From Hide to Heel: Learn Handmade Bootmaking with Ty Skiver

Instructor: Ty Skiver
Course Length: 10+ hours | 100+ lessons
Skill Level: Advanced

Build boots that are made to be worn—and remembered.
In Master the Art of Bootmaking, renowned craftsman Ty Skiver shares the time-honored techniques, trade secrets, and hard-earned wisdom that define true mastery. This isn’t a quick project or surface-level overview—it’s a full, start-to-finish education in professional bootmaking.

Ty walks you through every stage of the process, from patterning and cutting to hand-welting and final finishing. Along the way, you’ll discover dozens of insider techniques most makers never reveal—from shaping a perfect toe box to aligning vamps and counters for balance, to the subtle finishing touches that set high-end boots apart.

Whether you’re an experienced leatherworker ready to level up or a dedicated beginner determined to learn from the best, this course will change the way you build forever.

What You’ll Learn:

• How to draft and adjust boot patterns for the perfect fit
• Creating decorative tops, collars, and heel slides
• Skiving, assembling, and stitching uppers with precision
• Lasting and shaping for comfort, balance, and longevity
• Building a reinforced toe box and structured heel
• Hand-welting and adding filler for strength and flexibility
• Installing soles, heels, and final finishes like waxing and burnishing
• Workflow systems and pro insights from Ty’s 30+ years in bootmaking

Inside the Course:

• Patterning & Prep: Boot trees, sizing, and decorative pattern design
• Assembly: Vamps, counters, liners, and stitching techniques
• Construction: Toe box, shank installation, welting, and filler work
• Finishing: Soles, heels, sanding, inking, burnishing, and final polish
• Bonus: Pattern adjustment techniques + bootmaker’s pro tips
• Community support + project share

Included with Membership:
✅ 140+ professionally filmed courses
✅ Downloadable patterns & checklists
✅ Monthly live Q&As with expert instructors
✅ Supportive artisan community
✅ Ongoing new course drops

About the Instructor:
Ty Skiver is one of the industry’s most respected bootmakers, with over three decades of experience crafting custom, high-end boots that embody tradition, precision, and artistry. Known for his no-nonsense, detail-driven approach, Ty teaches exactly what works—nothing hidden, nothing held back. His teaching style is straightforward, practical, and packed with real-world insights you won’t find anywhere else.