6-Day Intensive Dream Shoe Making Workshop

A 6-day intensive workshop making shoes, boots, or sneakers, stilettos, you name it! a design of your own!

In this hands-on workshop, you’ll design and construct a custom pair of cemented-construction shoes—your choice of style: boots, sneakers, flats, heels, or sandals. The class is tailored to your skill level and project idea. You’ll learn everything from pattern-making to lasting and soling. Students may use in-house lasts or request custom lasts in advance (additional fee applies).

Schedule at a Glance

Day 1: Design & Pattern-Making

• Introduction to lasts: styles, shapes, and sizing
• Measuring your feet and selecting an appropriate last
• Sketching your design directly onto the last
• Creating pattern templates from tape and transferring to paper
• Pattern refinement for uppers and linings

Day 2:  Finishing patterns, Cutting & Sewing Prep

• Finalizing pattern pieces
• Cutting upper and lining leathers
• Introduction to Skiver Machine and Skive materials where needed
• Introduction to the high-post sewing machine
• Begin stitching upper and lining components

Day 3: Complete Uppers

• Start and Continue stitching
• Assembling upper to lining
• Prepping completed uppers for lasting

Day 4: Start Lasting

• Prepping insole boards
• Premolding heel counters
• Cementing lining and uppers to the last
• Adding structural components: toe puff 
• Drying and setting time between steps

Day 5: Finish lasting, Discuss Soling & Finishing

• Fill in the gap with cork
• Flatten bottom
• Prep heels
• Options: pre-made soles, stacked leather heels and leather outsole combo, lug soles, cats paw, leather covered heels. Learn about the different constructions

Day 6: Soling & Finishing

• Finishing details: trimming, inking, buffing
• Introduction to Foil Stamping: Customize your sockliner, and insert sockliner with foam
• Final runway and photos
• Optional: Material shopping trips available. Students are responsible for any external purchases. Let us know in advance to send you a shop list.

Customizations & Options

• Custom Lasts: If you have a specific toe shape or heel height in mind, we can help you order custom lasts in advance. Extra fees apply.
• Shoe Reconstruction: Want to take apart and rebuild a pair? Contact us ahead of time to plan the approach.
• Flexible Scheduling: Private or weeknight options available. DM us to arrange.
• Group Classes: Check our calendar or plan a new one with 30+ days’ notice. 2-person minimum.

Important Notes

You may alter the toe shape of a last (add material), but may not shave it down unless you purchase the last.

Bring reference images if you have a vision in mind.

This is a full-time hands-on course. Comfortable shoes and snacks encouraged!