Tip - How to choose materials

If you haven't already decided what materials to use, you have two basic choices: leather or fabric. Leather is very durable and attractive, but fabric is much more available and can sometimes be got for free. I think the most important thing to know about choosing between these two options is the fact that leather is very dynamic and can be stretched to provide a more comfortable fit. Some fabrics can be stretched too, but not all. Of course fabric is much less expensive than leather, so you might want to practice on fabric first.

The material that you choose for the soles is very important. Unless you are making house slippers, I do not reccommend using fabric for the soles. Leather of 10oz weight or more is good sole material, as is rubber crepe which can be purchased from a shoe repair store.