2025 Winter

Fur Cowboy Boots w/ Spurs

Cowboy Boots with Urban Function

Over the course of 5 weeks taught by Sarah Guerin in Wintersession, this boot was constructed to depict a boot meant to look aesthetically like a authentic wild west cowboy boots with its reference to gambling and fur usage but also to the functionality of pockets and aesthetic value as a street shoe.

Drafting

Measurements, Inspiration, Patterns

Clicking / Assembly

Clicking Patterns, Saddle Stitching, Crimping, Extra Patterns for Fur, Vamp

Lasting

Last Prep, Upper Prep

Finishing

Shank, Cork Filling, Wooden Pegging, Heel, Refining, Oil / Shine, Insoles

Presentation Look

Visual for look outside of box

Post Modifying

Addition of Spurs

Drafting

Measurements

Foot Measurements and Shoe Heights were taken

Inspiration

Based on Nordic boots of winter, ideas were generated on how to reflect that on a normal cowboy boot that would've been used in the summer.

Patterns

Patterns were drawn out for the left, right, and fur patterns on top.

Clicking Pieces

Pieces of leather were clicked out, beading strips were skived.

Saddle Stitching

Using a Saddle Horse and looped saddle stitching, the two pieces of leather were stitched together.

Crimping

Using a crimp board, the vamp cut out was stretched out to be added to the stitched leather pieces out.

Extra Patterns and
Attaching Counter
- Vamp

Extra Patterns and
Attaching Counter
- Vamp

Extra Patterns and
Attaching Counter
- Vamp

Fur Pieces were attached (apart from the pockets and handles)

Fur Pieces were attached (apart from the pockets and handles)

Clicking / Assembly

Clicking / Assembly

Lasting

Last Prep

the sole was soaked in water and binded with rubber strips.

Upper Prep

The back was hoisted (nailed 1-1 3/4 back). Then the front was lasted, sides next, hoist was released, and the back was nailed down, the front and sides were re-nailed down, and finally a wiping strip was used to get rid of bubbles.

Drying Stage

Leather was let to dry to hold the shape.

Finishing

Bottom Preparation

The shoes were trimmed 1 in inside, shank was bent, and shank cover was skived.

Sole was soaked and the area around the featherline - heel was dyed.

These two portions were glued together and all the empty spaces were filled with cork.

Combining

wooden pegs were used to secure the construction together

Cleaning Up

the front area was trimmed (no more stitching for this project). the back sole was trimmed, the bottom was sanded and the heel was glued to the bottom and nailed together

Refining

The skiving knife was used to trim around the back edge to make a cleaner edge as well the middle side distances

Oil and Shine

Leather Lotion (2x)
Acrylic Paint
Pro Resist
Leather Lotion (2x)
Shoe Polish
Protecting Leather Lotion (2x)

Insoles for Wearing

Thick piece of leather was soaked and placed into boot to form shape. Later trimmed.

Presenation

Presentation

Post Modification

Post Modification

1 Strap System

Using one strap , the spur was placed on but resulted in too much stress on the balls of the ankles. More pulling apart was needed.

Japanese Cord Techniques

Some experimentation into thick cord techniques if they could produce the tension needed to imitate a regular spur set up (they usually require a under tension and a front tension). This was a good demonstration but still ran into issues of digging too close to the joints.

3-Strap System

Using XL Chrome leather, 3 strips of leather were cut for each direction (tri-direction) and precisely cut to tension the spurs so it sits just outside of the shoe and hangs loosely enough to not put pressure onto the joints of the shoes.