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Clothing & Jewelry

Shoemaking with the Cordwainer Shop: The Pathfinder

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Course Overview

Learn the age-old art of being a cordwainer. Using the original patterns designed in the mid-1930s by Paul and Edward Mathews of The Cordwainer Shop, Molly will teach you to hand-stitch and hand-lace a custom pair of Cordwainer Classics of the same design worn by Hollywood legends such as Caesar Romero, Shirley Temple, Mary Pickford, and the original Henry Ford. Class will begin with a brief presentation on the history of the business and the original designs. Then we will move on to leather and color selection, cutting of patterns, and hand-lacing using antique hand tools. The uppers will then be laced to the soles, placed on shoe lasts and baked before finishing. Made of non-synthetic materials, students' handmade, one-of-a-kind shoes will only get better with time and last a lifetime with care. NOTE: Due to materials preparation needs and sizing, students must register for this course six weeks in advance.

Required Tools

All required tools/materials are provided by your instructor and North House and will be available once the course begins.

Session Information

Please note there was an error in the printed catalog that listed The Squire Boot class instead of The Pathfinder.

Dates

Sat, Jun 28th, 2025  –  Tue, Jul 1st, 2025

Course Details

Hours: Days 1-3: 9am-5pm; Day 4: 9am-1pm
Tuition: $400.00
Materials fee: $275.00
Latest Update: View recent changes →

Meet the Instructor

North House Folk School photo of instructor, Molly Grant
Molly Grant
Deerfield, NH

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Shoemaking with the Cordwainer Shop: The Pathfinder