ExIT Shoes

Pair Number 5

by jeff

January 1st, 2005

Red. These were for my step-son. They were based on my favorite ankle boots that I wore out completely. I cut them up and derived a pattern for this last from those pieces. Every pattern is designed for a specific last, so I found that an exact copy didn’t really fit even though I was using more or less the same size last. These are my first double stitch construction. The upper is all hand stitched. The welt is dyed yellow and the heels and sole are finished with black shoe dye to give it a lower profile. These are also my first ankle boots. My step-son and I have the same size feet, so it was fun for me to take them out dancing one night before handing them over to him for certain distruction. Over a year later, he still wears them almost every day. I replaced one heel that he managed to tear off, but they are otherwise holding up well. I have to say it was painful to see him playing at the water line on the beach in them when we went for a hike at the coast, but I’m over that now. Yes, really, I am.