So, I got this idea buzzing in my head about studded shoes. Wasn’t really planning on becoming a ‘designer’ or anything fancy like that, just saw some pairs I liked but man, the prices were wild. Figured I’d give it a shot myself, you know? Save some cash, make something unique.
Getting Started – The Hunt
First thing I did was dig out an old pair of leather boots. They were still solid, just kinda boring. Perfect canvas, I thought. Then came the tricky part: finding the actual studs. Didn’t want just any cheap stuff that would fall off. I spent a good afternoon browsing online, looking for different shapes and sizes – spikes, pyramids, round ones. Ended up ordering a mixed bag, mostly screw-back types because they seemed sturdier than the ones you just bend.
The Messy Part – Doing the Work
Okay, got the boots, got the studs. Now what? I didn’t really have a plan sketched out. I just sort of… started.
- First, I cleaned the boots up real good. Got rid of any dirt or grime.
- Then, I took a chalk pencil – the kind sewers use – and started marking rough spots where I thought studs would look cool. Mostly around the heel, along the seams, maybe a pattern on the toe. I wiped off and redrew a few times.
- Making the holes was next. This was kinda nerve-wracking. I used a small leather punch tool I picked up. Just lined it up with my chalk mark and gave it a whack with a mallet. Definitely recommend doing a test punch on some scrap material first if you have it. You gotta get the hole size right – big enough for the screw post, but not so big it’s loose.
- Putting the studs in was actually the easy part. Just push the screw post through from the inside of the boot, then screw the stud onto it from the outside. Tightened them up with a small screwdriver. Some studs were the prong type, those you just push through and bend the little metal legs flat on the inside. Those are quicker but feel less secure to me.
I didn’t do the whole boot at once. I worked section by section. Did the heel area first, took a break, looked at it. Then moved to the side. It took way longer than I expected, mostly because I was being careful not to mess up the spacing too much or punch holes in the wrong places.
What I Learned (The Hard Way)
Couple things I figured out. One, your fingers get sore screwing in dozens of tiny studs. Two, getting the studs lined up perfectly straight is tough, especially on curved parts of the boot. Mine aren’t perfectly symmetrical if you look super close, but hey, gives ’em character, right? Also, make sure the screw backs inside the shoe aren’t positioned where they’ll rub your foot raw. I had to reposition a couple near the ankle.
End Result? Pretty Cool, Actually
So yeah, after a couple evenings of punching holes and twisting screws, I had my own pair of custom studded boots. They look pretty awesome, if I do say so myself. Way better than plain boring boots, and they feel like mine because I put the work in. Definitely worth the effort, and way cheaper than buying them pre-made. It wasn’t rocket science, just needed some patience and a willingness to potentially mess up an old pair of shoes.
