Shoemaking is a very specialized trade that not many people know. It's an intricate craft with years and years worth of built-up knowledge and techniques - which also means that the information is readily accessible for those who choose to look for it.
A beginner to shoemaking, Laesko recently started her own deep dive into the complex process.
Browsing through videos, books, and the Cordwaining SubReddit, Laesko threw herself into learning how to make her own leather shoes.
Starting with a downloadable shoe pattern, she chose her leather and cut the pieces.
Using a mold to form the shape of the shoe, she uses hand stitching, hole punching, and other "cordwaining" techniques to build up the shoe from there.
Laesko says in a Reddit thread that even with a pattern, "once you start making the shoes, you're running blind and hoping you did it all correctly."
Using undyed leather to form her shoes, Laesko has also experimented with dyeing the material to her liking, mixing colors and layers to add natural shading.
After approximately 100 hours of work (which Laesko equates to her initial lack of experience), she moves on to the finishing touches; adding intricate outsole stitching to the perimeter of her shoe.
Trying them on, the shoes fit her perfectly. Enamored with the process, Laesko has continued making shoes; improving, and learning so that now what used to take her months only takes her days.
What do you think of her ambitious endeavor, would you ever try your hand at shoemaking? Or has another unusual hobby caught your attention? Let us know in the comments below!
