Making shoes/moccasins?

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I am fed up with paying the very high prices on shoes for my narrow feet. Have been wondering how I can learn to make my own loafers and also moccasins, both regular style as well as calf or knee high for winter warmth. Anyone doing this? Or know how and where to learn and buy the needed supplies??

Thanks!

-- Carol - in Virginia (carollm@rockbridge.net), October 07, 2001

Answers

Tandy Craft leather company have catologs that have various kits to purchase. Type in Tandy Craft in your search and you should get more information.

-- r.h. in okla. (rhays@sstelco.com), October 07, 2001.

thats where I got my kits before,, and once you get the pattern , your all set. Have even made knee high boots for the frontier days. Work fine,, but have had to replace the soles a couple of times. Elk leather makes the best soles,, but for me,,its hard to come by. Dont expect them to last you years,, or very long at all if you walk on concrete alot.

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), October 07, 2001.

I am going to a conference next month where I will be learning to make a pair of moccasins as well as other items. The teacher will be a North American Indian from the chatham-kent area of ont.If you are willing to wait til then I could send pattern and intructions.Send your regular mail address to my email and I will send it to you,ok?

-- elly snyder (fireliteca@yahoo.ca), October 07, 2001.

Making moccasins isn't that difficult, but if you go into leather shoes it requires special machines and special sewing machines.

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), October 07, 2001.

You might want to check with people who do historical reenactment (Civil War, Renaissance, etc.). Since you aren't too far from Colonial Williamsburg you might even see if they can help.

Search the web for the Society for Creative Anachronism. I think it is www.sca.org. Some hobbyist might make you a pair for 2-3x cost of supplies (in other words, you feed their hobby).

How modern do you want or need your shoes to look? Also www.renaissanceinfo.com has lists of vendors and you might see what their prices are like.

Hope this helps.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), October 07, 2001.



Here is a site that has simple instructions for making Eastern style moccasins.

www.nativetech.org/clothing/moccasin/moctext.html

-- Joe (CactusJoe001@AOL.com), October 07, 2001.


I once got a couple of square feet of "waste" elk leather, along with a bunch of other leather, from a prosthetics outfit. For free. I didn't know anyone there, just went in and asked if they had any leather scraps they'd be willing to part with for a small sum of money. They let me dig through their scrap bin and didn't want money.

-- Laura Jensen (lauraj@seedlaw.com), October 08, 2001.

I've made Elk hide center seam mocs, and they are NOT difficult. Remember that the leather streaches, so make them snug. Elk is the best; expensive, but a hide goes a LONG way. I lined mine with an old felted wool blanket (one that someone had washed and dried in the dryer); you make a separate moc of the wool for each foot, and set the wool inside the leather. The wool moc makes a good practice run for your pattern, but remember if doesn't streach like the leather does! Treating the leather often very much extends it's life; I like Camp dry. It comes in a plastic tub at Walmart in the shoe department, but there are lots of other choices. We do Rev war.

-- Leann Banta (thelionandlamb@hotmail.com), October 10, 2001.

went to a school on shoe making in the early 80s.you start out making a pattern with an old sock you put on and then binding with gray tape.you have to stand up tall while making pattern with tap.then mark where you want seams.then cut off foot.that is your pattern.it is easyer then you think.your sole is ground up tire and glue spread on sole like cakeicycling.it keeps the soles water free.

-- shirley kelsoe (farout96@aol.com), December 10, 2001.

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