The second one
The unlined design makes these shoes the perfect companion for long walks on warmer days of the year.
By now, you probably already know what my next goal was. Yes, finding the perfect fit! It didn't take long for me to get my head around the idea of creating a pair of lasts that fit really well. This time, it was a complete success.
My mom loves this pair so much that she still wears them to this day. She cherishes every moment spent in them. I was so pleased with the result that I even made one for myself, just to have something matching, in the same materials, to share that overall vibe with her. This is so cool!
It's true that I focused on the fit, but the design and craftsmanship are also quite nice. We both wear our pairs, sometimes even when we go for walks together. I have to admit, these pairs look pretty good. I even took my camera with me once to document the moment:
This is a unique aspect of the shoemaking profession. The skill of creating shoes gives us the opportunity for a primal sense of community.
My mom's shoes were simple in design, nothing fancy. However, it's important to remember that the initial plan was to create a test pair to check comfort and overall fit. Therefore, design was never a priority. This pair has stood the test of time because—all these years later—they still work and look great.
The shoes are completely unlined. The toe cap and heel counter serve as pockets for securely inserting a toe puff and heel stiffener.
The only thing I dislike about this design is the absolute disaster of lacing system. This solution doesn't work well, doesn't hold the foot well enough, and doesn't look good.
It's something I really wish to have done differently. I've made a few modifications since, but this was my first version of this design.
My own pair is a different story. Firstly, it was my first Norwegian sewing project. I also sewed the sole using a chain stitch. Hence the exceptionally dense use of space. The use of two-color threads adds an extra touch. Besides, the heels were quite original.
This type of top lift of the heel is definitely impractical, but I wanted to create something interesting. From a technical standpoint, it also posed quite a challenge. Here's how I did it:
The outline of the top heel pattern had to be perfectly matched to the penultimate lift of the heel, keeping its grain part untouched there. Just replicating the shape wasn't the end of the challenge. I had to trim the grain at the edges to neatly fill any gaps when placing the top lift in place, and then trim away the excess material.
Making these pairs, along with the lasts, which demonstrated my ability to translate the collected measurements into a three-dimensional object, was a milestone in my career. It's hard to put into words the kind of satisfaction you get when you put on a pair you've made yourself and realize they fit perfectly.
Giving yourself that kind of joy is one thing. It takes the opportunity to offer someone else a similar experience to a whole new level. After my success, I knew this was exactly what I wanted to do with my life.