New York Intensive Shoemaking Course May 15 - Days 1, 2 and 3

Welcome once again, dear readers, and thank you all for returning to the Carreducker blog and for those of you visiting for the first time, we hope you enjoy it.

I find myself in Williamsburg, Brooklyn on the third day of the Carreducker intensive shoemaking course. We have five eager students, four of whom did the pattern making course last week. This has set them up really well for doing the shoemaking course as they have a solid grounding in all things shoe.

We have had an intense first three days with a lot of aching hands and new knowledge acquired.

Each student starts with a pair of lasts in their size; a pair of derby uppers in a choice of three colours; a small tool kit to keep; and a pack of rough stuff leather (soles, insoles, heel lifts etc).

Day one started with sharpening our knives; blocking our insoles and skiving puffs/stiffs

This first image is the lovely shop space provided by Brooklyn Bespoke, New York's finest bespoke shoemaker.

Our lovely classroom

Blocking the insole

Skiving stiffeners

After a welcome rest, day two saw our intrepid students preparing their insoles which had been drying overnight.

They trimmed off the excess and started on the holdfast/feather. With sharp knives in hand the insole took shape.

Here the outside cut is made to start the feather off.

Preparing the feather/holdfast

Day three saw us lasting over the uppers onto the lasts. We did the heel first and ended the day with the toe puffs on and drying.

Lasting the toe puffs

Puffs drying in readiness for shaping tomorrow.

Preparing the welts.

So we have had an intense three days and it is only going to get more physical from now on with welting on the horizon. Roll on tomorrow! Until the next instalment, happy shoemaking!