit my feet much better, had their heels at a much more comfortable position and bought them with 4 inch heels, which improved my performance greatly.

[@lovecats6856]

I am shyly avoiding asking what sort of dancing was done, that you were expected to wear 4 or 5 inch heels.

[@tracynail4432]

@@lovecats6856 with the exception of tiny feet like in her situation, 4-5 inch heels aren’t that extreme. They’re very comfortable to dance in, if they fit you properly.

[@mariaduszak9064]

@@tracynail4432 5 inch heel is 12,4 cm. The highest Louboutin pairs go that high only. 4 inch is 10 centimeter heel, a tall court pump heel. As far as I know, Tango Argentino pro shoes go up that high. Cabaret, up to 11 cm. Never seen 5 inch heel without platform (as no dance shoes have them ffor obvious reasons) not being called extreme even by experienced wearers. I'm 4 eu 41 and 5 inch heels are still very,very high, only fetish heels go higher than 12 -13 cm top.

[@KathrynsRavens]

Totally off topic, the striped top in the into is so cute. Was it purchased or made by you?

[@Sanne78]

Beautiful work! I have no intention of making my own shoes but it was super interesting none the less :)

[@sandiemable]

Loved this; I could watch you sew and/or make shoes all day long! Because of the extreme sharpness of these tools, have you tried wearing one of the metal mesh gloves on the hand holding the heel? I have seen them worn with a latex glove on top for grip? Save your fingers. xoxo's Sandie

[@romystumpy1197]

I m with you ,I find it therapeutic seeing the cutting of the leather, sewing skiving hammering and the shoe take shape to the final reveal

[@suziecreamcheese211]

Can these be 3D printed?

[@ahuman3642]

Just a quick question, but where exactly do you get your lasts from

[@mi_days4384]

Hello, I've heard it was better to draw the heel pattern with an already lasted shoe?

[@IvyRoad]

Fascinating!

[@ragnakleinen2109]

I really need to learn that. I cannot find shoes that fit me. Only one brand makes them and they have like 6 models

[@Cedardale_craft]

Wow absolutely fascinating.

[@tiffanytomasino335]

Thank you for sharing!

[@fabioferreiragomes]

ESPETACULAR..INCRÍVEL..MARAVILHOSA

[@technopoptart]

so what you are saying is that a good vice is good advice?

[@nblmqst1167]

👍 Always very interesting.

[@LaDivinaLover]

I think I’ve mentioned it before but I love the way she says “muséums”. It gives me like: 🥰

[@hamburgerhelperflick]

I do too! It's sweetly oldfashioned. My grandmother prounced it like that.

[@katherinemorelle7115]

I also love the way she says “across’d”, which is also very old fashioned.

[@SorrensSorrow]

@@katherinemorelle7115 is it? It always drives me crazy when someone tries to past tense across.

[@katherinemorelle7115]

@@SorrensSorrow I’m pretty sure it is something that used to be said a lot. I’ve certainly read it as a present tense in older books- often written as across’d or across’t. Though I’ve only read it in English books, so I’m not sure if it was ever really a thing in the US or elsewhere. And the way Nicole says it, is definitely in the present tense, not in the past tense.

[@spacecase0]

What band saw did you break? I have got a table top band saw from Harbor Freight. Pretty sure it goes up to 3in but it doesn't like going through Manzanita. But Manzanita breaks hacksaws. Just curious because I don't want to break my bandsaw unnecessarily

[@deszeldra]

Please add closed captions, you should be reaching a much wider audience!

[@zayaweight9579]

very cool

[@roxiepoe9586]

I feel that I should have known that this was exacting and complex, but I didn't.

[@TootlesTart]

Let’s go Irmie!

[@spirit__fox]

Why do so many historic reproduction shoes seem to have curved French heels over other heel types? I've seen what look like other heel types in museum images. Honestly been wondering this since it's a type of heel I can't wear due to a bad ankle.

[@NicoleRudolph]

It all depends on the era! Some time periods really focused on the curvy shape. The 18th c for example pretty much only had that type of heel- it changed over the century, but was curvy like that for wood heels (not low stacked leather). There were more shapes available in the early 20th c as the height rose and alternatives for sports, work, activities, etc came in due to lifestyle changes. But those are specific to a type of shoe style, so they aren't always able to be applied to others.

[@spirit__fox]

@@NicoleRudolph Thank you! I was wondering if there were other things out there or how much of it was reproduction bias. From the bit's I've seen, there are also more options in the 19th century as well but, the curved heels remained popular? Looking deeply at historic footwear is new to me, so I've mostly done the flipping through pictures in museum collections online thing, which I know isn't really a representation of what people wore as much as what survived. I'm thinking maybe advertising is a good place to look for 19th century at least? Also I don't recommend injuring, fracturing, and then re-injuring the same ankle. It makes shoes permanently kinda boring. Sorry if this was sort of a weird question.

[@miaandersen8731]

Wonder if I could 3D print heels and lasts. 🤔

[@eighsapiens3195]

Please teach lasts next. 🙏

[@JP-gj7rd]

Oh this answers my question😂

[@brendabelcher3197]

You are just so awesome and cool 😎

[@lepeypylapa]

Metric is just so much more convenient for everything that needs to be accurate!

[@oliquin-roo3420]

You can now have lasts and heels 3d printed, but I don't know how useful that info is since you prefer the historical methods. Laser cutters are also becoming a lot cheaper and depending on the style you can laser cut leathers and stacked heels to reduce waste.

[@suziecreamcheese211]

Where?

[@jenfirelight]

You should use a cutting board instead of your self healing mats for carving out your heel. Strictly because cutting boards are a lot cheaper to replace, and if you put a damp cloth underneath of it it won't slide around on you.

[@adahusten2188]

While fascinating and beautiful....I think I will just save up for American Dutchess shoes...

[@vanessatrotter69]

👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑

[@inchb.wigglet640]

I really should not be watching this. I have too many hobbies already.