Internal support mount for shoes
Purpose
This support system is appropriate for shoes with ankle straps or other design elements that need support in the shaft or ankle area. It allows the object to be stored and viewed as it was originally designed to be seen.
Author(s)
Laura Mina
The Philadelphia Museum of Art
2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia, PA 19130
Tel: 215-684-7578
Email: laura.mina@philamuseum.org
Website: https://www.philamuseum.org/
Lisa Stockebrand
The Philadelphia Museum of Art
2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia, PA 19130
Tel: 215-684-7185
Email: LStockebrand@philamuseum.org
Website: https://www.philamuseum.org/
Photographs: Laura Mina and Lisa Stockebrand
Publication: 2014
Description
A foot-shaped mount of heat-activated polyester felt. The mount provides semi-rigid support to all areas of the shoe.
Materials, Tools & Supplies
- Heat-activated polyester felt
- Heat steamer
- Sewing supplies, needle and thread
- Slipper pattern
- Mannequin foot
- High-loft polyester batting
- Cotton stockinette
- Flexible, closed-cell polyethylene foam or corrugated board
- Hot melt glue
- Cotton twill tape
Construction
1. Determine the size of the shoe and select a mannequin foot that is slightly smaller.
2. Trace the pieces of the slipper pattern onto the heat-activated non-woven polyester felt, and cut out the pieces. (Diagram 1)
Diagram 1. Slipper pattern. Scaled pattern pieces are available at https://sew-ing.com/make/socks.html
3. Cut a narrow oval out of the front slipper piece (Fig. 1). Align the edges of the oval, and stitch together with a zig-zag stitch.
Fig. 1 The front slipper piece is folded in half, and a narrow oval is cut out of the front ankle area.
4. To assemble the slipper, first sew the back and bottom pieces together between the “A” points. Then align the toes of the front and bottom pieces, as well as the top edges of the back and front pieces. With one seam, stitch from one top side, around the toe, and up the other top side. Trim the seam allowances to slightly less than .25”.
5. Pull the slipper onto the mannequin foot.
6. Use hot steam and pressure to activate the polyester felt. Apply extra pressure to the seams in order to flatten them as much as possible (Fig. 2).
Fig. 2 Apply steam and pressure to activate the polyester felt. Use extra pressure along the seams.
7. Allow the slipper to cool and dry.
8. Make a cut along the center back ankle, and remove the slipper from the mannequin foot.
9. Align the cut edges of the slipper and join using a piece of twill tape and hot melt glue (Fig. 3). The twill tape will help prevent the hot melt glue from melting through the heat-activated polyester felt.
Fig. 3 Fold twill tape over top edge and attach with hot melt glue.
10. Trim the top ankle area to the height needed for the shoe.
11. Trace the top ankle area and cut a piece of corrugated board or polyethylene foam to fit into this space.
12. Cover the slipper with cotton stockinette. Fold the stockinette into the ankle area. The foam or board oval can be inserted into this space and attached with hot melt glue (Fig. 4).
Fig. 4 Attach the oval cap with hot melt glue.
13. Add semi-circular pieces of high-loft polyester batting to extend the toe area as needed (Fig. 5). Fold the stockinette over the felt and tuck it inside, or stitch the stockinette closed.
Fig. 5 If the toe area needs to be padded to better fit the shoe, semi-circular pieces of high-loft polyester batting can be positioned in the stockinette.
Comments
The slipper form can be covered with any material deemed suitable for storage or display.
Adapted from
The slipper pattern was found at https://sew-ing.com/make/socks.html