ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Sandalmaking Workshop is a well written and illustrated book on how to make sandals.

This was interesting, but not really what I expected or a book that I would actually use.
The information was clearly written and easily understood. Depending on your interest this book could be very helpful, but you'd have be very interested in shoe making. A good book for a niche group of readers.

This was very niche but also very informative. It makes shoemaker seem reasonable and explained the process well. With a good variety of projects.

A very clear explanation with great tips, giving the reader confidence to have a go. Clear instructions, well laid out and easy to follow.

I enjoyed this book. I have personally never tried to make my own scandals but I have always been interested in the process. This was perfect even for beginners. I think this book has excellent easy to follow instructions it wouldn’t be too difficult to make pair of sandals and this book shows it is achievable. I recommend this book to anyone interested in giving it a try.

A really great guide in sandal making even for beginners. I’ve never really thought about making my own sandals before reading this book but having made a few garments I think that using the excellent instructions it wouldn’t be too difficult to make pair of sandals.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my feedback.

The Sandalmaking Workshop is a visual delight. Rachel Corry, a shoemaking enthusiast, introduces the curious step by step to how to make a pair of sandals.

By the end of the book the reader will be familiar with a repeatable process for making sandals and closed toed shoes in a variety of styles. But, what happens along the way goes well beyond a standard "how-to" as Corry takes us on a journey into how shoes are crafted.

The beautiful hand-drawn and photographic illustrations are irresistible. Along this journey we are treated to a visual feast of shoes in a variety of styles, colors and materials. If you love shoes you'll enjoy dipping into this book for the photos alone! The book also features an illustrated introduction to basic tools, materials, supplies and even a shopping list for shoemaking. At the conclusion of the book is an invaluable resource of shops. I really enjoyed The Shoe Folk section, a veritable homage to other women shoemakers featuring brief bios and an iconic photo for each shoemaker's speciality style, craft, or location.

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for access to an advance reader's copy of The SandalMaking Workshop.

A good book to get a good understanding about how to make your own shoes.
My advice would be to buy the physical book rather than read it on an e-reader as you can't fully appreciate the photos.

One of my favorite sewing bloggers occasionally makes her own shoes, but I had never seen any resources for how to get started in this skill, so I was happy to find this book. The author makes the process understandable and not intimidating. Some special tools are required, but not an overwhelming amount of them. The author explores the folk traditions of various cultures as well as the more contemporary or timeless looks that a beginner can make.

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

I really liked this book to look at. I thought it was illustrated beautifully and there was some wonderful sandals to make. Rachel Corry is a very clever person. I also liked the back story of how she came to start making sandals for herself.

I had the book on an e reader which for this type of book makes for hard viewing and if I was to ever attempt making my own footwear I would need to purchase I hard copy.

I do believe that I would learn this type of craft far better in a class room setting with personal instruction and support from other people around in a group setting. Not least that there would be materials and tools available to use. Trying to do this type of craft for yourself would be expensive with the need to source and buy all the various tools and materials you would need, as well as a work area. Probably not a cost effective way to make your own footwear especially in Britain as sandal wearing is not all year round!

As this is an American book all the advertising of brands and where to buy anything are American stores and suppliers which mean nothing to anyone outside of that country. If I was interested in doing this type of craft I would source a writer nearer home.

A nice book that is more of a vehicle for the author to show what can be achieved if you have the tools for the job. Lots of advertising for where she has bought her materials from. Not for beginners but would be good if you had attended classes and were interested in looking at different projects.

This is a wonderful book if you are interested in making your own sandals. Totally loved reading it. It's really interesting to see the shoemaking process.

The Book You Need if You Want to Make Sandals

I remember my mother making my older sister a pair of sandals when I was a child, so when I saw this book at a favorite book review site, I had to check it out. I am so glad I did. This book is well organized, first discussing setting up tools and the space for making sandals. A very long section on the different parts of the sandal-making process follows, with excellent explanations and lots of well-lit, tightly focused photos. I'm very impressed at the level of detail the author goes into in this section. If you read and follow along, you will undoubtedly be able to make the sandals that follow. The next section has the actual sandal projects, from simple to complex. If you like sandals, you will undoubtedly recognize a few of the simple styles; the author does make some of the more complex ones her own. Lastly, the author provides a few closed-toe shoe projects. The author's passion for sandal-making comes through, and I found myself itching to gather a few simple tools and try my hand at it. If you've ever had a desire to make your own sandals or simple closed-toed shoes like mules, this book will most likely make your attempts a success.

A book has not made me want to pick up a new hobby as much as Rachel Corry's "The Sandalmaking Workshop"! I have been an avid sewist for years of quilts and have been wanting to break more into the personal clothing sphere, and Corry opened an entirely new world of custom crafted possibility to me. Throughout the book there are exquisite photos that are so beautiful I could see someone using this book as decoration as well as a reference. An aspect of this book that really piqued my interest was Corry's attention to detail and inclusivity by making sure to demonstrate the unique global heritage of footwear and not just Eurocentric traditions. In a way "The Sandalmaking Workshop" makes the art and craft of shoe making look easy enough that anyone could pick it up. Focusing on building up skills and minimal equipment the reader can follow along and eventually craft their own perfectly fitting sandal, mary janes, or mules. I hope you will join me in entering next level crafting with "The Sandalmaking Workshop"!

This is a wonderful book if you are interested in making your own sandals. This book goes step by step in order to feel comfortable and ready to make you own sandals. I would recommend this to anyone who really wants to learn!!

Received an ARC copy of this book. Totally loved reading it. It's really interesting to see the shoemaking process and how she breaks it down step by step. I'm excited to try and make some myself. Looking forward to getting a hard copy when it comes out. Thanks for the advanced copy!

This book was fantastic! I have long wanted to try my hand at making sandals and other shoes and this book broke it all down perfectly.

A sandal-making workshop? I couldn't really believe it, mainly because I'd always thought that you'd need more equipment than the average home was likely to be able to contain but I was intrigued. Rachel Corry started sandal making accidentally - a small fire destroyed some of her shoes. One pair had come apart and she could see how the sandal was constructed. Then she realised that she couldn't afford to replace all her shoes. Could she combine these two facts to create a new and worthwhile craft? She showed quite a few people her first pair and they all either wanted to know how to do it - or if she'd make them a pair. A new career was born.

Corry took it up because it was easy for beginners, feet and style are both unique and there's a sense of achievement that comes pretty quickly as you can make a pair of sandals in four to eight hours. Sandals are history - they're one of the earliest forms of footwear and there's respect for the makers.

The initial outlay is less than $100, according to Corry. I was initially doubtful about this but surprised when I priced a foot anvil which you can obtain for around £10 + £6.75 postage on eBay. Other equipment might be found in that toolbox which most householders acquire over a period of time: a utility knife, awl, rotary hole punch, scissors, hammer, pencil and permanent marker. In terms of supplies, you'll need paper, masking tape, shoe glue (various brands are recommended and I found that some are available in the UK), laces, buckles, studs and rivets. You'll need space too and when you're using shoe glue you should have good ventilation.

Leather for sandals, of course, isn't just any old leather. There are specific leathers and weights of leathers that are appropriate for different areas of the sandal and there's plenty of advice about which leather you should choose - and (perhaps more importantly) which you should avoid.

The instructions are clear, even chatty in places. As I read I always had the feeling that the best teachers give: I could do this! Corry is reassuring and inspiring and the basic instructions are interwoven with tips of the trade, such as to achieve a toe spring or an arch support. If you're tempted, have a go. You never know, you could have a cupboard full of unique sandals or even a new career. I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to the Bookbag.

Cool :). I just love the idea of doing this, making your own custom sandals. The author mentions that she runs classes on how to make sandals. I think that would be so fun to do.

Reading the book, I realized I don’t have many of these supplies and it would cost me well over $100 to get started. With Covid right now, I can’t easily get Leather either. I’m from NY, so normally go back there in the Summer and that is the perfect place to get new and used supplies, but that I can not do at this time.

As with any new project, I am sure there is a learning curve to making beautiful shoes. So, I absolutely love the concept, but currently don’t think I could take this on by myself. In my area here, I don’t have much access to get help. Many stores are still closed.

I wish someone was doing this as a class, where some of the materials are provided and shared. It is just a great idea. I am going to look up the authors website and see if she teaches classes in NC or NY or knows someone who does.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Rachel Corry, and Storey Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book.

This is a beautiful book and a great look at building sandals. It would be a great book for someone who wants to get serious about making shoes. It can also be a good book for raising an appreciation for handmade sandals that you don't have to make yourself. The outlay for tools and supplies that would be required to build the shoes is significant, so definitely a commitment.

This is the first shoe making book that I read and I really found it fascinating.
It was complete and very comprehensive, starting with the presentation of the necessary tools, an explanation on different leather types and sole types, and followed by a nice array of sandal patterns and explanations on how to make them.
The language is clear and all is made to feel how accessible this craft is. This is a great beginner guide and while I don't feel ready quite yet, I do want to try it out in the coming years. Shoe making always felt so inaccessible and hard! This is not the case anymore. All the photos show all the steps of the way and make it extra clear.
A wonderful book to have.