flip-flops or sandels

[IBrown]

Hi,
My Misses wants me to make her a pair of summer shoes flip flops or sandels. Anyone had a go at this sort of thing or know of a basic pattern I could download. I will be doing a step by step on my blog when I have finished them, but I have no idea where to start. The obvious shape of a flip flop is a base with a strip for the big toe but thats about all i know about them.

Cheers
Ian

[IBrown]

No replies. so it looks like the only thing's that can be made out of leather are pouches and sheaths.

[Martin]

Hey IBrown. Call me old fashioned, but I'm not sure that flip flops are particularly 'bushcrafty' related items of footwear. You might find you get a better response if you post your question here:

www.homemadeleathersandals.com/forum ;)

Martin

[jbrown14]

Hey Ian,
I've seen some plans for sandals and flip-flops on Instructables.com (http://www.instructables.com/), you might want to check that site out. Haven't done it myself, so I'd be no great help other than pointing you in the right direction...
Good luck!
Josh

[Bernie]

What about the new thread on Ho-chi-mihn-sandles (http://www.naturalbushcraft.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?1575-Ho-chi-mihn-sandles-anyone-fancy-a-go)? :)

[IBrown]

Hey IBrown. Call me old fashioned, but I'm not sure that flip flops are particularly 'bushcrafty' related items of footwear. You might find you get a better response if you post your question here:

www.homemadeleathersandals.com/forum ;)

Martin

Hey Martin, Call me old fashioned but isn't Bushcraft about having a go at making things yourself and not about going to the shops and buying the most expensive item you can find and then going on a forum and bragging about it.

[IBrown]

Thanks JBrown I will check out that website.
Bernie: They look really good I might give them a go.

I am looking for help and advise. Not some smart ass who is trying to tell me what is Bushcraft and what isn't. I would expect more from a so called Moderator ( This is not the first time a post I have placed has had this Moderator write stupid remarks). So excuse me for the rant but I always thought a Moderator was here to help.

[Bernie]

I am looking for help and advise. Not some smart ass who is trying to tell me what is Bushcraft and what isn't. I would expect more from a so called Moderator ( This is not the first time a post I have placed has had this Moderator write stupid remarks). So excuse me for the rant but I always thought a Moderator was here to help.

Everybody be cool! :) <-- You have to have seen Pulp Fiction to get that one.

I've met Martin a few times and I know he's just making light hearted banter. It doesn't help answer your question, but I'm sure (beyond any doubt) that he meant no harm and was just adding some light humour.

Back on topic...

I'm expecting a chap in Uganda to show me his sandals - he claims they've been making them since they were kids, so if I get any pictures I'll post here again. I'd also be interested in seeing what you make; leather work is something that interests me, but I have no experience whatsoever. I hear you can shape it by soaking in water and letting it dry whilst stretched over a form. A little tutorial from one of you more experienced chaps or lasses would be well received by me (and I'm sure many others).

One trick I picked up at the last weekend at Ivan's place was to sharpen fork prongs as a cheap stitch marking device. It's so clever! I've made one, but need a little leather project to give it a go. I can't imagine sandals are a good first-timer project though. ;)

[Martin]

Oh dear!

Martin

[comanighttrain]

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lh5b7sAVsg1qedjywo1_500.gif

Uhh I don't know if its exactly what your looking for but RM goes over sandal making in his outdoor survival handbook... I believe it was using birch as opposed to leather but I'd guess the idea is still basically the same

[jbrown14]

Heh...Pumpkin and Honey Bunny...

[jus_young]

Hey IBrown. Call me old fashioned, but I'm not sure that flip flops are particularly 'bushcrafty' related items of footwear. You might find you get a better response if you post your question here:

www.homemadeleathersandals.com/forum ;)

Martin



Hey Martin, Call me old fashioned but isn't Bushcraft about having a go at making things yourself and not about going to the shops and buying the most expensive item you can find and then going on a forum and bragging about it.

Lost In Translation... (another film quote :D )

Yet another example of how humour can be difficult to convey in words. Deliberate attacks are never tolerated on this forum especially by the moderators, take it from me as I have been caught by the translation issue myself.

[Bernie]

Trying (please don't let it be in vain) to get this thread back on topic; are you just looking for templates, and have you made any footwear before? How much leatherwork experience do you have? It might help to know whether people can suggest complicated designs. Also, does your missus have her own ideas about what she wants? Sometimes that's the nicest part of having something hand made - we can have all the things we like and none of the things we don't. For example, I hate sandals that go between my toes. I like my toes open and free in front, but plenty of "strapping" on the sides so I can be agile and not suddenly find my foot outside the sandal.

For example, this design is quite a simple Roman sandal: http://www.mylearning.org/learning/investigate-archaeology/Make%20a%20Roman%20sandal%20with%20diagram.pdf There's a good blog about these sandals here: http://www.florentius.com/calcei-main.htm

There's also a similar thread on another website here: http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=32427

Wow, the stuff I can find on Google eh. There goes the next hour of my life...

[jikido]

I have made some waraji, look it up on youtube, it shows you how to make them. Its the traditional japanese walking sandals made from sissal. Its a nice project

[jbrown14]

I have made some waraji, look it up on youtube, it shows you how to make them. Its the traditional japanese walking sandals made from sissal. Its a nice project

Oddly enough, that word "waraji" reminds me of "huarache" (phonetically pronounced almost the same as waraji...) and prompted me to do a quick "make your own huarache sandals" which came up with this: How to make huaraches. (http://www.invisibleshoe.com/how-to-make-huaraches/) They have video tutorials, and the sandals actually look pretty cool!

All the best!

Josh

[jikido]

Ah ha. Been to that site already. They are cool. If you make some pop a pic up. :)

[IBrown]

I have made some waraji, look it up on youtube, it shows you how to make them. Its the traditional japanese walking sandals made from sissal. Its a nice project

Hi Jikido,
Thanks for the site info, will show them to the misses and see if she likes the look of them and I will give them a go.
Many Thanks
Ian

[bigzee]

I'm assuming that 2x bits of old thick kip mat and strategically positioned knotted cord would not suffice "for the lady".....no...what was I thinking?....women have this tendancy to insist on seeing beyond funcionality.