Boot Cover Tutorial Part 3

I didn't forget you guys. I got busy with some cosplay work! More on that later!

Welcome back to part 3 of our bootcover adventure.  We don't have much left to work on. But I have to say, I think this is probably the most important part when it comes to the covers: Attaching them to your shoe of choice.

For those just joining, I'm making Vyse's boots from the game Skies of Arcadia. And yes, I'll keep telling you to play it because it's a fun and lighthearted adventure.

SO ANYWAY... onto our final step. ATTACHING YOUR COVER. *insert dramatic reverb * By this time, you've sewn together your boot (possibly lighting the sewing machine on fire, or wishing it would with your mind), and it's ready for wearing. Except it's not on your shoe base. Sad. Let's fix that, shall we?

1.) Preparing Your Materials

Needless to say, since you're working with glue, and it's going to be sticky, and messy, you should assemble all the things you'll need to attach your bootcover.

Here's a list of things I had:

• Boots/Shoes as base
• My completed covers
• E-6000 Glue
• A piece of paper to set your glue tube on
• A roll of blue tape (painters tape, preferably 3M. It tends to be tackier and hold onto things better)
• Spare pins from sewing (with the ball head, preferably)
• A well-ventilated area

This is about all you'll need. Oh, and a LOT of blue tape.

I did some "test fittings" where I tried to make sure I could get my foot through both the cover and into the boot base. Found out I had some trouble pulling up the boot to get my foot entirely inside, so I got all McGuyvery and added an elastic loop to the back of each boot - as a pull tab. This will be handy later, and will be hidden by the cover. I did two zigzag stitches to provide stability and to make sure I wouldn't pull it out.

My sewing machine goes through ANYTHING. YES.

Next, I noticed is that despite how sturdy the boots were, I had a feeling they'd bend as I tried to glue down my covers. So I took a bunch of extra plastic grocery bags (you know you've been keeping a stash for a reason), and I stuffed the foot part of the boots as full as they would go.

This will give me pressure against me as I glue the boot down. For tighter shoes, it also mimics a foot being inside it. This will also prevent your shoes from shrinking or seeming smaller on you after it's done.

Lastly, take your blue tape (painter's tape) and tear off a BUNCH of about 3-4 inch pieces. You'll need enough to cover the edge of the shoe. See steps below.

ONTO THE GLUING!

2.) Gluing your bootcover onto your base

Okay! There's really no scientific way to do this, sometimes I start at the heel, sometimes I start at the toe. Either way, pick an end (preferably the one least able to be screwed up, or the one that needs to be tugged to make it fit right). Carefully fit the cover over the boot/shoe as it should properly fit. (also check to make sure you R/L are still matched up. LAST CHANCE TO CHECK)

Once it's all ready to go, pick your end, and put your E-6000 glue a good deal up on the end, and slightly around each side. In this example I chose the heel first.

I put glue about 1.5 inches up the back, and started it around the heel.

This glue really smells. Please use near a window or a fan or something.

Once you have your glue on, carefully stretch the cover over the area, and press it down, so the edge of your cover meets the edge of your shoe. At this time, grab some pieces of your blue tape, and starting on the cover, place a piece, pull it down and press the tape to stick it to the sole. Repeat until you cover the entire area you just glued.

As you proceed around the shoe, some areas you can put a long strip of glue, and then press it down. It won't dry immediately so you've got time for adjustment. For example, I used a strip of glue on the sides, not that I put at least 1 inch wide areas of glue, making sure to get glue near the bottom/sole of the shoe, and up about 1 inch so it wouldn't slip or pull off easily.

I was getting kinda hazy at this point. 

Do this around the entire shoe. Have some spot that just don't want to stick? Well, you can use your sewing pins to stick it straight into the shoe, and help hold it down (that's what those dots are on this next picture).

It's a fashion statement.

The blue tape is important, as now your boot needs to wait at least a full day before you wanna try messing with it. I think it dries earlier, but I'd prefer to play it safe.

And now....the waiting.

3.) Your Finished Boots!

A day has passed, and it comes time to see if your hard work paid off! Gently remove the pins using your fingers, or pliers if you have to. They should easily come out.

I lose more pins this way.

You'll probably want to check to see if you need to discard the pins - sometimes they get goo on them and you really don't want to put that through fabric. OR save them for future boot cover plans. Your choice.

Gently pull the tape, starting from the top, and pulling down towards the sole. You will probably get some glue residue goopies, and possibly have some on your boot (which if this is done in pleather, this is easy to remedy! If I'm using cloth, I just try really hard to not get it on the top of the cover)

That shiny stuff? That's glue!

 You can easily rub off any extra glue with your fingers. It should peel off. At this point, you can clean up your boots and add any extra doodads or handsewing you may have wanted to do. Me? I just needed to add that pesky black strip at the top. I just used elastic. It was handy.

Arrr these be my finished boots!

You now have a finished pair of boots! Go test them out! Put em on, make sure they fit and look like they should!

Oh, and go finish the rest of your costume now! Shoo!