London intensive shoemaking course Day 4, Week 1

Wow, a third of the way through. Time flies, especially when you are welting. In fact, we worked so hard today on our threads and welting that I forgot to take any photos until the last minute and everyone was tidying up. Oops. But we were busy.

So, essentially, the day involved the last bits of lasting the toes; making threads; attaching bristles; preparing welts; and stitching them. All by hand, of course.

Welting is probably the most challenging thing we do on the course but they all did very well today.

Here is a half welted shoe with the welt that we made at the side.

Here is a detail of the threads and welt at the toe. We make special knots here to stop the stitches pulling through.

Our trusty welting all with the slightly spooned end to make a better hole for the stitches to pass through.

And here is the forecast for tomorrow - widespread and unbroken welting will dominate throughout the day until late afternoon.

Until then, happy shoemaking!