Five-Day Shoemaking - Intensive, Berkeley, USA

Duration: 35 hours
Class times: 10am - 6pm
Course tutor: Melissa Needham
Booking procedure: Click the course date at the bottom of the page to put the course into your shopping basket, then follow the steps indicated to complete payment to guarantee a space.

Prescott & Mackay runs the Intensive Shoemaking Course as a satellite of our London courses, at Fourth Street Studios, Berkeley, USA. We have been traveling to the states to teach our renowned shoemaking courses for the last 10 years. Shoemaking in the USA is always such a pleasure to teach, with great enthusiasm from all of our students. We have had people traveling from as far as Georgia, Ohio and Ontario, Canada to learn the art and craft of Shoemaking.

This class is aimed at beginners and improvers looking to gain knowledge and technique over a short intense period.

Course Outline:

Day 1: Materials and Design. Brief identification and understanding of the material types and end uses of leather for upper and lining, insoles, seat pads, shankboards, shanks, socks, toe puffs, stiffeners, fastening systems, zips, touch and close, laces, etc. Start working from the last. The emphasis is on construction but, depending on individual ability and skill level, it may be possible for students to interpret their own design ideas. The tutor will discuss this with each student on day 1 and 2.

Day 2: Pattern Cutting. Understanding the pattern cutting process for a full pair of ladies shoes, including: cover the last, flatten shell, pattern cutting, mean form, allowances, grading patterns.

Day 3: Closing. Prepare the shoe upper, including cutting pattern pieces and stitching upper pieces together. Machinery used.

Day 4/5: Making the shoe. Basic understanding of the whole shoemaking process. The handmade process from lasting to making and finishing. Machinery used.

Learning Outcome: Students will be able to identify the main materials and components used for shoemaking, demonstrate an understanding of the whole shoemaking process, with the aim of completing a pair by the end of the session.

A choice of ladies lasts in standard sizes (American 4.5 to 13.5) will be available to use during the workshop sessions subject to availability.

The price includes specialist shoe components.

Things you need to bring with you:

•    Material that you wish to use for your shoes, either a lightweight leather skin such as pig, calf or goat, or 1/2 metre of fabric which should not be too stiff or transparent. Please click the Useful Links to view the supplier list about where to source leather or fabric
•    Sharp fabric scissors
•    Notebook and pen
•    Any trimmings you wish to use i.e. ribbon or feathers

No previous experience necessary. Maximum 8 students

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