How to shrink leather shoes

Video: Bespoke Addict Series 1 - Episode 3: Steam Shrinking Leather Shoes

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Method 2 of 3: Sew the elastic to the heel
Method 3 of 3: Alternative Methods
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1 Proceed with caution when using this method. Water can harm your skin, and if you use too much water, your shoes can become stiff, shed, or cracked. Alternatively, you can insure yourself by treating your boots with a water repellent, but in this case, it will become less susceptible to further procedure.

If you decide to use a water repellent, wait until it is completely dry after applying it.

2 Wet the sides or top of your shoes. Pay special attention to the part of the boot that is too large (for example, the toe or the side of the boot). For this procedure, you can use a spray bottle of water, or you can simply dip your fingers in the water and rub it over the area you want to shrink.Although this part of the shoe should get quite wet, water should not get on the insoles of the shoe, on the sole and on the base of the shoe (where the leather is attached to the sole).

3 Dry your shoes by exposing them to the sun (if possible). While sun drying will take much longer than other methods, it minimizes the chances of heat damage to your shoes. If you decide to shrink your shoes on a sunny day, expose them to dry outside or on a windowsill in the sun, and check in a couple of hours.

4 If unavoidable, blow dry your shoes. If the weather conditions do not provide the required temperature and sun rays, you can use a hairdryer instead of the sun. Turn on the hair dryer to minimum power and keep it at least 15 cm away from the shoes to avoid damage and burns on the skin of the shoes.

5 Heat sources should only be used as a last resort. Rotation in the clothes dryer can damage the shoes, although some models are equipped with a fixed shelf for just such cases. By placing your shoes in front of a fireplace or oven, you run the risk of damaging the part of the boots that you did not get wet. If there are no other options, place your shoes at a distance from a heat source where your hand will be warm, but not hot.

6 Repeat treatment with water and heat if necessary. Depending on the thickness of the leather, you may need to touch up some parts of the shoe. If the shoes are still too big, keep shrinking them by wetting them a second or even a third time and drying them in the same way.

In combination with this method, you can use a rubber band (this method is described below).

7 When your shoes are dry, treat them with leather conditioner. Water and heat could make the skin stiff and cracked. Leather shoe conditioner should repair damage and prevent further damage. For best results, follow the instructions on the packaging carefully. If not, rub the product into the leather with a clean cloth and leave to dry without further heat treatment.

Some conditioners are designed for certain skin types. If you are unsure of what leather your shoes are made from, check with a shoe store (a qualified retailer will be able to tell upon inspection), or purchase a conditioner for all leather types.

Method 2 of 3: Sew the elastic to the heel

1 This method is intended for finishing shoes that do not hold well on the foot, but it is designed for shoes made of thin leather, since it will be very difficult to sew an elastic to a thick material. The procedure described below will allow you to make the shoes narrower, after which it will become better to hold; if the shoes are too long, use the water method described above.
- If your shoe is significantly larger than your desired size, use both methods for a more pronounced effect. First, use the water method to see how tightly you will have to sew the elastic.
2 Cut off a piece of flat elastic. These rubber bands can be purchased at fabric stores, handicraft stores, or similar online stores. You only need a strip a few centimeters long. To make it easier to manipulate the elastic, you can cut a piece longer, and after you sew, cut off the excess parts.
3 Attach the elastic to the heel of your shoe from the inside. Stretch the elastic across the inside of the shoe at the heel. Stretch the elastic across the shoe so that it is relatively tight, then secure it with safety pins or hairpins (bobby pins) on each side. You may find it easier to do this if you first secure one end of the elastic, then stretch it and secure it to the other side of the shoe.
- Make sure the elastic can be pressed against the insole and sewn at the ends.If the elastic is too tight, and there is a gap between it and the insole that cannot be overcome by lightly touching your fingers, remove the pins and slightly increase the length of the elastic, thereby relieving the tension.
4 Sew the elastic to the shoe. Using a needle and thread, sew the elastic to the shoe, and when finished, tie the thread to a knot. For more detailed sewing instructions, read the wikiHow articles on how to sew. When the elastic is secured, remove the pins and hairpins.
- It will be easier if you use a curved needle.
5 Put on your shoes and try them out. The elastic should tighten the shoes, making them narrower in the heel area, preventing the shoes from falling off. If the shoes are too long, stuff the socks of the shoes with paper (paper towels or napkins); if too high, use thicker insoles.

Method 3 of 3: Alternative Methods

1 Stuff your shoes with paper handkerchiefs or napkins. If the shoe is large in the toe area, a small wad of tissue will make it hold up better. A piece of towel or newspaper can also solve the problem, but before heading out on business, put on your shoes and walk around the house for an hour so you know if you are comfortable wearing them.
2 Use thick insoles. If you are not satisfied with the height of the shoe, you may be able to remedy the situation by installing thick insoles. The insoles can be purchased from shoe stores, some drug stores, or taken from another pair of shoes. Usually the insoles are made of foam or rubber. If the insoles are too large, trim them to your size with regular scissors.
- If your shoes already have insoles, remove them. For those who did not know, insoles are a thin layer of material that lies on the inside of the shoe, which can be removed from there. If you feel like the insoles are attached to the shoe, leave them in place.
3 Find a shoemaker near you. Shoemaker - Shoemaker; perhaps he already has experience in shrinking leather shoes. We recommend that you find out the cost of such services in several shoemakers - in some place it may be lower than in others.
4 If you can't find a shoemaker, contact a dry cleaner with your problem. Dry cleaners know how to work with different materials, including leather, and therefore can know how to reduce the size of leather shoes. However, the standard dry cleaning process excludes all procedures that can cause the skin to shrink. The shoemaker is likely to have more experience in this matter.