Footwear Design and Pattern Making
A course by Agus Golub (Abelarda Zapatos) , Footwear Designer
Joined July 2022

Discover how to make a base mold for designing footwear, and learn everything from taping up the shoe last to creating the specification sheet
Can you imagine being able to design your own shoes? Learn how to do just that by creating a footwear pattern step by step. Who knows, it might end up becoming a hobby or even your next professional venture! In 2010, Argentine designer Agus Golub changed career paths after discovering footwear design, and by 2013 had already founded her own brand, Abelarda Zapatos.
In this online course, Agus teaches you how to design and create the pattern of a loafer that is characteristic of Abelarda Zapatos. Learn to tape up the last so that you can extract a base mold for making an infinite number of models. Now get designing, using your newfound knowledge of product specification sheets, and bring your ideas to life!
What will you learn in this online course?
15 lessons & 25 downloads
- 93% positive reviews (40)
- 3,484 students
- 15 lessons (1h 32m)
- 25 additional resources (9 files)
- Online and at your own pace
- Available on the app
- Audio: Spanish, German, English, French, Indonesian, Italian, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Turkish
- Spanish · English · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch · Turkish · Romanian · Indonesian
- Level: Beginner
- Unlimited access forever
What is this course's project?
Design and create the mold or pattern of a loafer characteristic of Abelarda Zapatos.

Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
Students, designers, and anyone who wants to learn how to design a shoe.
Requirements and materials
No prior knowledge is necessary to take this course.
As for materials, you need a shoe last, sheets of card, masking tape (18 or 24mm wide), scissors, a box cutter, an awl, a pencil, a tape measure, a book divider or flexible ruler, and a cutting board to protect the table.

Reviews

Agus Golub (Abelarda Zapatos)
A course by Agus Golub (Abelarda Zapatos)
Designer Agus Golub worked in the textile industry until she discovered shoe design in 2010. It was then that she began to study everything related to this profession and eventually, in 2013, founded Abelarda Zapatos.
She creates timeless leather shoes, using top-quality materials that are comfortable and durable. She makes them by hand, in small quantities, and to order, thus generating a lower consumption. She is inspired by bright colors and a mixture of textures to obtain unique combinations.
Content
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U1
Introduction
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Presentation
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Influences
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U2
Getting to Know the World of Footwear
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Knowing the Model
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The Materials
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U3
Preparing the Mold
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The Taping
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Measures
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Cleaning and Gluing
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The Template Mold
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The Profile
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Closed Shoe
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U4
Let's Do It!
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Design, Openwork, and Lining
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Breakdown and Cutting Margins
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Breakdown and Lining Margins
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U5
The Making
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Data Sheet
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Fabrication Process
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FP
Final project
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Footwear Design and Pattern Making
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What to expect from a Domestika course
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FAQs
You’ll learn how to create leather shoe patterns—especially loafers—and design women’s shoes using professional pattern-making techniques, material selection, creative inspiration, and handcrafted assembly.
The course is designed for those with basic knowledge, so it’s intermediate level. If you already know the basics of footwear, you’ll get the most out of it.
You’ll need a craft knife, cutting mat, tape measure, compass, cardstock, painter’s tape, flexible ruler, and a shoe last. It’s also important to have various types of leather and lining materials.
Yes, you’ll learn how to draft a loafer pattern, identify its parts, distinguish different models, and hand-stitch pieces—from inspiration to finished product.
Yes, the course covers selecting and combining colors, using pastel palettes, integrating textures and accessories to create original, eye-catching designs.
Yes, part of the course involves developing detailed technical sheets, recording sizes and specifications, and preparing patterns and templates ready for handmade or industrial shoe production.
You’ll be able to design and make loafers, ballet flats, and custom women’s shoes using pattern-making, cutting, sewing, and color and material coordination techniques.



Excelente curso, muy bien explicado, puntual, y ameno. Perfecto para los que comienzan con este mundo del calzado.
Lindo curso para los que nunca vimos nada sobre diseño de calzado. Muy didáctico y ameno
Exelente curso.
Muy bien explicado.
Recursos graficos muy claros y resumenes en pdf
One Question you not showing sizing it like you designed for size 9 but didnt show how to make size 8 or 7 are we gonna do all the processing for every single sizes
This is not the what I was looking for