Well, I’ve been working on cowgirl boots for a few days and thought I’d show you a few pictures of what I’ve gotten accomplished… If you don’t know who the Dianna Effner, 13″ Little Darlings are, here is my Janie, and you can see the top of the outfit I’m working on to go with the boots.
I change her wigs and I think she looks pretty cute in this carrot red wig with big thick braids.
When I first decided I wanted a pair of cowgirl boots to go with her outfit, I looked online to find a style I liked. Then I had to come up with a pattern for her size foot. I traced it onto some paper…
Getting the top front part of the boot was the hardest to figure out…
So these are some of the pieces I have ended up with… some are the ones I’m using and some have been tweaked or need tweaking…
This was my first prototype…
But it leaned a little toward the back…so I tried a second boot and tried to make the side seam straight up…
I wasn’t worried about “decorating” them so much…I’m just trying to get a good pattern and fit right now.
When I figure out what to make to go with them, I think I can still decorate them.
I’ve discovered something about the Ultrasuede that I’ve been using for the boots. It comes in all different weights. The pale seafoam green boots are made from a fairly stiff Ultrasuede and it has lots of body and stands straight up like a “good boot should!” But it was still flexible enough to bend down and easily slide my dolls foot in. So I decided to just close up the back with the glue I was using.
I showed them to my daughter, Rebecca and she said they are more like an UGG boot than a cowgirl boot…so she gave me some tips about trying to make the toe more pointed and a few other things. All in all, I was pretty pleased with them.
Next, I decided to make a pair for the outfit for Janie. I picked a dark chocolate brown and a blue Ultrasuede. The blue is closer in color to the lighter pictures. I don’t know why 2 of my pictures turned out so royal blue. Anyway, the blue Ultrasuede was super soft and didn’t stand up like the other boots did. I’ll have to remember that when making other cowgirl boots.
I made the front decorative part too deep and so it pushes into the blue part of the boot and since it was the super soft suede, it makes it sort of dent in a little bit. Rebecca said these were sort of like a slouch boot and not so much a cowgirl boot.
I went ahead and finished them and will most likely put them with the outfit for Janie…
I put a little square of Velcro on the back to hold the backs together, but since they are so soft and flexible, I’m fairly certain I’m going to just glue them in place too.
And so, that’s what I’ve been working on… it doesn’t look like I’ve accomplished much, but pattern making takes longer than you think…
Any comments or critiques…I’m not thin skinned so go ahead and give me your honest opinions…
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
Oh Jeanne, Well Done!!!! They are great!!! It doesn’t matter that they are a bit like an Ugg or a slouch boot, they are for a little girl foot and they look like a cowgirl boot! You sure are tenacious! Love you, Cindy
HI Cindy,
I’m just now getting to my comments… friends were in town and we did lots of visiting…
Thanks for thinking the boots are okay… I think I can make them better, but I was pretty pleased to have gotten so far on my first pairs…
Thanks and love you too, Jeanne
Hi
I’m so impressed I can’t stand it!. You did a great job! I know the pattern making is the hardest part…then making changes and remembering to make the same changes to the pattern. They look really professional . Rebecca is a good critic though…when I read what she said she is right. Gosh these daughters are good!
I like the blue and brown…could you use some iron on interfacing on the blue right in front to stiffen it a bit? US will stand some heat… I would think the boots would sell just by themselves. Some stitching on the us would be cute too
HI Kathie,
Thanks so much for your very kind compliments on the boots.The easiest way to make changes on something like this is to make it and then take THAT thing apart and make the changes and then put it back together, but parts of the boots were glued so it was impossible to do it that way.
Actually the blue that I used the absolute softest of all the Ultrasuede that I have, so I may just use it for embellishments from now on…not the actual boot part. That pale green that I did the other pair from was some I got at our church yard sale… I probably have 3 or 4 yards of it… so everyone may see lots of pale green boots… mixed with some other color.
I’m going to try and get them looking better, but like I told my sister above, I was just happy they were going together like they were for now… One of these days I’ll get it all together and they’ll hopefully look perfect!
Thanks for the vote of confidence Kathie,
Blessings, Jeanne
Those boots are adorable, Jeanne! I’m not sure if I am seeing 4 different boots or what, because the colors are all different. I like the boots that are more stiff, like the first ones the best. They look more like cowboy boots.
Yes, you probably could sell boots by themselves! And just think how a cute fringed cowgirl skirt and vest that would go with the boots,– and a flowered shirt too!!
HI Linda,
I had all different colors on my monitor too, don’t know exactly why… I liked the pale green ones better too…
I think there are all kinds of possibilities for shoes when I get the bottom and the foot section figured out…yep, fringed skirts and vests and lots of pretty colors…
I need to clone myself to get all the things done I want to do…
Thanks Linda,
Blessings, Jeanne
Thr Ugg style is my favorite.I have tried to make shoes without a pattern and the toe box was the hardest for me. Congratulations on your efforts, but then we know you will not stop until you are completely satisfied.
Thanks Jan,
I’m glad you liked my boots… Janie does too… If I can perfect all the pieces to fit exactly right and each time I make a pair they turn out the same, I will be a happy camper…
When I think back on how many Mary Jane shoes I tried to make for Ten Ping, a few boots is nothing, compared to that…
Thanks so much,
Blessings, Jeanne
Like Janie with her braids! Can’t wait to see her outfit. What about Ten Ping boots?
Hi Joy,
Yes, isn’t Janie cute in those carrot red braids? She’s wanting to see the rest of her cowgirl outfit too, just like everyone else…
Ten Ping’s boots? Oh dear, that never even crossed my mind… maybe someday, but not right at the moment…
Thanks Joy,
Blessings, Jeanne
No criticism from me. I think they’re really cute, and I’m sure they’re better than I could have done. I agree the stiffer ultra suede makes a better looking boot. I’m Just picturing all the different ultra suede colors and thinking how many pretty pairs you could make!
HI Carolyn,
If I don’t get her outfit finished soon, the new will wear off the boots and no one will want them… I need a few of me to assign different tasks too… oh wouldn’t that be fun?
Thanks Carolyn,
I appreciate your kind words…
Blessings, Jeanne
Your boots are just perfect, just like everything you create.
I am addict to your website and it is my pleasure to read your daily post!
I think I will try some boots too, following your Step by step if you do not mind.
I guess it will take a long long time for me before I succeed !!!
I do love The outfit too !
Thank you Sophie,
I’m glad you enjoy my blog posts each day and who knows…maybe you’ll be faster at making the boots than I was!
Thanks for your nice comments!
Blessings, Jeanne