My first prototype for magnetic shoe closures…

Reminder… the blue dress Sara has been modeling this past week ends this evening (Saturday) on Ebay. You can see it by clicking the picture at the right side bar… or you can click HERE. I hope someone’s Ruby Red Fashion Friend will enjoy wearing it.

The pouring rain that has been coming down all Thursday night and all day Friday and looks to continue into Saturday has completely blocked my satellite from working, so I had to come up with an alternative using my phone. I will see if my satellite comes back so I can get Ten Ping’s dress set listed Saturday evening…

I know you may have seen my magnetic closures on the leather purses I have made, so I had the same idea in mind for my shoes… I just needed to figure out all the details… I ordered some smaller buckles and have a few more coming in a few days…

So my plan was to have the small magnet imbedded in the side of the shoe so when the buckle lays on top of it, it would just click together…but… the buckles I received said they were metal, but they don’t stick to my magnets, so I had to find something that “would” stick to them. I found a little silver crimp that stuck very well to the imbedded magnet but it was too wide, so I had to modify it to be as narrow as my straps…that had to be sewn to the thin strip of Ultrasuede and then that piece was glued over the buckle on the underneath side..

Here is my prototype on a shoe that was unfinished because I just used it to see if the shoe size was right.

I had to use netting in front of the teeny tiny magnet, then push it through the hole I punched in the side of the shoe…

A piece of thin Ultrasuede was cut and glued in place to go over the magnet and hold it in place.

The end of the strap has the tiny silver piece sewn to a thin strip of Ultrasuede and then glued to the back side of the buckle…

Then when the strap comes in contact with the magnet they just snap together… here is a video of my first time trying it out…

Every doll lovers dream… buckling shoes with one finger!!

I had a few pair of shoes and decided to give it a try on the real thing…

It WOULD be much easier and quicker if the shoes weren’t put together first.. so next time it will be better for me…

…and one more video of these shoes…

I found a new finding online that will work better on the strap, so I’m taking my tiny magnets to Hobby Lobby tomorrow to see if they will stick…it’s a little jewelry piece that has holes in each end…

Well, that’s it from this weekend shoe cobbler! :o)

Have a wonderful weekend yourselves!!
See you Monday!
Blessings, Jeanne

6 thoughts on “My first prototype for magnetic shoe closures…”

  1. Charlotte Trayer

    I have to say, I’m impressed with your magnetic clasp for those tiny shoes! Really ingenious, and many doll mommies will be thrilled not to have to struggle to fasten those teensy buckles! I have pretty small fingers, and they are even difficult for me sometimes!

  2. Linda in St. Louis

    What a great way to close those tiny shoes, Jeanne! Although I don’t have a doll that small that I dress, I will say that this makes it easier to do, than having a snap, when putting on these tiny shoes. I wonder if the snaps are easier to do than velcro? Just about all the AG shoes close with velcro, that involve a buckle. However, sometimes they do snag the socks or tights, so you have to be carefl for that. You just keep getting better and better!

    Oh gosh, we are soaked here too! I would love to get out and do things in the yard, but it is just plain too wet! Soon it will be Easter Sunday, just two weeks! Have to get those bunnies and baskets ot of storage!

  3. Joy in northern CA

    Great idea, but maybe this pair needs an insole to bring the foot up more and fill in the gaps across the top? Not sure if a sock would work? I like the shoe straps to fit against the foot myself. I’m sure the kinks will be worked out. Not sure what hardware is available, but had no idea that some were not magnetic. On another note, we’ve been looking for a pan that works for induction cooking. Has to be magnetic. Not easy to find one that I like 🙂
    Following the news on Mississippi. Horrific tornado there last night.

    1. Joy in northern CA

      I’ve been looking at shoes with magnetic closures. I wonder for the magnet on the shoe, on the inside, if it would work to glue on a much smaller round piece of matching leather, slightly larger than the magnet instead of that long piece? I’ve seen a few pair done that way. And when you get your non pot metal new buckles, hopefully, they will stick to the magnet. I think these will be a big hit. 🙂

  4. Clever, clever! You can do the most unusual things!
    Magnets are a great idea.
    Would you girls that are sick of rain please send it to Nebraska? 🤔😍
    We have gotten some teasers but nothing that is a good soaking. Still have brown grass and no tulips showing!
    We did however get two more Wood chucks aka Ground hogs. Hoping that is all🫢They are destructive little devils. Mike has a place by a stream that he takes them… so I’m sure there is a family reunion since he caught another one yesterday.🫣

    1. Joy in northern CA

      Never thought of ground hog catching. Here, my father used to catch possums and racoons a lot and relocate them, although I don’t think you’re supposed to do that. 🙁 Don’t know about ground hogs as we don’t have them here. 🙂

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