How to Make Regency & Victorian Shoes: Beginner Shoemaking

Thank you to HelloFresh for sponsoring this video. Use code NICOLER14 for up to 14 FREE MEALS across your first 5 HelloFresh boxes plus free shipping at The most common request I get is to do more shoemaking tutorials- which is probably the most difficult thing to make! Shoemaking is incredibly complex, and unlike sewing clothing, there’s little room for error and adjustment. And if something doesn’t fit, it can be very painful. So, as I was preparing to start a pair of early 19th century shoes this month, I figured this might be the best place to start! I know it seems a bit out of order, but I think it’s important to understand HOW these things go together to understand why future videos on lasts, fitting, patterning, etc are so essential and how they work! The Regency through the early Victorian era has some of the simplest shoes as well. Completely flat styles start appearing at the beginning of the century and continue on through the early 1850s. There’s more than one method of shoemaking during this time, and there is a wide variety of styles as well, but the basics of the process are fairly universal. For this video, I’m using a process of cementing the shoe together. This wasn’t common until the 1830s, but it’s how most modern shoes are produced and is MUCH simpler than the stitching methods of previous decades. The result won’t look different from the exterior, but it requires about half as many tools and supplies and a quarter of the time (honestly probably less). Fun fact: in the Regency era it was trendy for a while to learn to make your own shoes! This didn’t last terribly long as the tooling up and educational process could be expensive (and bad for your hands). The shoes weren’t cheaper, and neither were all of those new dresses needed after hulking up from pulling stitches tight. But it does sound like something straight out of a Jane Austen novel! Below I have some links for sources of lasts, supplies, leather, and tools. The first section is specifically shoemaking supply shops who have most, if not all, of the types of items I have on my recommended list. The other shops after this may not have everything, but will have a better variety of certain items. I also recommend Etsy and Ebay- especially for lasts. Lasts, Supplies, Leather, & Tools Sorrell Notions & Findings: Carreducker (UK): Brooklyn Shoe Supply: Zegzug/Marcell Mrsan: Supplies & Tools Rocky Mountain: H. Webber & Sons (UK): Leffler (AU): Tandy Leather (US & AU): Weaver Leather: Leather Talas: Franz Hoffman (EU): J Hewit (UK): Springline Lasts: 🖼 Shoe Inspiration: 🖼 HNE Cork Shoes: 🖼 Embroidered Shoes: 🖼 Green Shoes: 🖼 Red Shoes: 🖼 Samantha’s YT: 00:00 Introduction 06:07 Tools & Supplies 14:22 Patterning 18:31 Uppers 22:23 Preparing Parts 32:32 Assembly 45:27 Finished Socials Instagram: Tiktok: @cloche_call Patreon: 🎶Music via Epidemic Sound ()