The Pathfinder: the shoe that built the cordwainer shop
Our First Shoe Making book is dedicated to the pathfinder oxford, a classic cordwainer style.
It was designed by Cordwainer Shop founder Edward Mathews in the 1930s as a do-it-yourself shoe kit during the depression. The shoe is sewn together completely by hand from 3 pattern pieces, and so it does not require any special equipment. Its timeless style and endless variations make it a Cordwainer Classic.
Shoe Making Book Details:
Our first book is part instruction manual and part history book. Because the Pathfinder Oxford style is so intertwined with the evolution of the Cordwainer Shop history, we just couldn’t separate them! The book introduces you to the history of the shop and how the Pathfinder style was conceived. Each step in the shoemaking process is laid out in detail with text, photos and illustrated diagrams, and we provide tips and tricks along the way. Now that the book is available as a digital download, you can get your copy instantly and either view it on screen while you work or print it yourself.
Purchase a Digital Download
Use the listing here to check out. You’ll be emailed a link to download your own pdf copy of our book instantly. Happy shoe making!
Cordwainer History
The book begins with a brief history of the Cordwainer Shop to help give color to the way in which the Pathfinder style was developed by our founder, Edward Mathews, back in the 1930s.
Step-by-step Instructions
Each step in the process of making your Pathfinder shoes is laid out in detail, with photos, diagrams and tips to help illustrate the process.
Ready to make something?
Join us for an in-person workshop at a craft school or at our Canterbury, New Hampshire Studio.
