How Not to Make Adelaide Oxfords
Hello Everybody!
Long time lurker, first time poster.
I did not want to ask for outside help, so I could be proud of myself. But I believe it is time.
Reddit, you're my last resort!
I've checked all links and videos in the sub, watched countless videos, read a bunch, but I'm clearly stuck, and since I've been wanting to make these for months, buying required equipment, I'm slowly going crazy.
Here was the original project: without any prior knowledge in the trade, or leather working, or manual labor, handmake from start to finish a pair of Goodyear welted Adelaides (including sewing the upper, since my sewing machine is only suited for cloth).
And.... it might have gone south (shocking, I know, who would have thought!?).
After having spent a went a week on various methods of patterning (taping the last, making a mean form with Thornton's method), I believe I've hit a wall.
I've made 3 "prototype uppers", using the cheapest leather I could find, but none was satisfying.
Here is my progression so far, so you can all have a laugh.
Has anyone ideas of what could be improved/ needs changing? Including other patterning methods, my patterning, etc.?
Sincerely yours, from a currently boiling hot place in Europe...
More infos:
Here are most of the tools available.
Leather that will be used in the final version:
lining: full-grain semi-aniline lambskin nappa, very soft, mineral-tanned, .9 mm thick
upper: green aniline boxcalf, firm, .9 mm thick