Grab a sewing machine, thread, fabric, masking tape, exacto knife, glue and some beers and you too can have some awesome looking customs in just 9easy steps.
- I recommend using exacto knife or fabric scissors (not the dull things you cut paper with)
- I recommend using Shoe Goo
- I recommend staying away from Liquid Stitch
- I recommend Coronas
- Lay the masking tape down on the section(s) you want covered by the fabric.
- Cut the section out on the masking tape with the exacto knife (duh).
- Place the cut out section onto the fabric.
- Cut out the template with an exacto knife, or if you like trace it out with a pen and cut it out with some sharp fabric scissors (dont cut exactly on the border, its better to cut a bit bigger incase you make a mistake, you can always clean things up, but you can go back an add fabric) Also, if your sewing more than 1 panel together, leave about 1/2 inch or so so the seams will look clean (explain later.)
- Lay the fabric up against the shoe, get your piccaso on. If everything matches up against the shoe then go onto the next step, if not, this is the time to get everything perfect. Use the scissors to clean up all the edges.
- Single Panel : Take a pencil and simple trace out where you want the stiching to be. Now, go over it with the sewing machine. Please note, if your doing any part of the shoe that touches the midsole, dont sew there, as there is no stiching along that side.
- Multiple Panels : A bit harder than if using a single panel. If you want all your panels to seamlessly blend, then flip your fabric over and sew all the joining seams. (All of this stitching will be on the inside and thus will make all the seams on the shoe “invisible” just like all the seams on a…*looks around*…pillow case). But wait, your not done. You still have to do step 6a now!
ALSO. In step 6b. you can add additional stitching. I cant remember which customizer did but it was their “jack the ripper” customs and they had red stitching crossing the toe box, so if you were wondering how to do that, this is where you would.
- Apply a thin layer of glue to the shoe, and also to the inside of the fabric, use a paintbrush or something of the sort to spead it around. Dont add too much glue though, depending on the fabic, it may cause the colours to bleed. Make sure everything is set right.
- Watch tv. (yes, this is a step. The step isnt, watch the shoes while the glue dries, or poke the shoes and move the panels around. Trying to get things perfect usually means you messing things up and having to start over. If you must watch the shoes, at least grab a damp paper towel and wipe the excess glue off.) If you see parts where its uneven, wait till its dry. Its much easier to cut when its dry and stiff.
- Once its dried go over and make sure everything looks just right. Pull out the exacto knife again. Make sure everything is clean and there are no threads sticking out. Dont go overboard though.
