How to Fix a Leather Slipper

 Let’s face it, it has become common practice to repair anything useful again.  That includes leather slippers.  Things just don’t last like we think they should.  One scissor company has decided a lifetime warranty is now not my lifetime but 10 years. So that when a blade starts going wonky and I bought the scissors in 1984 they are not going to replace them. The cake slicing knife I bought in 1975 is out of its lifetime warranty because the company went through bankruptcy. But I digress. We are here to talk about slippers. The seeming work is not done as well as it used to be.  The knots are not made to stay in place.  The knots are put in wonky places. You are lucky to make it one whole season without the slipper falling apart.

This is where you have to get creative. You will probably need a darning needle, a needle threader, a smaller crochet hook, toothpick and either Fray Check or Krazy Glue.  For this repair they can be used interchangeably.  These are both under a registered trademark, but I do not know where the symbol is on my iPad keyboard also under registered trademark.

The first thing you will do is run the remaining thread, which was cut to short to tie off properly, through a hole with the darning needle to the outside of the slipper.   Then you will run it through a stitch a couple of times.  As you are running out of thread run the crochet hook through the wrap that you just made. Twice if you have enough thread.  For this repair I used Krazy Glue because the Fray Check is playing hide and seek in the knitting room.  I like to keep a four pack of Krazy Glue around.  That way it is always fresh when I need it.  With the toothpick gently dab the Krazy Glue on the repair being careful not to get any on your hands or the leather.   It is only for the thread. Let dry in a safe place over night to dry.  

As a word of caution.  Please don’t attempt to do this anywhere but at a table with good lighting.  Things like the darning needles and threaders like to play hide and seek.  They are very good at hiding.  Almost as good as the Fray Check in the knitting room. The person you send hunting for the hidden items will not be happy with you.  Below is a picture of my repair attempt.  It’s not perfect, but it is not going anywhere soon.  The dark brown spot is where the glue is drying   

Also I regularly purchase both Fray Check and Crazy Glue.  I have not been paid to endorse these products. They have been in our home repair kit for years.