Check out this pair I just finished making in a red and black ostritch. What do u guys think would you rock these?

How did I do guys? I love my aged midsoles and the stretch embossed leather I used. I teach classes and offer patterns. Reach out for more info

Hi everyone,

I've been working on a pair of boots for a while and was hoping someone could point me toward resources or best practices regarding leather grain direction in bootmaking.

For context, I'm building a boot similar to the one shown below. Because of the design, the vamp and instep are cut as a continuous piece, so I can't simply use separate panels to orient the grain differently for the toe box and instep areas.

I'm particularly concerned about how grain direction affects creasing and long-term wear, as this design naturally encourages creasing across the instep due to the slanted shaft profile.

Are there any general guidelines for grain orientation in this type of construction? I'd also appreciate any recommendations for books, articles, or videos that cover the topic in depth.

Thanks in advance.