Make Everyday Shoes into LARP Boots!

[@DumbMuscle]

Permanently joining the boots is a good idea - but I think you'd be best off still rounding off that bottom corner somehow. Currently it's a very harsh vertical line that looks a little unnatural there.

[@Tibbs_Farm]

Agreed, round off THEN permanently attach

[@azureflametarot]

Even just beveling it would probably make a big difference if it’s going to be adhered anyway, but agreed, it’s a very blunt line without doing something

[@mikeregester25]

I agree with rounding it off then permanently attaching it.

[@hudsonroyale7499]

Thank you so much for the shout out - my son has been hopping around the room since I showed them, you totally made our day ❤️

[@SkillTree]

I was so moved by your email and I wanted to make sure I responded in the best way I could. I hope your sun enjoyed it and knows that he is awesome. You are awesome as well for all you do for him and the encouragement you give. Thank you both for watching😁

[@sAssclown]

Idk if you remember me, but I sent you a picture of the quiver I made after watching your video over a year ago. That was the beginning of a whole new era for me, all thanks to you! I’ve always been a woodworker & carpenter by trade, but that was my intro into leather, and since then I have done probably a hundred leather projects & even branched into casting, blacksmithing, & fabrication. Though it all started out as a hobby, I now have people begging me to make all sorts of stuff for them. I just wanted you to know that you are absolutely making a difference in peoples lives. Teaching people to hone their creative process inspires confidence in one’s abilities to make or do anything they can imagine, which in turn raises self-confidence and allows them to overcome doubt. What you teach isn’t just hobbies, It inspires positive overall lifestyle changes and reinforces a creative approach to obstacles one may encounter in life. Keep doing the good work my friend, & we’ll keep leveling up along with you!

[@SkillTree]

This here made my day! I really appreciate you reaching out to let me know your feelings. My goal with this channel is 100% about showing people that they can achieve so much and learn amazing things by just giving it a shot. I couldn't have said what I want the ultimate takeaway better than you did here. Thank you so much for sticking with me and supporting what I do. Congrats on leveling up yourself so much and making the world more interesting just by being in it!

[@hjorhrafn]

This is one of the most heartfelt comments I've ever seen on YT.

[@shadow_thiy]

I'm looking forward to seeing what your full kit looks like. The biggest thing I'm appreciative of your videos is that you speak of prices and ways to budget. As someone trying to get into and understand this hobby. Not sinking too much into it when getting started is a lot more welcoming than staring at the paywall of some very expensive items online.

[@tiny-grimes]

hehe Kit

[@olewyrdd]

Some practical advice that I offer to you is that when I started, I looked for leather in places that normally ppl wouldn't typically look. Garage sales, Goodwill/Salvation Army/Thrift stores, etc. I would almost always buy whatever leather garments (old jackets, mini-skirts, leather pants, leather sofas, etc) and reclaim the leather from those goods. Granted garment leather is very thin but the good thing about that leather is that you could use it as trim or leather bias tape. For leather type armor....old saddles and tack. It's thick enough (anywhere from 9oz to 12oz) depending on which type of saddle you get secondhand. English and American saddles are completely different. But a brand new double shoulder currently is about 90$ for 8-9 oz. more if you want thicker. I bought 2 broken american saddles that were busted up for about 50$ a few years ago. Cut the stitching and harvest what you can. The best part of buying old busted up saddles....they are all ready 'battle scarred'...i.e. holes, no fuss to antique it, scratches, weathering, etc. Auctions and estate sales are another way to find used leather. Again, look for anything with leather. Most of the tack used for horses have buckles and such already built into the reins, halters, bridles, headstalls, whatever. Same goes for leather notions. O and D rings, brass/nickel clips and snaps, you can usually find fairly cheap at home improvement centers instead of buying from a leather goods store. And at the garage sales and thrift stores, for those notions on sandals with buckles, old purses/bags, whatever you can find that has metal hardware. I used hardware (4 buckles...2 from each shoe) once from an old pair of sandals to use on a pair of bracers I made. I paid 50 cents for the shoes. If you've a Hobby Lobby near, check their weekly flyer (either in-store or online). Every once in awhile they will run a Leather something discount (if I am correct, somewhere between 10 to 15 percent). While they do not have the most extensive collection of leather, they do have basic tools, waxed thread/sinew and notions. My favorite leather to buy from them are the scrap leather bags. Usually have enough decent pieces for smaller projects. Hit up some upholsteries as well. See if they don't have a scrap bin that you can burrow through. (this idea just hit me) Anywho, happy hunting and good luck.

[@wesleymatthews390]

That is a GENIUS solution to a very common problem! Good boots are definitely pricey, and 'costume' boots aren't worth it for lack of ruggedness. For those wanting to get into LARP but don't (yet) have the skill or confidence to pull this off - most LARPs have some great amateur leatherworkers that would likely do this work for you at a fraction of the cost of new boots if you hit them up with the link to this video! Sharing is caring! =D

[@ArtAntiDe]

On a side note: It's so sad that knee high boots for guys are not in mainstream fashion (anymore) and veeeeeeryyy hard to find. First, because it looks damn foine on guys. Second, because I hate buying women's boots (they never have my size and/or look girly. I wanna look badass).

[@gandalftehdank6052]

Thank the Lord they aren't in the mainstream. Thank the Lord they are left pure and un-bastardised.

[@williamjames5321]

@@gandalftehdank6052, you have a very good point and to it I agree. I think it’s far better to have the skill to make the boots or up cycle, like what we see here.

[@gandalftehdank6052]

@@williamjames5321 It is. Indeed there are few fields in life that do not thrive once you master its ways and stop relying on others to do so for you. Self-sufficiency is perhaps the closest thing to freedom on this Earth.

[@amypatterson7395]

I’m a woman (with extra-small feet) and I have been struggling to find good mid-calf to knee-high historical-looking boots for LARPing as well 😢 Also, women’s boots are almost universally lower-quality and fall apart way faster than men’s boots from my research.

[@DrChattan]

You can get men knee high riding boots. For horse riding obviously.

[@Reyn_Roadstorm]

The extra strap length could allow you to add a removable sheath for an external boot dagger or seven. Never can have too many daggers after all.

[@ntscho_tschi1009]

Dagger Dagger Dagger

[@DH-xw6jp]

There is one scene in DreamWorks "Sinbad" (the animated one) and one of the pirates gets stopped from entering the party and is told he has to leave his weapons at the door. He then procceds to spend _the entire time_ they are at the party unloading his weapons array, finally taking they last one off just as Sinbad decides to leave.

[@piotrwisniewski70]

​@@DH-xw6jpoh that scene is a comedy gold. Similar scene was in pirates of the Caribbean at world's end, when they arrived to Singapore and Elizabeth was pulling out various guns from her pockets and Barbosa was looking at it confused

[@silverdragon1314]

These look so good, I'll have to try this at some point. I'm a wide footed, huge calf girl so shoes are not my friend and I've been looking into customizing some and this definitely helps

[@tigerwhat]

I have been binging you for about a month now. And it is interesting to watch your charisma level up every episode….

[@bebopfirefly]

I want to use this and try to make Jedi boots for a costume! A lot of your larp videos have given me ideas for my jedi costume build. Thanks, Kit!

[@Mek_Alenes]

Want to do these for my Jedi robes, too. Came up with basically the same design myself a while ago, with some minor differences like a strap that goes around the sole in front of the heel and a piece of leather that covers the instep and lacing. Seeing this vid gives me confidence to actually start building them (as soon as I'm finished with my woolen coat ;) ).

[@swamphag8525]

This is such a good idea! Shoes are always the hardest part of a kit because unless you're looking to spend serious cash, it's going to be very hard to find something comfortable that fits the vibe. Definitely going to use this idea.

[@balduinvontrier128]

This Larp-gear series is the most helpful thing for beginners. You cover all the things you struggle with to get your hands on: Shoes, rain proof clothing and even the freaking tent! It's great! To answer your question: These are your Larp-boots now. If they gonna fall apart soon anyway, don't use them up not larping.

[@TangledPie]

Love the positive message at the end! I like that you are honest about what you don't know and what you learn on the way! I'm new to leather myself, and I love watching your vids! ❤

[@TwinsofDestruction]

Fantastic idea for some great looking boots! We do like the idea of making these boots, legit larp boots, and attaching them permanently, but if we may suggest, cut the corner on the boot you mentioned, match it to the already made seam on the Tims, then rivet or sew into place. We feel that by following the seam line, it will take these boots to a whole other level of coolness, as you would be continuing to use the Tims design to your advantage and adding in your own flavor, and it would all blend that much more. Either way, Thank you for the video and the great idea! Excelsior!

[@mavenesquith6825]

This man is beautiful and a treasure to the KZbin larp genre! Wonderful energy and his excitement for larp and crafting is contagious. A fav new subscribe for sure.

[@jananay2768]

This really raised my spirits on a sucky day. It won’t be anytime soon, but now I’m even more excited to work on getting my whole LARP costume together, especially with this genius solution to the same issue you experienced

[@brandonfullenkamp4723]

The extra piece onto the lacing section was super slick, and I think, integral for making it look seamless. Very well done!

[@emagee7864]

I am always looking for ways to make my outfit "pop." I like this idea, and it inspires me to try it out. Thanks.

[@fitzyizgood]

Your channel really humanizes some of the more intricate sides of leatherworking. Making professional level pieces doesn't have to be overly difficult. Thank you for doing what you do. Additionally, there are some really awesome cobblers out there making videos who I have gotten some really solid tips from for any footwear leather projects I will do in the future.

[@stubbletts]

Those boots look like the type you can get resoled over and over again. Trenton & Heath is a good channel to see how cobblers resole shoes

[@crashoveride9075]

This channel really deserves more subscribers I love the channel you've gone over so many projects and even items I spent years looking for diy projects for and couldn't find

[@haberschnack]

First congrats to your first LARP!!! Second: good idea! I have made my first boots for a dwarf char with two rainboots that I covered with fake leather and a fake fur trim at the top. With some painted foam I made a steel toecap and glued it all on with hot glue and some industrial glue. Held well especially in muddy weather and it forced me to alter my gate which helped get better into character. I will try your idea for some casual boots soon, as I have found some old leather in the attik.

[@AdamMclardy]

Oh they came out fantastic!!!!

[@quentinmchugh995]

dude it's been so long since I so enthusiastically subscribed to an account, absolutely love what you do and the passion you do it with. you've given me SO many cool ideas to work on

[@Gamble9110]

Bro-Meigo!!! Those came out absolutely AMAZING!!!

[@RainMakeR_Workshop]

New here. I've been binge watching your vids. Love the geekcraft. Just watched your buckler vid and a bunch of your LARP gear vids. A skill I'd love to see covered is a LARP safe Spiked Pavise shield? Its a larger strapped shield that also has an offensive spike, but in a different place. It would be awesome for LARP as its both defensive and offensive.

[@ericnox2069]

I have a pair of old combat boots I use. I have a set of leather covers as well that wrap over them to give them a better feeling. Something I have seen in the past is people using EVA foam or even piping insulation to make "armor" to cover more modern boots to give it an armored feeling and hide all the modern sides. Someone once made a bit of EVA armor look like wood/bark to cover their shins and hide the modern boot. This is a wonderful option! Thank you for all help in this for my own larp

[@wilhelmseleorningcniht9410]

You could potentially skive the edges of the leather panels to make it have kinda a smoother transition from one to the other, which actually brought me to another thought. I first learned about skiving (which is like cutting the flesh side of the leather's edge in this kind of scalloped motion to create a gradient and make a leather seam smoother) with a video about making oxford shoes, which often have broguing. You've got some nice long seams on these boots that you could add broguing to for some really nice detail

[@AcaTea]

Someday, it’d be cool to make shoes from scratch. You could have a woodworking episode about making a last, and then a leather working episode about making the liner, upper, welt, and sewing the sole. It’s not a very budget project, admittedly, but it’s a heck of an exp-booster.

[@vincentking2206]

Id stitch them to the boots, but use a hand awl for that process. That way you can reuse them on another pair of boots later and follow your original stitch holes. With those uppers being vegetable tanned, you could get them hand tooled (unless you can do it yourself) and put some type of crest or personalization on them. Since typical garments were lifetime garments back then, those could be your lifetime boot uppers that you make decades of memories with...and maybe even mark and personalize them as your experiences grow.

[@HeraldHealer]

Permanent boots sound epic. Go for it!

[@lesliemaclaren6927]

Okay 1. Amazing job! 2. Totally gonna use your video to make mine for renn faire 3. You should definitely make them into permanent boots 4. In case I didn't mention it, Amazing Job!!!

[@ClaudeBohls]

I appreciate the encouragement

[@adriannemcbrayer8522]

I love how the front flap makes it look like leather grieves. And i saw someone say something about putting a dagger sheathe in the boots and thatd be cool, you could also put a whetstone and fire striker pouches

[@asherael]

The look veg tanned leather takes on if you don't stain it, and just wear/use it from when it was pink is incomparably beautiful, completely unobtainable with stains or paints. I get you don't have the luxury of not matching with this project, but for others, starting with that pink new leather look and letting it age in use it looks sooooooo nice

[@wolfofthehunt0327]

I love this! This is what I needed to figure out to make some of my shoes into knee high or thigh high boots for my version of a Witcher for me!

[@rebeccachapman1557]

I have such a hard time finding riding boots because of my thick calves and while I don't currently own any ankle boots i could do this with, it will make shopping at thrift stores so much easier now I know what i need to look for. thank you so much for this! i'm excited to get started!

[@BeInspiredwithDominic]

That is an awesome projects. I don't larp, but we have outfits for medieval fairs, and it is so hard to find good matching footwear. I might have to make these. Thanks for sharing!

[@vaultdweller6646]

This channel has quickly become such a source of comfort,iv watched most videos at least 3 times right now as I draw and its inspired me to start leathercrafting. So thanks to the skillshare dream team,love you guys!

[@bencorley8687]

Waxed canvas spats to match the waxed canvas cloak is a sweet look.

[@stephenrenwick8781]

Great work on the boots... I have subscribed as I want to see what else you get up to.

[@SkillTree]

Welcome to the Family! Glad to have you😁

[@ordnaelshideout]

I'd say cut those "flaps" and glue everything together, make them permanent! Great boots!

[@Taurusus]

But put a couple stitches or rivets in there for sure, I don't trust glue for nothin'! Not since The Incident...

[@yanivyack]

And that's why this is one of my favorite youtube channels💪💪💪 It's rare to see someone with your enthusiasm these days, it's a delight to watch👌

[@neuromantic4313]

that was amazing. definitely make it permanent.

[@johnfleischer2790]

Don't know if it was suggested already, but I would like to see you make a treasure chest. The classic kind we all remember with the rounded lid and metal banding.

[@deborahdanhauer8525]

Absolutely you should sew that part down and make it part of the boot. As a long time leather worker, I can tell you that is likely to curl up if you don’t. You did a great job on the design. Well done!🐝❤️🤗

[@ponderosabones7803]

I've been binging this whole channel for the past few weeks and it blows my mind that you don't have way more views and subscribers. High quality videos, high quality content, and high quality craftsmanship. This is my new favorite channel 😁

[@DwarfDragonwulf]

I found this channel the other day and I've watched a bunch of your videos. I'm loving this channel.

[@craigbryant9925]

How had KZbin taken this long to suggest your content to me? It's right in my wheelhouse. At least now I have the back catalogue to catch up on. I also dislike those little bits at the bottom. I would probably go with a combo of the 2 options you mentioned. Follow the curve of the original boots stitching and then make it permanent. Especially if they're racing reaching the end of their life you can give them new purpose. And honestly, they look cool enough that I can see them working with some irl outfits.

[@danaventura5998]

As a leather worker, this looks like a blast!

[@DavidM-um2uk]

I needed this! Great tutorial! I have a bunch of leather that actually matches the boots I wear everyday, so bonus.

[@potatogamez3087]

You should use snowseal to water proof your foot wear, I use it on all my boots for re-enacting and I can tell you being in high top boots you will be dry with it applied.

[@battlebardart]

Working on my DnD character cosplay and every single one of your videos have been so helpful. Thank you for these!

[@MisterNiuf]

I found your channel yesterday and love the enthusiasm that you radiate as you make your projects, I'm currently in the midst of binging all you videos. The projects are neat and very fun to see and perhaps one day make myself, but the thing that makes me love the videos is your personality. Keep going strong, you've got a new sub in me! :D

[@korynnlw]

You should come out to LARP Adventures in August. Four day campout in central PA with a great team and one heck of a party.

[@collectyeti6313]

If you want a semi permanent fix for that little flap of leather towards the bottom of the boot you could rivet on some button snaps to fasten the flap to the boot

[@sdivine13]

I dont larp, i will never larp, but seeing you make stuff is neat

[@paigeherrmann6332]

Watching you get excited about LARP has been really nice and fun. I love these videos

[@andrewfarmer6126]

Another thought, if you were to take that "tongue" panel and changed the color to a silver or steel grey you would have an encorpated greave to your boot giving you some level of armour there. Just a though

[@dreamcatcher5661]

If you want another great LARP to go check out Moonrise Larp by Otherworld Theater. I go to their Chronicles of the Realm LARP and I absolutely love it. But they have other larps that they host. I also love the fact you are doing larp based videos with mostly budget friendly materials! As someone who has been going to larps for a few years now, this is absolutely fantastic! Keep up the good work, and keep leveling those skills up! Who knows, maybe someday you will level up that new LARP skill of yours.

[@ShisaAi]

I might try something like this to make my leaf fae boots!

[@TheLidlClan]

You could put a strap under the boot to hold down the tabs. Great videos

[@robertnolan9343]

Another thing to use instead of light foam which acts like leather for pattern making is covering a paper pattern with a layer of duct tape. Really useful if you want to play around with the layout as it lets you cut, test and then reattach until you like the fit.

[@315WonderBoy]

easier to cover the laces and uppers atogether which would also make it look more period and cohesive

[@Tinmouser]

I don't know if you have permanently attached the flaps yet, but before you do, I would get the boots resoled. It would be a lot easier (and likely cheaper) doing it as ankle boots than say knee high boots). Resoled those boots should last quite a long time.

[@eysoare5801]

Absolutely amazing content, I feel like you deserve way more success for this stuff, keep leveling up those skills man.

[@brazelton13]

I did something similar ish to a pair of monster heels 👠 early this year for a sci-fi convention! It was a post-apocalyptic theme and I did them out of old denim jeans 👖!

[@Nancelot13]

That an awesome job. I thought I was the only crazy person that likes to do everything. Nice to know there are others! lol

[@merlynb2118]

Basically you have a pair of gaiters sewn and riveted onto ankle boots with straps added. If you had approached it from that standpoint you would have had an easier build with the same or similar result. BTW......I have been a costumer for some 40 years and done custom footwear for the last 15. You did good.

[@volsten8721]

Oh my god those boots are awesome! 😍

[@Northernlitze]

Great video thanks for the great ideas!

[@olivierRH]

Perfect timing! I was planning to do exactly that with pair of shoes I found at the thrift store!

[@henrydaubresse9652]

Those straps would really look sick with a (removable) dagger scabbard attached using loops on the sheath itself.

[@thesumofmyfear]

These are just gaiters over already semi period looking boots... Plus leather is expensive and not fun to work with without the proper tools. I used to 'drill' holes with a hammer and nail because you aren't going to push a needle through by hand more than a few times. Also test your dye on scraps if you're trying to match and to see if you want to water it down or up the intensity. With leather one mistake can stick with you throughout the whole project unless you're willing to redo the whole panel. I also recommend pricing everything out before purchasing anything, building an outfit from nothing is extremely rewarding but can easily cost more than 'off the shelf' if you're not careful. Two more bits of advice, there's probably a template for any piece of armor or kit you want to make you can copy from online. And when making clothing pieces give yourself a little extra room so its not squeezing in on you. Your muscles flex, your chest expands, and so on.

[@TheDanGuy]

My toxic trait is watching KZbin videos for crafts or whatever and thinking i can do it after one watch through with little effort :D

[@Camrographer]

I was actually looking at half chaps to make an equestrian Edwardian boot. This may be a better option. With some leather stamps and fancy buckles this could be next level.

[@theboynamedsoy]

I say yes, leave them as is. The whole point in learning to make stuff and using old objects is to create something new from them and bringing new life into older objects. There’s nothing more beautiful and creating one thing from another thing. That’s what a skill monkey does. Also I think wearing those boots out in everyday will help bring a trend for wearing “common day cosplay”

[@David35445]

I really dig the look you got on this project. Your pattern development method is cool, gotta try that.

[@victorr1972]

maybe take it to a cobbler to get resoles done and then have them show you how to permanently join the leather together into the boot for a future video?

[@lynxgoddess]

Really cool project! I'd definately look into cutting of the corners even if you're gonna make them permanent, just to make the whole thing look even more as one cohesive piece. Might be harder to connect the parts but I'm not sure it would be. Another thing you could do to make it look more cohesive is to stitch the edges of the leg that are not actually sown to anything, just to give the illusion of them being sown to the boot. Anyways, great job and welcome to larping! :D

[@gayleneelaban1161]

Very impressive!

[@wyattbussard9558]

This turned out awesome! I think you should definitely make it permanent. And if worse comes to worse, you can drill out the rivets and put them on a new pair of the same boots since everything already made to fit that kind of boot.

[@DrachenGothik666]

I like the idea of permanently attaching the tops to your boots. Trim the corners near the sole. Two reasons: 1- It's a long, straight line & it's boring. 2- The corner tips *WILL* soon curl up & stick out funny if they aren't mounted down--leather has a mind of it's own & loves to curl up at points. I like the combo of stitching & rivets--try decorative rivets! Add some along the top edges or on the straps for a fun, studded look.

[@dha8863]

great work

[@M4st3r0fN0n3]

Whatever footwear you choose, be sure they're comfortable. Blisters and sore feet will take you out faster than an arrow to the knee! I bought some decent boots from amazon for like 75 bucks. They were really nice looking and fir fairly well but the sole was some form of hard plastic so they werent the most comfortable walking all day at renfest.

[@mattrosspursel1]

You folded the back over at an angle on the leather to make it take the shape of the back contour of your leg. I'd like to have a more in depth explanation/demonstration of that. I am currently making something very similar from a deer hide for my dad.

[@oldguygames6861]

As someone who has larped for 20+ years, the only thing I would suggest you do (because these look great), is not an aesthetic change, but more of a quality of life change. I noticed that the tread is almost gone on the boots you used, and when you larp, you Will run into mud or wet grass at some point. Those soles you have on them will slip right out from under you in the middle of a fight at the worst time (usually when a BBEG is about to lay waste to your group). Have a Vibram boot sole put on and get rid of the ones you have now; the back side of your pants will appreciate it.

[@mirek_k]

Another way you can go around this is to use puttees. They were in use from pre-viking age to ww2 and they are super simple to make a bit harder to tye but nothing hard at all and you don't have to work with lather :D I would recomend making them mainly out of wool tho.

[@brogurt]

Good work.

[@okami1331]

Nice hopefully I’ll have at lease a few pieces to wear for a larp or here

[@sarahcoupland4259]

Even though the vibe is a little more cursed, if you're interested in making shoes into boots that lace all the way up Strange Aeons here on KZbin has a video where she turns a pair of converse shoes into pants, and a fair number of the same principles there could apply for LARPing

[@straebaseborn983]

Per-ma boot! Per-ma boot!

[@anmkohaku0077]

That is amazing!!!! I really love these boots!!!

[@mattbender6374]

So cool!!! Totally glue the flaps bro!

[@SkillTree]

Thanks! I think I will! They will just be big ol boots now

[@AdmiralStoicRum]

With the extra length those straps have, you can add removable metal bits to the boots as shin guards

[@azer_lord-pyro2550]

Bro, I love the boot you have an awesome channel, what where the tools and supplies you used for this build? I would like to give them a shot, thanks for the amazing content

[@Hair8Metal8Karen]

If you do decide to hand sew leather, you need to use polyester thread run through beeswax to prevent the tannins from eating through the thread. Fantastic work!

[@gamer85p]

Those look absolutely amazing!

[@faithwerksdesigns6197]

Have you ever heard of Kamsnaps? They make a rivet press that has saved my arms so many times lol Also, Sailrite Fabricator makes an amazing machine that can sew just about everything I throw at her and it seems like it would be easier to get a straight line stitching with it verses a cylinder arm like the leather machine you have. I think there's actually a guide you can get now to help with that. Just a thought, another great video!

[@Will-bo7kg]

While making these would be a fun project they don't really make sense for "larp boots on the cheap". As you can just buy a pair of jackboots often used for reinactment. A good option being a pair of Soviet surplus boots for about £80 which are insanely durable. You could also get reproduction jackboots from a verity of companies averaging about £90 - £100 which with alittle care and maintenance can last a lifetime, you might even just start using them as your everyday boots. There also the possibility of getting a used pair of riding boots on sites like eBay for about £40 - £50, which look a lot like the boots you made today.