Click on the image below to watch a short video on insocks :)
Insocks or insole socks are one of the final touches to making a pair of shoes and are really important for making sure your shoes are comfortable, look great and fit well.
'Insocks' often get mistaken for 'insoles' but in the shoemaking world they are very different parts of the shoe. For example, the gel inserts you can pick up from a drugstore to make your shoes more comfortable, are technically insocks but most people will know them as insoles. Let me explain the difference...
Insoles are known as the heart of the shoe and they hold everything together. They are normally made from a thick cellulose board and for high heels the insoles include a metal shank for stability. The 'insock', which is normally made from fabric, leather, gel or foam is an addition that is inserted inside the shoes to cover up the insole/heel screws. Insocks are also a great opportunity to add comfort, branding and decoration.
The insock design is also really important to consider if you are wanting to start your own shoe brand. Despite the insock being hidden when worn on most styles, they are one of the first things that a customer will look at before they have even decided to try on the shoe. Most brands will choose to have an inconspicuous insock that blends in with the lining so as not to detract from the rest of the shoe, and some brands will choose something colourful and different to make them stand out from the others.
Below is an insock template pattern you can use for a range of different styles of shoe. It includes the pattern for the material and a slightly smaller template for the foam that will sit underneath it. The scale you'll want to print this at will depend on what size you need the insock to be.
To learn more about the shoemaking process, sign up to our Online Footwear Masterclass Course.
learn shoemaking for yourself
I created a free 40-minute online course called 'Introduction to Shoemaking' to show how easy home shoemaking can be and to give you a little taste of what I Can Make Shoes is all about.
SIGN UP HERE for instant access.
If you are wanting to dive a little deeper into the world of home shoemaking, my online Footwear Masterclass is one of the most popular shoemaking courses in the world!! 🌍 (Casual brag! lol)
The course covers how to make shoes from scratch including heels, flats, boots, sneakers, sandals, and more. The thing that really sets this course apart from others is that it's specifically designed for total beginners and requires very little in the way of tools & equipment, there's even a bonus module on how to start your own shoe brand. To make getting started even easier, the course comes with a FREE Shoemaking Starter Kit, delivered to your door, anywhere in the world! 🌍
We are a tight community and regularly limit our intake to ensure the best experience for our students - so if our enrolment is closed I would recommend you sign up for our FREE Introduction to Shoemaking course while you wait.
Happy Shoemaking Amanda xx
Pssssssst.... If you want to have a look at the shoes our students have been making, give us a follow on Instagram.
