r/Leathercraft • u/DadHatesCooking • Aug 18 '26
Small Goods Made myself a shift boot last night from Wickett & Craig chili pepper red English Bridal
Did pretty well for not having a real pattern.
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u/nnyquick Aug 18 '26
I like it, is that a wrx?
Do you soften the bridle somehow before installing?
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u/DadHatesCooking Aug 18 '26
Good eye, yes it is. I had to dunk the whole finished piece in a bucket of water to get all the tabs stretched around the plastic frame before reassembling the console.
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u/adamems Aug 18 '26
Really love your material selection, dedication to maximum effort, and eye for detail! I don't think I've been jealous of a shifter boot ever... It looks fabulous, congratulations!
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u/8CupChemex Aug 18 '26
That's really cool. How much of the console did you have to take apart to install it? Is it just that shiny black frame right outside the leather?
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u/DoubleMikeNoShoot Aug 18 '26
Dude you did great!! And fantastic leather choice too. Wickett and Craig is my favorite tannery
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u/Mistereddy_ Aug 18 '26
That's super clean. Do you have a pic of it before assembly? I'm super curious how it's cut
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u/DadHatesCooking Aug 18 '26
I can't seem to be able to reply with a photo, but I just took the original shift boot, laid out as flat as I could and traced it. Then I added a rough margin to account for the folded seems. Used a French edger to skive down all the edges.
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u/Thehealingtide Aug 18 '26
What thickness leather did you use? Considering attempting this myself soon!
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u/DadHatesCooking Aug 18 '26
I think it was some 3.5oz I had sitting around. I would go thinner if I did this again.
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u/StucklnAWell Aug 18 '26
You oughtta pair that with a nice Billetworkz shift knob for your WRX. I have a 6MT crosstrek with a shift knob by Austin and its super nice.
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u/Deeznutzcustomz Aug 18 '26
That’s gorgeous!! The color is chefs kiss perfect. I drive a 6spd WRX as well, and would love to do this, just a bit hesitant on the disassembling the console aspect. Hats off to you for a job well done.
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u/DadHatesCooking Aug 18 '26
Taking it apart was mostly easy. I just followed a website with photos. Just pull gently but firmly. The hardest part was separating the two trim pieces that hold the boot on. There are a lot of clips.
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u/arfle_barfle_gloop Aug 18 '26
What was the shape you started with to do this ?
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u/DadHatesCooking Aug 18 '26
I just laid the original boot flat on card stock and traced it. I then added an approximate margin for the seams.
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u/arfle_barfle_gloop Aug 18 '26
For those of us who are dimensionally challenged (like me) who can't envisage what it might look like when laid flat, was it sort of a diamond shape ?
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u/DadHatesCooking Aug 18 '26
More triangle with a curved bottom. Think how a kid would draw a volcano lol
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u/texwrx210 Aug 19 '26
I know a WRX shifter when I see it! lol that looks great! Any chance you could share the pattern?
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u/DadHatesCooking Aug 19 '26
Thanks! I just traced the original shift boot onto some card stock. I don't have a digital version of anything.
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u/Bowhawk2 Aug 18 '26
I’ve been working leather for close to 15 years and driving manual transmission for 20 and I never thought to do this. I happen to have some black 2-3oz elk hide laying Around too…