YouLookFab Forum » Topic: what my cobbler said about narrowing the shaft of boots

YouLookFab Forum » Topic: what my cobbler said about narrowing the shaft of boots https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-my-cobbler-said-about-narrowing-the-shaft-of-boots Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sun, 05 Apr 2026 08:10:24 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php quail on "what my cobbler said about narrowing the shaft of boots" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-my-cobbler-said-about-narrowing-the-shaft-of-boots#post-215066 Sun, 12 Sep 2010 22:42:55 +0000 quail 215066@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Kate, thanks so much for posting this thread! This information is so helpful. I'll go talk to the cobbler I've used before and see what he has to say - it'd be great to have more options in the boot arena! April on "what my cobbler said about narrowing the shaft of boots" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-my-cobbler-said-about-narrowing-the-shaft-of-boots#post-214854 Sun, 12 Sep 2010 11:40:35 +0000 April 214854@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Sveta, you'll find that nowadays, many, many boots come in regular and wide-calf versions. Alas, I've yet to see a single one that comes in regular and narrow-calf. Marley on "what my cobbler said about narrowing the shaft of boots" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-my-cobbler-said-about-narrowing-the-shaft-of-boots#post-214834 Sun, 12 Sep 2010 06:00:33 +0000 Marley 214834@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Oh wow! This is sooo exciting for me! I had no idea that you could do this to boots. I ended up returning 3 different pairs of boots to Nordies that I had ordered during the NAS - because ALL 3 of them were too big in the calves. Now, I wonder if I could go back and get one pair and see about getting them altered. Hmmmm? Isabel on "what my cobbler said about narrowing the shaft of boots" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-my-cobbler-said-about-narrowing-the-shaft-of-boots#post-214758 Sun, 12 Sep 2010 02:28:24 +0000 Isabel 214758@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Joy - you had me laughing so hard..... I love the idea of boot "reduction surgery " ! Sveta on "what my cobbler said about narrowing the shaft of boots" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-my-cobbler-said-about-narrowing-the-shaft-of-boots#post-214701 Sun, 12 Sep 2010 01:26:28 +0000 Sveta 214701@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Oh, Kate, I am so sorry this did not work for you! I always thought that having big calves (15.5") makes boot hunt so difficult and wished they were smaller...looks like small calves are even more problematic. I also find that it is easier for me to find boots to fit my calves now than 3 years ago - maybe manufactures making wider boots now... Alecia on "what my cobbler said about narrowing the shaft of boots" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-my-cobbler-said-about-narrowing-the-shaft-of-boots#post-214604 Sat, 11 Sep 2010 22:04:22 +0000 Alecia 214604@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ My cobbler told me that they could extend calves on boots as well. I don't know the details about that, though. I should find out as it is a service I could use. April on "what my cobbler said about narrowing the shaft of boots" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-my-cobbler-said-about-narrowing-the-shaft-of-boots#post-214599 Sat, 11 Sep 2010 21:59:31 +0000 April 214599@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Kate -- I'm not sure if this is actually different from what you're describing, but my cobbler inserts a narrow strip of leather that he attaches the newly-narrowed shaft to. (This limits the color boots that he can do, because I think he only has the strips in black and brown.) You can see the new seam in this picture of the last pair I had narrowed: <a href="http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu218/AprilYLF/IMG_0046.jpg" rel="nofollow">http://i649.photobucket.com/al.....G_0046.jpg</a> I don't know if this could be done without a full zipper or not, but it seems like it would just require a full-length seam up the back of the boot. I'll ask my boot man when I pick up the ones he's currently working on. Anonymous on "what my cobbler said about narrowing the shaft of boots" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-my-cobbler-said-about-narrowing-the-shaft-of-boots#post-214582 Sat, 11 Sep 2010 21:08:46 +0000 Anonymous 214582@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thank you for the valuable information, Kate. I'm sorry those beautiful boots are not candidates for this reduction surgery. Mamapicklejuice on "what my cobbler said about narrowing the shaft of boots" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-my-cobbler-said-about-narrowing-the-shaft-of-boots#post-214579 Sat, 11 Sep 2010 21:05:12 +0000 Mamapicklejuice 214579@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ It amazes me that boots can be tailored. Shame it won't work with these. Sorry! Kate on "what my cobbler said about narrowing the shaft of boots" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-my-cobbler-said-about-narrowing-the-shaft-of-boots#post-214575 Sat, 11 Sep 2010 20:52:52 +0000 Kate 214575@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I went to see the cobbler today, and he said that it's totally possible to narrow the shaft of boots (and will cost $40-$60), but there is one condition! The boots MUST have a zipper running the length of the shaft. This allows them to turn the boots inside out, use a machine to sew along the leather, and then hand sew up the lining. The boots I brought in (see picture) only have a zipper part way up the side, so he can't turn them inside out :( At least now I know, and I'll be looking for boots with a full zipper rather than trying to find narrow boots since none of them seem to be narrow enough.