Soles with an Edge!
Soles with an Edge are soles with a suede strip standing up around the edge of the sole. There are perforations along the top of the strip, so you can place your handmade felt or fiber boot or clog onto the sole, inside the suede edge, stitch your footwear to it - and go for a walk outside!
These white knit boots with fur cuff were designed by Phoenix Bess for her book, It Girl Knits. The Soles with an Edge have a 1/4" sole of natural rubber.
I make these soles for outdoor wear with 1/4" thick natural rubber soles and 1/4" heel, and for skid-proof indoor wear (and light outdoor wear) with 1/8" thick soling. This makes a very flexible sole, which keeps feet warm in cold conditions. I stitch these soles on because I don't want to use toxic shoe cements.
The top of the suede edge is folded over, to create a finished look. The soles below are indoor Soles with an Edge, showing the 1/8" thick rubber soles.
Directions for attaching your boots to Soles with an Edge can be found on my blog.
To determine what size soles to order, download the sole patterns below, and make a model of the pattern you think is the right size for you. It's best if your boots are already made and you can put them on while standing inside the model sole.
You'll need duct tape, masking or cellophane tape and cardboard (USPS flat-rate box cardboard is ideal - from a recycled box, of course!) to make the model.
Cut the most-likely-to-be-your-size sole pattern out, transfer it to the cardboard, and cut out the cardboard sole.
Make a model of the suede edge from a strip of duct tape and masking tape; approximate lengths of duct tape are: A - 22" B- 23"; C - 23"; D - 24"; E - 25"; F - 26"; G - 27"; H - 28".
Lay the length of duct tape out on a table, and adhere a piece of other tape along its top edge; then fold the duct tape over, leaving about 3/8" of sticky back below the fold.
Now make a duct tape edge standing up around the cardboard sole, representing the suede edge; adhere the sticky part to the underside of the cardboard sole, as you continue placing the tape around the edge of the sole.
When the edge is complete, stand inside your model with your boots on, and determine if it is the correct size for you.
If not, order a size smaller or larger, as is appropriate, or modify the model until you are sure of your size. If you own a business selling materials such as yarns or fibers for making boots, you might make up a set of these models for your customers to step in to.
OUTDOOR SOLES with an EDGE
ACCESSORIES:
Metal Loops: Metal loops for laces to run through can be stitched in place while you are stitching Soles with an Edge, to hold your boot close to your leg. 16 for $4.00, black, white or brown.
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Please feel free to contact me with any questions you have, as custom soles with other colors of suede, non-leather edging, or other widths are available.
Sole Pattern for Downloading.