My Descent Into Nerdness: Jawa Costume in a Week

Links to other days:
Day One: research patterns and get supplies
Day Two: dying fabric and making balaclava
Day Three: making the dress
Day Four: sewing the hood
Day Five: making the mask and weathering
Day Six: Boots

Making the Boots

The boots were easy - super easy - so don't get discouraged.

The trick is to find comfy boots that you can destroy. So don't pick your favorites that is for sure.

Now I have seen people use old jeans to make spats. Cut off legs and glue a top for foot and cover that. But I found a cheap pair of fuzzy uggg-style boots. From old Navy - 15 dollars sale last year and my dear daughter has outgrown them. We used to wear the same size so they fit me.

And now they are mine!

Anyway - hot glue or spray on glue are your go to's for this one. I don't recommend hot glue - because its unforgiving, but if its what you have, go for it.

I chose the 3M-77 spray glue. I have learned to love it, just love it.

*Note: read directions on how to use it and its best used in a warm area where it can "cure" quicker.

So, off to the porch I went on a warm summer day. I lay my strips in my grass to spray them so the glue doesn't get everywhere and won't get on floors and such.

Start by thinking about your pattern. I have seem all kinds of jawa boots with cross patterns and such. I decided I just wanted a simple pattern. And save your cloth edges, they look great on boots.

Let's get started.

Here are your supplies: and a pencil, bring a pencil

Start by cutting cloth into strips. I saved my factory edges for this. I thought it would make a nice edge on boots (and I was right) if not, take some time and fray your edges so they look nice too. I cut mine into 3 inch strips.

Take time to flatten out puckered parts. Maybe even iron strips if needed. I used my fingers to press them open and it worked fine for me. Do this now before you apply glue.

I started by holding the strip to the bottom of my shoe and going around it.

When it went all the way around, I cut it and had my first strip.

Follow directions on can of glue.

I put mine on my grass, sprayed glue on and waited for it to get tacky. This glue needs to cure a bit before bonding. A warm day is great because it speeds this up. About 20 seconds and its good to go. Then pick up strip, and start to apply to shoe.

I positioned it on the edge of sole and then went around. I pressed or flattened parts that stuck up when going around the toe. They get covered later.

This glue is very forgiving. If you need to lift strip up and reposition, you can do it. Hot glue won't do this - I don't recommend hot glue. (and heat can make hot glue not come loose when trooping) Then when you like how it looks, go around shoe and apply pressure to strip. This will "bond" the glue to boot. You must press it - this activates the tacky glue to stick. Be thorough and make sure to do this to all layers.