This will be my first foray into the world of video. I hope this short tutorial provides some useful and/or interesting information. (If the video above won't play for you, jump over to YouTube.) Why start with feet? I get two questions all the time: 1) how do you deal with feet and shoes and 2) how do you make those tiny hands? Feet first.
Many figure makers create 'normal' legs and feet, jointed or not, and attach separate shoes. Quite a few of these craftspeople get tired of dealing with tiny shoes and try piecing fabrics together, aligning, sewing and cutting to create a one-piece leg with sewn in 'shoes.' Then there are people like me who think even that is a bit too much work.
When I began making figures, the lower leg+foot was made of leather with an opening for at the toe for stuffing. The overall look was that of a boot covering the lower leg and foot. Why change? Two reasons. First, the foot still looked a bit sloppy and if the leather was thick, the toe was wrinkly and bumpy. Not bad, but not great either. Second, I needed an additional place to sign my name. Usually, I sign under the shoulder or hip joints, but sometimes the fabric is very dark, and the signature isn't obvious. By creating a boot with a lighter sole, I have the option of signing on the bottom of the foot.
I developed the idiosyncratic method of making lower legs shown in the video. I don't claim this is the greatest method on earth, or the simplest or fastest, but it works well for me. Perhaps it will be useful for someone else. At the very least, it gives a behind the scenes peek into the creation of a figure. Questions or comments? Please let me know.
Stay tuned for hands!
