Three-Day Shoemaking, Made-to-Measure Techniques, Module 1, London, UK

Duration: 21 hrs
Class times: 10am - 6pm
Course tutor: Sebastian Tarek
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.

The Made-to-Measure Techniques Course is designed for people who already have had experience in making a fully-closed pair of shoes and want to further their skills in bespoke shoemaking. People who have unusual foot shape or have difficulty finding comfortable shoes in the market can also consider taking this course after they have taken at least the Five-Day Intensive Shoemaking or Shoemaking Evening Class at Prescott & Mackay. The techniques you learn in this course allow you to make your own insole, sole and heel with leather, while in our other shoemaking courses you use ready-made components.

The course is divided into two modules, which we recommend taking in conjunction with each other.

The first module allows you to adjust a last to fit your foot and make a shoe to fitting stage, while the second module will allow you to fit the shoes and make any adjustments to have them completed. After two modules, you will work towards completing the shoe using traditional hand techniques and walk away with the most guarded industry secrets and a pair of fully comfortable shoes, tailor-made to your own foot measurements.

Content of Module 1:

Day 1:

Learn how to take precise measurements of your foot
Adjust the last according to your measurements

Day 2:

Create an insole board using leather
Create leather toe puff and counter stiffener, tailored to the measurement of your own last

Day 3:

Make a simple court shoe pattern and cut your own materials according to the pattern
Close the shoe upper
Learn the special technique of lasting and last the upper, toe puff and counter stiffener to fitting stage

After completing the first module, you can then continue to take Module 2.

Student testimonials after taking this course:

"This lasting technique that Sebastian taught in the class completely blew me away - I thought I was very bad at lasting, but his special method makes it so much easier now." - Florence

"Sebastian's course is the best kept secret in London!" - Sovej

Lasts:

The lasts you will be working on are not supplied.
If you need advice on where to purchase lasts please speak to us at least one month prior to course begin.
You must use a pair of lasts to be fitted to your own foot.
We cannot fit to somebody else's foot, as they need to be present.
The last must be of a reasonable height - 2 inch heel is the maximum - as you make a leather stacked heel and anything higher than this will lead to your shoes not finished at last. The last must not have sole or heel plates on the bottom.
If you buy your last from P&M, you can use the corresponding heel.

Things you need to bring with you:

A pair of ladies or men's lasts on which to work during the class. Please contact us if you need advice of where to purchase lasts.
Leather which you wish to make your shoe upper with. Please click the Useful Links to view the supplier list about where to source leather or fabric. You don't need to bring leather for heels, insole boards or soles as these are provided by us and included in the course fee.
Notebook and pen

Please note, the class does not cover orthopaedic footwear.

Maximum 4 students.

This course price includes a component pack worth £65.

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