You guys, I CAN MAKE SHOES!

Look at these sandals - designed and constructed by moi, with more than a little
help from Amanda, owner of the aptly titled shoe-making workshop studio I Can Make Shoes. I was jumping up and
down when an invitation came through to a special one-to-one with Amanda herself. Just what I need to finish off my
DIY outfits - DIY sandals!
So how do you make shoes? Lucky for us, Amanda has devised a simple method that allows people to make shoes
at home with minimum special equipment. We began with a size 4 sole template, played around with a few design
ideas, turned them into simple paper patterns and wrapped them around my foot to see what they'd look like. Soooo
much simpler than pattern drafting for dressmaking! Next we transferred the shape to leather, drawing around the
pattern with a biro pen and cutting out with regular scissors - Amanda uses tools that people have at home where
possible. We hammered some holes out of the soles for the straps to pass through, and assembled all the pieces
with glue. Ahh... the glue... deliciously thick and gooey neoprene-based adhesive - or "liquid wetsuit", as Amanda put
it. It looked like Gremlin gunk and was a JOY to play with.
It really was one of the best days I've had in a while. It was so much fun to go in totally clueless, to have no idea what
I was doing, discover that it isn't so difficult after all, and walk out with a pair of sandals that are totally unique, that fit
me perfectly and that I absolutely LOVE. I made a few novice mistakes - such as forgetting to cut straps for the
second shoe, doh! But it was all part of the experience, and I left feeling sooooo pleased with myself, with the same
feeling of empowerment I felt when I first learnt to sew. Remember that feeling?
Thank you so much to Amanda for a fab afternoon, for patience while I spent about an hour deciding the order of the
coloured straps, for the laughs, and for sanding down my rubbish leather cutting. Oh, and for making shoe-making so
easy!

If you want to exclaim, "I can make shoes!" too, check out the awesome workshops in Hackney and e-books they
offer. I'd highly recommend the sandals as an introduction for beginners. I'm seriously considering buying some liquid
wetsuit and making a few more pairs.
Next I just need to learn to make brassieres, then I can have a whole handmade outfit...
Understanding Shoe Sizing
 Although you and your toddler may both wear a shoe size of 7, it’s obvious that your shoes
are not the same size. Men and women may also both wear a size 12, but the man’s size 12 will be almost half an inch longer than the
woman’s. To complicate matters even further, there’s lots of variation in shoe width, and many countries also size shoes differently.
Fortunately, a little time with a measuring tape and the right size chart can help you get the perfect fit.

Shoe Sizing Basics

Length
Your numerical shoe size, whether you are buying Italian shoes or American shoes, is based on the length of your foot. This is the distance
from your heel to your longest toe. It does not account for shape variations or width.

Width
Although some shoes only come in standard widths, many are available in wider or narrower styles. Knowing the width of your foot and
how it compares to a pair of shoes is essential for a comfortable fit. Shoe width is usually described with a letter or group of letters, such
as “D” or “EEEE.” Sometimes, the letters are replaced by a combination of letters and numbers, such as “4E.” It’s important to note that
the width sizing is also dependent on your foot’s length. For instance, if your foot is 3 9/16 inches wide and you wear a size 8, this is
considered regular width. However, if you have a foot that is 3 9/16 inches wide and you wear a size 5, you’ll need a wide shoe.

Children’s shoes usually do not come in varying widths.

International Variations
In the United States, women’s shoes come in whole and half sizes that range from 4 through 12. Men’s shoes have whole and half sizes
from 6 through 16.

However, numerical sizes are different in other countries. For instance, a woman who wears a size 6 in the United States will wear a size 4
in the United Kingdom, a size 36/37 in Europe, and a size 23 in Japan.

Finding Your Shoe Size

From infant’s crib shoes to men’s work boots, shoes are sized according to length and width. Understanding how your foot compares to the
standard sizes will ensure your shoes fit perfectly, whether you buy them in person or order them online.

How to Measure
To measure properly, you’ll need a piece of paper larger than your foot, a pencil, and a measuring tape.

1. Stand and place the paper on the floor in front of you. If you like, you can tape the paper to the floor to keep it from sliding
around. Put your foot on the paper.
2. Use a pencil to trace all the way around your foot. Try to keep the pencil perpendicular to the paper.
3. When you’ve completely traced your foot, flip the paper over and trace your other foot on the reverse side.
4. Use a tape measure to find the length of your foot at its longest point. Next, find the width at the widest point. Write these
numbers on the paper.
5. Subtract ¼ inch or about ½ centimeter from both the length and the width to account for the pencil outline.
6. Use these measurements to find your shoe size on the chart below.

Helpful Measuring Tips

Keep these tips in mind to help you get the best results from your measurement:

 Take your measurements at the end of the day, especially if you know your feet tend to swell throughout the day.
 When measuring, wear the socks or tights you plan to wear with this pair of shoes.
  Always trace and measure both feet, since it’s common for one foot to be a bit larger than the other. Use the largest foot to find
your shoe size.
 If you’re having trouble keeping your balance while tracing, do it next to a chair or table that you can hold to steady yourself. Some
people also find it easier to have a friend trace the foot.

Shoe Size Charts

Women’s Shoes Length and Width Charts

Length Length US Size UK Size European Japanese

(inches) (centimeters) Size Size

8 9/16″ 21.6 cm 5 3 35/36 22

8 3/4″ 22.2 cm 5.5 3.5 36 22.5

8 7/8″ 22.5 cm 6 4 36/37 23

9 1/16″ 23 cm 6.5 4.5 37 23.5

9 1/4″ 23.5 cm 7 5 37/38 24

9 3/8″ 23.8 cm 7.5 5.5 38 24.5

9 1/2″ 24.1 cm 8 6 38/39 25

9 11/16″ 24.6 cm 8.5 6.5 39 25.5

9 7/8″ 25.1 cm 9 7 39/40 26

10″ 25.4 cm 9.5 7.5 40 26.5

10 3/16″ 25.9 cm 10 8 40/41 27

10 3/8″ 26.2 cm 10.5 8.5 41 27.5

10 1/2″ 26.7 cm 11 9 41/42 28

10 27.1 cm 11.5 9.5 42 28.5

11/16″

10 7/8″ 27.6 cm 12 10 42/43 29

US Narrow Narrow Medium Medium Wide Wide Extra Extra
Size (AA) (AA) (M or (M or (D) (D) Wide Wide
(inches) (cm) B) B) (cm) inches (cm) (EE) (EE)
(inches) (inches) (cm)

5 2 7.1 cm 3 3/16″ 8.1 cm 3 9 cm 3 10

13/16″ 9/16″ 15/16″ cm

5.5 2 7/8″ 7.3 cm 3 1/4″ 8.3 cm 3 5/8″ 9.2 4″ 10.1

cm cm

6 2 7.5 cm 3 5/16″ 8.4 cm 3 9.4 4 1/16″ 10.3

15/16″ 11/16″ cm cm

6.5 3″ 7.6 cm 3 3/8″ 8.6 cm 3 3/4″ 9.5 4 1/8″ 10.5

cm cm

7 3 1/16″ 7.8 cm 3 7/16″ 8.7 cm 3 9.7 4 3/16″ 10.6

13/16″ cm cm

7.5 3 1/8″ 8 cm 3 1/2″ 8.9 cm 3 7/8″ 9.9 4 1/4″ 10.8

cm cm

8 3 3/16″ 8.1 cm 3 9/16″ 9 cm 3 10 4 5/16″ 11

15/16″ cm cm
8.5 3 1/4″ 8.3 cm 3 5/8″ 9.2 cm 4″ 10.1 4 3/8″ 11.1
cm cm

9 3 5/16″ 8.4 cm 3 11/16″ 9.4 cm 4 10.3 4 7/16″ 11.3

1/16″ cm cm

9.5 3 3/8″ 8.6 cm 3 3/4″ 9.5 cm 4 1/8″ 10.5 4 1/2″ 11.4

cm cm

10 3 7/16″ 8.7 cm 3 13/16″ 9.7 cm 4 10.6 4 9/16″ 11.6

3/16″ cm cm

10.5 3 1/2″ 8.9 cm 3 7/8″ 9.9 cm 4 1/4″ 10.8 4 5/8″ 11.8

cm cm

11 3 9/16″ 9 cm 3 15/16″ 10 cm 4 11 4 11.9

5/16″ cm 11/16″ cm

11.5 3 5/8″ 9.2 cm 4″ 10.1 cm 4 3/8″ 11.1 4 3/4″ 12.1

cm cm

12 3 9.4 cm 4 1/16″ 10.3 cm 4 11.3 4 12.2

11/16″ 7/16″ cm 13/16″ cm