... and don't you worry about a doggone thing at all
because there's some man some where who'll take
you baby, skinny legs and all...
Guess you're asking, what in the world do the lyrics of this old song have to do with sewing??? I remember this Joe Tex song from long, long ago - maybe from my Junior High days. You know, when kids just have to find something to pick on you about. Chants of this song from classmates dented my little self esteem; but not to worry, by the time I entered High School I had fully embraced being comfortable in the body that God gave me, and was able to be thankful that I had 2 functional legs - skinny or not.
That brings us to the subject of boots of finding boots that fit properly. Boot/shoe fit presents a serious problem for me. One time I took a pair of boots in to a shoe repair place - asked them if they could take up the slack in the leg of the boot for me and they said they couldn't help me. But; alas, I've devised my own solution.
I have a heavy - duty metal machine for just a time as this. So with a little time and a denim needle I'm able to make the boots work for me. I've applied this fix to 2 pair of suede boots, and one light weight faux leather pair. I simply measured the amount to take up in the back seam of the boot and sewed a dart/wedge to take up the excess. The dart has not caused discomfort in wearing.
Thought I'd do a post about this just in case I'm not the only one out here with SKINNY LEGS AND ALL...
17 comments:
That's amazing. As I was reading I was trying to figure out your solution, thinking you took out the zipper and recut the boot. This is much simpler as long as it's comfortable. Necessity is the mother of invention.
And oh, I remember and love Joe Tex also.
I have skinny calves too - in fact, it's a bit of a joke with some of the women I work out with. And boots always seem like waders and I too have tried to get them taken in at cobblers. But this convinces me that I can fix this problem myself. Thanks for posting! (I wonder how hard it would be to take out the zipper and reinstall it...but your method is much less work for the same result.)
Great solution . I would have never thought of that!
I'm impressed! It's pretty gutsy to take on boots with a home sewing machine.
I have the opposite problem, my calves are way too thick, sigh.
For every problem there is always a sewer who can solve it...well done on being so inventive...
I'm with Karin. My calves are too big for most boots. Just have to wait now for someone inventive to work out a fix for that. I'm not holding my breat though ;)
woops. that should be breath.
You go gurl! Unfortunately I have the opposite problem. Do you have a fix for that?
My son wears leather boots that rub sores in the backs of his calves. I found some nice flannely stuff which I hand sew onto the inner edge of the boot and then down a few inches to the lining. I use a mattress needle. I've had to do this to two pair (so far). What we have to go through to get things right. Guess I should be glad there are options, right? Your boot stitching looks really fine and your boots look good in your photos!
Thank you for posting this solution. I have 4 pairs of boots that need this fix.
OMGoodness! What an ingenious idea. I would have never thought to do that. I have "slender" legs too and was teased about them too growing up.
Nice! I have skinny legs, too.... I like to call them 'bird legs' since I happen to like birds quite a bit. :)
What an interesting solution! Glad you found a way to make boots work for you.
Great scott, Faye! You've got me all excited! My calves are the opposite of skinny (sigh), but 50% of the time "wide calf" boots are too wide (alas, I'm in-between) and it usually costs 2x what I paid for the boots to have a cobbler (do we still call them that?) take them in.
What a great idea - necessity is the mother of invention - especially with us sewers, yes?
Great idea Faye! I have skinny legs too and this is a wonderful solution! Think I'll give it a try!!
How inventive! Good job, Faye.
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