This article was written by Mystic Orb.
I never ever can get shoes that fit me right, that feel good… and look cool. Fact is, I don’t think they make cool shoes for guys anymore.
We know some folks who make felt shoes, but they are just way beyond our budget, and who knows how well they’ll fit and how comfortable they will be. So, I decided I’d figure out how to make my own pair of shoes. So, one night I was laying there in the middle of the Night and an inspiration dawned upon me…
Related: What Really Happens to Your Guns in Winter (it could get you killed)
Hallelujah!!
It’s really easy, so I wanted to share it with folks here.
First I got an old wool sweater from the Thrift store… Cut off the sleeves, and checked to see how it fit on my foot. Nice and snug. Then I had some foam I got for free at a garage sale and I cut it into two pieces with my band saw… (scissors would work.)
One piece for the foot, and one for my calf.
Here you see a Pic of the foam alongside one of the sleeves.
Then I cut a piece out of the top so I could fold it up without a bunch of excess…
Here it is folded up:
See? It already kinda looks like a boot.
Then, I needle felted it up and in place… Made them nice and thick, hen put them in a pillow case and in the washing machine with some Dr. Bronners soap.
I set the timer for 5 minutes so they wouldn’t shrink into baby booties. I almost left them in too long, but I put them on my feet while still wet. With three thick pairs of socks, just to make sure they’d shrink to fit… and they formed perfectly to my feet.
I had to wear em wet for a long time, I wanted to be sure they’d mold to my feet.
They did, like a snug glove.
Then it was just a matter of a bunch of needle felting to thicken it up and put a design on it.
I worked a lot on the soles to make them fit my arches and feel good when walking with them.
You can see them here with my sandals made by our friend Jolaine strapped on for outside wear.
Here they are without the sandals.
I painted the bottoms with Latex rubber. I had some laying around… I put on three thick coats and kind of pulled it up to make knobby treads. This way I can wear them around the house without the bottoms wearing out.
They are so comfortable and totally warm out in the snow…
Now you can make your own…. See how easy?
This article was written by Mystic Orb If you liked it, you can visit the website at mysticorbtalismans.blogspot.ro
You may also like:
When the Snow Falls, Make Sure These Items Are in Your Trunk
9 Food Items to Hoard (video)
That is the most whacky, yet totally awesome thing that I have seen in some time. 🙂 I’m thinking that it would work quite well with one of those home made moccasin kits.
I mad a wool anorak type pull over sweater out of a Russian Army wool blanket. Which was the heaviest wool blanket I ever seen, and I collect wool blankets. I saved some materiel to make some mittens, but maybe ill try boots.
What was the piece for the calf for? I understand the foam for the foot.
Your needle felting is awesome! I’ll have to keep my eyes peeled for a wool sweater. FYI for anyone thinking about trying this, you can also cut the foam with an electric turkey knife. I keep one (great yard sale find) in my sewing room just for cutting foam. It comes in handy if you are recovering furniture.
A friend showed me a trick 30+ years ago, first wear a pair of felt boots and over those wear a pair of 5 buckle rubber boots. Worked well for walking or sitting while hunting the mountains.
And those wool pants and shirts may be scratchy, but stay warm even when they get wet 🙂
That’s the practical route. And can be kept water-proofed.
Article’s ‘boots’ likely would fall apart during any real use. Maybe party footwear to compete with Uggs?
Very imaginative!
I’d be interested in ways to repair shoes and boots that I already have. I’ve tried a few times to repair leaks and tears in the leather where it connects to the sole, but never with success.
I’ve used shoe-goo in the past for minor repairs. It is basically just very strong rubber cement.
I think that Flex Seal would work for a while. I would do the paint on kind, not the spray or the tape.
I used the flextape tape to repair a pair of expensive snake proof boots that the EMT’s cut off his foot while giving him medical attention (after he fell out of his tree stand and broke his leg and hip) I have used them for the past three years while hunting with no leakage (even when standing in ice water about 10 inches deep, they come up almost to my knee)
Better Web sites will help you find illustrated books and paper texts written by folk who have actually done things for themselves. Acid-free paper, if bound, cared for, and stored properly, can last for centuries.
A _serious_ prepper / survivalist has a shelter library. Possibly two or more copies of every text whose contents which they have first tested by actually doing various things.
E.g., prepper blow-boat sailors have a Chapman’s edition (not necessarily recent) aboard. Persons prepared to maintain their own vehicle(s) will have relevant Chilton edition(s).
Online material may be fine as far as it can go, but during any real crisis it’s offline printed material which will be what you can have at hand. Just about any serious event downs electricity and every facility which depends on it. Which is nearly everything.
I’m sourly amused at folk who are constantly on their ‘smart’ phones. Not only does that habit locate them for various nefarious minds, such devices depend on centralized facilities which are vulnerable to all sorts of events, such as a cyber attack.
The ‘central facility’ model is understandable, since it potentially makes dependent devices less costly. It also is understandable for providers, since that potentially makes users more dependent.
Yet a D2D / P2P model (millions / billions of independent nodes / devices / persons) can be -by design and in practicality- much more resilient during crises.
Some practical ideas.
Decades ago I “reheeled” my hisband’s crepe soledleather loafers, using aquarium glue on the crepe, let dry then covered it with rubber cement for color and texture. John wore them until he had to get a larger size to accomodate custom orthics. who knew? I have raised horses fore decades, yet it my husband that had navicular issues due to rocker bottom feet. Upside down arches with wicked calluses. Prevent painful plantar fascia issues by standing with toes only on a step then raising and lowering your heels as far down as they will stretch. Five or ten are plenty,using the railing for support. I would like to get some of the heavy plastic bags merchants use for shipping. they are heavier than any “contractors bags. Consider stashing yoga mats to keep things dry laying them over pallets before stacking your boxes. I bought army surplus wool blankets to make winter robes. Lasted a decade, patched elbows then invested in a goose down one, along with real sheepskin mattress cover and down comforter, covered with a duvet. Husband said he was too hot, so folded both double, and I agreed to much lower temp, just enough to keep pipes under trailer from freezing. my next home will have a fireplace or two.
I would recommend the Jordan model. These are very comfortable and stylish shoes. You can buy here: Jordans. Go to the site and find out more.
This is awesome, thank you for sharing. How did you make the heels? Did you add more wool during the needle felting? Thanks so much!
Hello. I read this post a few years ago (2025 now). Re-reading and maybe going to try this. Questions:
1: where can I get similar sandals for wearing under them?
and
2: Where can I get natural rubber ‘paint’ to cover the bottom?
Thank you and I hope to get a reply soon.
I went to the mystic orb talisman site, but it’s just a bit too weird for my tastes…..