A method of manufacturing an upper for an article of footwear includes providing a frame and a support component, and defining a plurality of anchor points on the frame. The method further includes winding a first continuous thread around the plurality of anchor points defined on the frame and around the support component so that the first continuous thread extends from the frame to the support component, and securing the first continuous thread.

A stitching system includes a jig capable of joining two shoe parts and capable of being used in an automated stitching machine. The jig includes a lower member capable of being operably coupled to the automated stitching machine and an upper member also capable of being operably coupled to the automated stitching machine. The two shoe parts are held in place between the lower member and the upper member. The lower member, the upper member and the two shoe parts therebetween are moved by the automated stitching machine in accordance with a pattern stored in the automated stitching machine.

A system for stitching two parts of a shoe together includes a stitching machine with a head and a cylinder bed. The head has a needle base disposed on a lower end adjacent the cylinder bed such that the two shoe parts can be stitched together therebetween. A positioning mechanism has a curved drive frame and is capable of moving the curved drive frame in a rotating motion along the circumference of the curved drive frame and in a linear direction generally along an axis of the curved drive frame. A jig positions the two shoe parts with respect to one another and is coupled to the curved drive frame. The jig includes a curved support surface for supporting the two shoe parts.

Methods of forming an article of footwear using a multipart strobel structure and a resulting article of footwear comprising an upper with a transition strip are described. The transition strip that has an outer perimeter edge, an inner perimeter edge, and a width between the outer perimeter edge and the inner perimeter edge, with the inner perimeter edge defining an internal opening of the transition strip, and the inner strobel that has an outer perimeter edge. The inner strobel is positioned in an overlapping relationship with the transition strip and temporarily attached.

Methods of forming an article of footwear using a multipart strobel structure and a resulting article of footwear comprising an upper with a transition strip are described. The transition strip that has an outer perimeter edge, an inner perimeter edge, and a width between the outer perimeter edge and the inner perimeter edge, with the inner perimeter edge defining an internal opening of the transition strip, and the inner strobel that has an outer perimeter edge. The inner strobel is positioned in an overlapping relationship with the transition strip and temporarily attached.

A method of manufacturing an upper for an article of footwear includes providing a frame and a support component, and defining a plurality of anchor points on the frame. The method further includes winding a first continuous thread around the plurality of anchor points defined on the frame and around the support component so that the first continuous thread extends from the frame to the support component, and securing the first continuous thread.

A method of manufacturing an upper for an article of footwear includes providing a frame and a support component, and defining a plurality of anchor points on the frame. The method further includes winding a first continuous thread around the plurality of anchor points defined on the frame and around the support component so that the first continuous thread extends from the frame to the support component, and securing the first continuous thread.

A stitching system includes a jig capable of joining two shoe parts and capable of being used in an automated stitching machine. The jig includes a lower member capable of being operably coupled to the automated stitching machine and an upper member also capable of being operably coupled to the automated stitching machine. The two shoe parts are held in place between the lower member and the upper member. The lower member, the upper member and the two shoe parts therebetween are moved by the automated stitching machine in accordance with a pattern stored in the automated stitching machine.

A system for stitching two parts of a shoe together includes a stitching machine with a head and a cylinder bed. The head has a needle base disposed on a lower end adjacent the cylinder bed such that the two shoe parts can be stitched together therebetween. A positioning mechanism has a curved drive frame and is capable of moving the curved drive frame in a rotating motion along the circumference of the curved drive frame and in a linear direction generally along an axis of the curved drive frame. A jig positions the two shoe parts with respect to one another and is coupled to the curved drive frame. The jig includes a curved support surface for supporting the two shoe parts.

A method of manufacturing an article of footwear defining a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region includes providing a sole structure and an upper. The method further includes coupling the sole structure to the upper at least in part by winding a first continuous thread around the sole structure and the upper in a first direction in the midfoot region and the forefoot region, winding the first continuous thread around the sole structure and the upper in a second direction in the heel region, and receiving the first continuous thread within a channel of a plurality of channels that are defined by a sole surface of the sole structure. Winding the first continuous thread around the sole structure and the upper is, at least in part, configured to couple the sole structure to the upper. The first direction is different than the second direction.