Are you looking forward to becoming a shoe designer or a shoemaker? Well, then making shoe pattern is something you need to learn since it is an art by itself as it will affect how your shoe will come out. That is why you need to understand the skills.
Here are tips on how to make a shoe pattern-
Materials you need
- Pair of shoe lasts;
- Knife or a scalpel;
- Some card;
- A ruler;
- Masking tape;
- A pair of compass;
- A tape measure;
- Scissors;
- A cutting mat;
- A pencil and an eraser;
- An awl;
How to make shoe pattern?
Taping your last
When making a shoe pattern, you first need to tape the last so that you pull out the shell from the shoe pattern. You should begin on the lateral or the outer side of the shoe last.
To begin with, start at the top, laying the tape horizontally down on the cross side of your last. After that, run your tape down the center of that last, from top of the insole down to the toe. In short, make sure that you tape the entire last so that you can easily put your patterns.
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Layer the tape in two opposite directions to make sure your pattern stays together once you are ready to peel it off from your last.
Mark the pattern of your choice on the last
After covering the entire last with tape, mark your patterns on the tape. Using a steel ruler, mark the center of the last from the toe to instep and then to the heel. With the center marked, it is time to make your patterns now.
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Just make sure you draw an exact center line to come up with ideal shoe patterns.
Drawing the shoe pattern
It’s fun to add some color, paste, and style on a shoe. Make the patterns of choice and create patterns that resemble how you want your shoe to look like at the end. Check the patterns carefully and make changes to your design since this is time for creativity.
If you are not happy with your line, cover it up with another tape and draw another one.
Inspect the top line, heel notch heights, and collar. Your design might not have perfection, but now it’s time to look out for significant flaws.
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To come up with the right patterns, use protractor, compass, and a ruler to come up with perfect and right ones.
Flatten the shoe pattern
Now that you already have your shoe patterns on the tape, now it’s time to peel it off the last. Use a sharp blade or a scalpel to cut the tape from the center lines from toes to the heel. After that, cut your tape along the lower side of the last and start peeling off the tape. As long as you laid the tape well in overlapping style, your pattern will pull off successfully. After that, carefully lay your tape on paper board and flatten your shoe pattern and add several cuts and the pattern will become flat.
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Flattening your patterns makes it easy to come up with a shoe that looks exactly like your pattern.
Cutting a shoe pattern
Once you peel the tape from the last and flatten it, you now have a shoe pattern. The pattern with all the parts put together is the shell pattern. With your pattern attached to a piece of paper, you now need to trim out your pattern.
At this point, you can redraw the pattern on your computer to cut paper use. The pattern cutter adds the overlap as well as the alignment marks.
Bottom-line
With your shoe pattern, you can now make your own shoes at home with ease. Patterns guide you in shoemaking, and you are less likely to make mistakes.
There you have it. If making your own shoes was your dream achievement, but pattern making became an issue, now you can make your own shoes, add a personal touch to the shoes, and look outstanding wherever you go.
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