How to Make Sandals at Home

Walk in comfort with a pair of handmade leather sandals fitted to your feet.

By Rachel Corry
Updated on March 3, 2022
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by Lauren Martin

Learn how to make sandals at home. Expand your handmade clothing skills and walk in comfort by learning to make sandals using leather fitted to your feet.

This is a casual and unfussy sandal that’s easy to make. The design consists of two pieces per foot, with a tie at the ankle. The straps are sandwiched between the sole layers and skived so you don’t feel them underfoot. Feel free to adjust the toe strap width and play around with the shape of the ankle strap. If you don’t love laces, you can easily swap in a small strap that closes with a buckle or stud.

How to Make Sandals at Home: Making Sandal Patterns

a hand with pencil tracing a paper strap pattern onto another pi

Deciding which style of sandal you want to make may be the hardest part of this whole process! Once you’ve chosen a design, you’ll need paper patterns for each component, including the sole and all the upper straps. You can find patterns online, copy the style of a beloved sandal you already own, or design your own pattern from scratch. Remember, each paper pattern piece is meant to be flipped over, so one side of the paper will be for your right foot and one for your left foot.

I started my sandal-making journey by re-creating my favorite sandals and making alterations. It was a wonderful way to learn because I had something to reference. If you have a pair of sandals you love, use them as a template for a new pair. Place the chosen shoe upside down on paper, and then roll it from one side to the other as you trace with a pencil. Cut out the shapes, and then drape them over the original shoe to see how faithful your pattern is. Your pattern pieces won’t be perfect at first; make modifications as needed. And remember to alter the design to make it your own!

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