This pattern listing is just for the Highland Ghillies, by Genniewren Designs. Other patterns in the Highland Dress and Highland Dance Series are available to enable you to make a complete Highland dress or Highland dance outfit for your doll. Complete the look with the Girls Highland Jacket and Vest, Highland Dance Blouse, Prince Charlie Jacket and Vest, Highland Dress Shirt, Highland Accessories, Highland Kilt, and Socks, available separately, as well as in bundled packages (see listing image for purchasing options available).
Ghillies are the traditional footwear for Highland Dance. Similar shoes are also worn for Irish dancing. Ghillies were traditionally made from a single piece of soft, pliable leather, wrapping, pleating or gathering the leather around the foot, then adding a soft flexible leather sole.
Nowadays, a lot of ghillies have a center front seam and are sewn together, but they still include the traditional cross lacing. This pattern is based on modern style ghillies, which are worn by both male and female Highland Dancers.
Traditional Highland Dance ghillies are made from black leather and have soft natural leather soles, like ballet shoes. Highland Dance regulations allow for the decorative top stitching to be in contrasting bright colors. Some ghillies have eyelets instead of leather loops for the laces. A second pattern sheet has been included for those who wish to use eyelets for the lacing.
Scottish gentlemen usually wear “kilt shoes” or “ghillie brogues” when wearing the kilt for formal dress occasions. These are much more solid shoes with heavy soles and proper heels, but they have the same laced upper as dance ghillies. This pattern can be used for ghillie brogues too, if you use thicker foam for the sole and add the optional heel.
This pattern is also available in a bundled package with the The Highland Kilt and the Highland Socks patterns at a bundled discounted price.
Recommended Fabrics: Vinyl, pleather or soft leather for the uppers, craft foam and card for the soles
Supplies Needed:
- 12” x 6” marine vinyl, leatherette or soft leather
- 2 yards of 1mm round black elastic, or leatherette jewellery cord for the laces
- 4” x 4” square of card or chipboard for the inner soles*
- 4” x 4” square of 2mm craft foam for the outer soles*
* if you prefer, you can use the Pixie Faire Size 1 precut soles. You will need 2 card soles and 2 foam soles.
-Glue suitable for doll shoe making – either hot glue sticks for a glue gun, or a tube of any type of glue suitable for the fabric you are using. Please note that some glues will melt vinyl fabric, so check the manufacturer’s use guidelines carefully before purchasing glue for doll shoe making.
OPTIONAL:
- 8 x ¼” eyelets for eyelet option ghillies
Skill Level: Easy
What You Get: One 21 page sewing pattern that you digitally download as a PDF file so you can start your project immediately! The PDF sewing pattern provides full color step-by-step illustrated instructions and full size pattern pieces. This pattern includes a 3 page Summary of Instructions section so you can print out just the text version if desired to save on printer ink! A PDF reader is required to view and print the files (example: Adobe Reader or Preview for MAC). The download link is received immediately after the transaction is complete. Print copies are NOT available.
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