Have you ever been curious about making your own shoes? Here at Katie Blauer, we pride ourselves in the fact that our shoes are all one-of-a-kind hand-made creations. But the art of shoemaking is a very specialized skill that takes years of practice to master and I’ll be the first to admit that I still have a lot to learn. Hand made moccasins, however, are a different story! This fun little shoe project is easy enough for the do-it-yourselfer and the opportunities for creative embellishment are endless. The moccasin trend has been around for a long time because nothing compares to the comfy-cute combo of these soft little slippers. So why not give shoemaking a try and in the spirit of Katie Blauer, make them your own! We would love to see what you come up with!

Here’s what you’ll need:
Moccasin Pattern Pack from Tandy Leather Factory
material (usually leather/suede, but I’m sure wool or other textiles could work too!)
large stitching needle
thread (a heavy waxed thread is best)
lace (I used a square leather style lace)
sharp scissors (pinking shears optional)
rotary hole punch tool
embellishments (beads, studs, fringe, etc.)

Deerskin moccasins with lurex knit footbed and chevron bugle bead detail on vamp by Katie Blauer