The set includes an open-face hood...
...made-to-measure bondage cuffs (for wrists and ankles)...
...bondage booties (from the newly-developed pattern)...
...bondage mittens...
...and a beautiful waist-cincher:
I'm really looking forward to seeing these on a model!
Yes, they came out really hot! They fit so beautifully all the way up the leg, I'm really happy. The leather is nice and smooth and shiny - just the right weight, just the right balance between thickness and stretchiness.
I eventually want to make a pair of actual (walkable) boots, and I see these a first step in that direction. Obviously these lack heels and any kind of internal support structure, like a toe box or counter, but they could actually have those elements and become a hybrid leg covering.
These are more like close-fitting gloves for the feet. And if you love leather and feet as much as I do, that's a beautiful thing...
As with a lot of my projects, once I get to being happy with the pattern, I start to think of all the possible variations; make them in red patent, or with contrasting color on the sole... or thigh-high, or with integrated straps - maybe they could strap together? The possibilities are only limited by your imagination. And your leather budget, I suppose...
Until next time...
I'm making this pair out of a beautiful, shiny leather called "diablo" from Hide House Napa, but many types of medium-weight leather would work.
Transfer the pattern to your leather and cut out with about 3/8 inch seam allowance. You should have left and right uppers for each bootie, plus 2 tongues and 2 soles.
Clip & sew the bottom front seam together - about the first inch and a half at the toe.
Glue down the entire front seam.
Trim darts, fold and pound seam flat.
Next I rig up my little guide so I keep the stitches spaced a consistent distance from the edge. It's just a wire held in place with a piece of tape. Low-tech but effective!
For this pair, I want the tongue to fold away from the center of the body, so I'm sewing what I call the "false stitches" on the right side of the right bootie, and the left side of the left. I want to run this line of stitches on the opposite side of the front opening from where the tongue is attached. These stitches are purely aesthetic - they will match the stitches on the other half which hold the tongue in place.
Now it's time to sew in the tongue. I use tape to hold the tongue in position, following the curve of the front seam.
Now that we're done with the front, we can turn our attention to the back. This is clipped and sewn together with the workpiece inside out.
...and glue and flatten the rear seam.
Looking good! =0)
I cut the strips to size, and use spray mount to hold the tape to the leather.
I also spray some adhesive on the twill tape itself to keep it from shifting while sewing. Folded up, it makes a nice, tight sandwich.
Now we're ready to attach the sole.
I align the center of the sole with the rear seam of the upper and hold it in place using clips all around.
At this point, you want to pull out the clips at the front of the bootie so you can insert the D-ring at the toe. I try to align the D-ring on the center seam. It should look sort of like a lizard with it's tongue sticking out. I trim the excess flush before re-clipping and sewing.
The sole is then carefully sewn in place.
Because of all the tight curves, there are lots of darts to be trimmed in the seam allowance around the sole - so this part is a bit time-consuming. But then you're ready to glue and flatten the seam allowance around the bottom edge of the foot.
Turned right-side out, this leaves us with the following:
Next, glue, flatten and topstitch the bootie's top edge seam.
We're done with the sewing!
Set 2-part grommet with setter and mallet. Also, I trim the tongue to final size following the curve of the pattern.
Now we just have to lace these up...
...and we're done!
