Adding leather soles to slippers and socks can add durability, protection, and traction to your cozy footwear. However, choosing and sourcing the right type of leather and knowing how to customize it for your project can be daunting if you are unfamiliar with the process. Here’s a tutorial on how to add soles to slippers and socks.
Materials
(More detailed information about the types of materials can be found in the next section.)
- Leather or suede
- Leather punch tool (hand punch, multi-punch with hammer, or single punch with hammer); you can use a standard hammer and a large nail, but the holes will not be as neat as those created with a purpose-made tool
- Hammer (for multi-punch or single punch)
- Sturdy cutting board or scrap leather
- Sturdy table or stone slab
- Ruler or measuring tape
- Pen or pencil
- Heavy duty scissors or cutting tool (utility knife, hobby knife, or rotary cutter all work well)
- Cutting mat if needed
- Waxed cord, thread, or yarn (see step 5 for more detail)
- Tapestry needle, blunt end needle, or crochet hook
- Candle, lighter, or other source of flame (used to melt ends instead of knotting if using waxed cord, see step 5 for more detail)
- Scissors
All photos by Leanna Haughian.