Sharon Raymond
I just received leather I had ordered, and it came in a nice cardboard tube. Thinking I could use it to make something for my granddaughter to play with, I went on pinterest looking for “play” “cardboard” “tube” and this sandal appeared! The url for it is: http://indiefashionandbeauty.blogspot.com/2009/04/recycled-diy-tire-sandles.html
Now the world of possibilities opens up even wider – after posting my inner tube sandal – what other shapes could be cut from inner tubes for the tops of sandals?! And might I be able to make all inner-tube shoes for wearing in water? How about rubber boots?!
This reminds me of all the sandal patterns in Brendan’s Leather Book, published in 1972. I’d love to scan the book and offer it to readers of this blog, but am not sure about copyright issues. (I can’t believe that 1972 was 43 years ago – it seems like just yesterday!) Brendan Smith, where are you!?
I have scanned the pages that show all the sandals that can be made by following the directions in his book – maybe you’ll be tempted to purchase a used copy that’s available on Amazon for $93.00! (I saw others as low as $25.00).
I think you’d be able to make most of these sandals by following the generic directions in my book, How to Make Sandals with your own two hands! Below is a sandal upper pattern I made in the dim past – it fell out of Brendan’s book – I don’t remember ever using the pattern to make an actual sandal, but you might want to play around with it cut out of inner tube…it’s probably a size 8 as that’s the size I wear..
