Repairing Toms

One of the burdens of being a Fashion student is the fact that you can fix things a majority of people can't because they haven't the slightest clue about sewing. I've fixed shirts, pants, skirts, dresses, you name it. Once in a blue moon a cute boy will ask you to fix something for them though. This happened a few nights ago for me, even though they were toms (i'm completely creeped out by feet) I graciously accepted. My payment you ask? A painting. How could I possibly refuse a cute boy who was going to paint me a picture. Impossible. I was slightly nervous because they had been patched before and well if I messed up his beloved shoes, well, bye-bye cute boy.  Turns out it's really easy and I am here to share my new found wisdom with you! I tried to take bomb pics but photography is not my forte, and all I have is a cell phone camera. YEAHHHHHHH!

What you need:
Toms (obviously)
Awesome Fabric ( I used a micro suede because it won't fray and it looks bomb and can get wet)
Upholstery thread to make sure it won't be breaking anytime soon.
STRONG needles, the type you use for denim, I didn't do this and I bent 3 needles.
Fray check ( I think that's the name, keeps fabric from fraying but is tragically REALLY FLAMMABLE)-- I mean I guess that's a bad thing
Sa-weet Scissors (mine are ginghers, beautiful.)
Seam ripper
THATS IT.  LETS DO THIS.

step 1) assess the situation. as you can see, the situation was not a good one. lots of tears, way to be your sucky self burlap.
step 2) Since the burlap was unweaving itself I put fray check around all the edges of the holes that were looking rough. Let it dry for about 30 mins
step 3)  If there is a complete hole in the fabric all the way through you are going to need to patch it. You can do this by cutting a piece of bottom weight fabric ( I used canvas) a little bigger and then sew around the hole, I also folded my piece of fabric in half and ironed it so it would have 2 layers to rip through rather than one.
Step 4) Cut a square of the fabric you are going to use for the actual patch and sew EVENLY around the outside. Make sure you cut it large enough to cover the patch.
Step 5) repeat! if you don't need to patch the hole skip step 3.
*when you have to repair the toe of the shoe you have to sort of strategically fold the fabric so it forms around the toe. It sort of does it by itself you just need to help is some...
**if you have to patch the heel use your seam ripper to rip off the toms flag and put it on the back of the heel over the patch so it looks like they came that way. 

After several stitches later... BOOM DONE! Not hard at all! and I think they look pretty bomb.