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Make Women's High Heels

The history of high heels goes back to 4,000 B.C. where depictions of them have been found on the walls of Egyptian temples and tombs. High heels are an easy way for a woman to lengthen her body and make her legs look slimmer. Most women enjoy a closet full of different colors and styles of high heel shoes but often overlook the lengthy process that goes into manufacturing a high heeled shoe.

Instructions
Things You'll Need:

* Shoe molds (Lasts)
* Leather upper
* Sole
* Heel
* Nails
* Heel covering
* Inside lining


Step 1

Measure the length and width of the foot for which the shoe is being made.

Step 2

Shape the shoe pieces on lasts, otherwise known as shoe molds. Lasts must be made specifically for the design of the shoe and are created based on 35 different measurements of the foot.

Step 3

Cut the pieces for the shoe based on the design of the shoe style. Pieces required are vamps, which cover the toes and top of the foot and counters, which are sections covering the back and sides of the shoe.

Step 4

Sew the counters and vamps together which creates an upper. Stretch the upper over the last with stretching pliers to pull the parts of the shoe into place. Tack it down to the last.

Step 5

Let the upper soak on the last for two weeks.

Step 6

Soak the leather for the soles in water to make it pliable. Once the sole is cut, place it on a lapstone and pound it with a mallet until there is a smooth shape.

Step 7

Cut a groove into the edge of the sole to mark holes to be punched through for stitching.
Step 8

Glue the sole to the bottom of the upper and stitch together using a double-stitch method. A double stitch method is when two needles are woven through the same hole but the thread is going in opposite directions.

Step 9

Attach the heel to the sole with nails. If the heel is covered with leather or cloth, use glue or stitching to attach the covering before you nail it to the sole.

Step 10

Finish up the shoe by staining or polishing the outside of it and attaching linings to the inside.

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Create Your Own High Heeled Women's Shoes

Shoe designers narrow concepts and designs by selecting the type and category of the shoe. The designs are generally narrowed down and influenced by the heel height and type. Designers are also influenced by specific eras or fashion trends such as the 1930's t-strap sandal or the 1950's shell pump. Novelty fashion trims, such as beading or feathers, are also translated into shoe designs. These factors also impact the fabric texture selection.

Instructions
Things You'll Need:

* Sketch pad
* B pencil
* H pencil
* Pastels (optional)
* Charcoal (optional)
* Wax crayon (optional)
* Metallic silver marker pen (optional)

Step 1

Choose your heel type by selecting the heel's shape, such as a stiletto, square-shaped, mule or kitten heel. Keep your style in mind, such as a high heeled Mary Jane or a spectator.

Step 2

Draw different variations of your heel type. For example, current heel trends incorporate shaped heels with circular inserts. Include these details in your drawing. Your heel height and shape will impact your sole's arch and the balance of the design. For example, add a gladiator strap influence to a high heeled sandal shape.

Step 3

Choose your heel height by selecting the dimension of the heel. For example, mules are generally 3 to 4 inches and stilettos often vary between 5 and 6 inches. Funky stilettos such as the skyscraper style finishes in a 7 to 7 ½ inch heel. A high heeled wedge, which is a solid heel that runs into the front of the shoe's sole, varies in heights from 3 to 5 inches.

Step 4

Sketch your selections in your sketch pad. Use a soft B pencil for your free-hand sketches and draw thick outlines.

Step 5

Draw your heel and shoe details with your H pencil, which is typically used for defining details such as stitching or studs. Add trim details such as beading, sequins, instep ornaments or feathers.

Step 6

Draw your high heel shoe's fabric textures. Generally these fabric textures are challenging to sketch because of the flat textile surface. For example, patent leather shoes with metallic heels have a flat surface texture with a gloss finish. Use your pastels, charcoal or wax crayon and blend your colors to create the surface texture and use a metallic silver marker pen to create the heel surface.

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Make a Dress From Scarves

Scarves, or shawls, although often much admired, are not always useful accessories anymore. Many people today do not wear large decorative scarves to cover the hair and shoulders as was once the fashion. However, a collection of attractive vintage scarves or shawls need not go to waste, as they can be re-purposed for other garments. You can make clothes out of large scarves using many different methods, some of which preserve the shape of the scarves and some which do not. To get started altering your scarves and shawls, choose one of these sewn-scarf dress projects.

Instructions
Things You'll Need:

* Large scarves
* Measuring tape
* Scissors
* Pins
* Thread
* Sewing machine
* Iron
* Ironing board

A Sewn Single-Scarf Dress

Step 1

Take a very large decorative scarf and fold it in half along the longest sides. Mark the center of the fold with a pin. Measure 4 inches out from the center on each side and mark these spots with a pin.

Step 2

Cut a slit into the fold between the 2 pins. This will be the neckline. If you need a larger neck opening, cut the slit wider.

Step 3

Fold the sides of the slit under 1/4 inch, then another 1/2 inch. Sew along the inside folded edge to hide the raw edges of the scarf. Iron the neckline flat.

Step 4

Slip the scarf over your head and adjust it to hang against your body. Have a friend help you pin the sides of the scarf together under your arms, stopping a few inches above the hem. Take the scarf off and sew the pinned sides together, 1/2 inch away from the edges. Iron the seam allowances open.

Step 5

Slip the scarf over your head again. Take another, smaller scarf and tie it around your waist.
A Sewn Multiple Scarf Dress

Step 1

Lay two large scarves side by side along the long edges. Mark the center of each scarf with a pin.

Step 2

Measure 4 inches out from the center on each side of the pin or as much as you need for a neck opening. Mark these positions with pins and remove the center pin.

Step 3

Lay one scarf on top of the other, matching the edges. Pin one long edge together, leaving a gap between the two pins from Step 2. Sew along the pinned edges, 1/2 inch away.

Step 4

Iron the seam allowances open. Put your head through the neck opening and have a friend help you mark the armhole openings with pins. Pin the body openings together and remove the scarves.

Step 5

Sew along the pinned sides, 1/2 inch away from the edges. Iron the seam allowances open.

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Design Your Own Jeans That Are Perfect for Your Body Type

Customizing garments begins by knowing the individual's body type. There are four different body type classifications. The hourglass shape refers to a well-proportioned upper and lower body; the pear shape has a larger hip area and a smaller upper body; apple shapes have a larger chest and waist with a narrow hip; and the ruler shape has slight differences in the hip and waist measurements, with slender arms and legs. By determining the body type and measurements, the designer is able to narrow down the jean selection process.

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Flexible tape measure
• Sketch pad
• B or H pencil
• Colored pencils
• Denim fabric texture swatch
• Pastels (optional)
• Wax crayons (optional)

1. Step 1

Measure your hip, waist, shoulder and inseam with a flexible tape measure. Keep a record of your specifications.

2. Step 2

Draw your free-hand sketch in your sketch pad using the dimensions taken as your guide points. For example, if you are pear shaped and have long legs, you will need to draw this type of silhouette on your sketch prior to your jean selection. Use a B for soft lines and an H pencil for your details such as pockets and stitching.

3. Step 3

Choose your jean type by selecting the silhouette, keeping your body type in mind. For example, a pear shape with long legs and a thick thigh area will look best with a boot leg cut silhouette. The leg patter is straight from the hip area to the ankle. This pattern type will camouflage the thigh area and make the legs appear long and lean for a flattering customized jean design. A pencil cut silhouette, which is generally form fitting from the hip to the ankle, will make a ruler body type appear hourglass.

4. Step 4

Choose your denim fabric by selecting an appropriate denim texture for the body type. For example, cross hatch denim, which has an interweaving vertical and horizontal grain, will be flattering for an hourglass shape. Rain denim, which has a vertical grain texture, will be flattering for a pear shape. Stretch denim is used for all body types. This flexible fabric naturally conforms itself to the body when worn.

5. Step 5

Choose your denim wash by selecting the shade of stonewash best suited for the body type. For example, use a medium or dark stonewash for an apple shape with a slightly flared jean. This will detract the focus from the waist area by mixing the jean with a medium or dark colored top. The ensemble will appear tonal for a flattering appearance.

6. Step 6

Draw in your denim fabric texture selection with your colored pencils. Use a swatch of your selected denim fabric to refer to while adding color to your sketch. Although denim is a challenging fabric to sketch because of the flat surface, use color pencils for the grain and use pastels or wax crayon to blend and diffuse the denim wash shade.

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