Due to fysical not well being I am stuck at home.
Working, sanding and sawing on a wooden scabbard is not recommendable in my current state, gaming all day gets boring, too. So does hanging around facebook and/or other places on the net.
Time to start a milder prject; one that has had my attention, ever since I laid eyes on a scetch in one of my all time favorite books; North by Nicolas vanier. It shows how to make simple moccassins for the harser climates.
This is the one;
The person who is teaching me how to work with leather once got a lammycoat quite cheap at a fleamarket and she gave me this coat, so I could try my skills at this project. The main benefit is that I know what to do or not do, befor I use a real reindeer- or mooseskin!
These shoes probably will not be completely waterproof, but they will be warm and if they are not really usable for outdoor walking I still will have some nice, warm feet at home or around the camp!
I took the coat apart carefully en with the help of the sketches and my own feet I took general measurements. This meant a lot of fitting and guessing.
The main challenge was working with what material I had at hand and finding sollutions for avoiding useless areas, such as bottonholes, pockets or seams. The latter could however prove to be quite usefull, too!
After some measuring and dryfitting I managed to get the first 4 pieces done; the feet and the upperparts for the feet.
The toeparts proved tricky and I had to redo that area 4 times!
The first three times went wrong, because 1) I use a single thread, which broke while tightening the toe-area, 2) I used a double thread with a knot in the middle, which broke when I tightened afore mentioned area, 3) I used a singlelenght of doible thread, but forgot to tie off one end befor threading and tightening......
Then I turned my attention to the heelpart.
This is made up of 3 parts, which have to be stitched together tight. The outer 2 parts I shaved, to make stitching easier. The most inner part kept its wool.
Looking back at it now, I think I should have done this part first as it would have made it easier to make the shoe fit.
Finally I made the first of the shafts (?). I wanted to try and make high ones, as these would be more usefull in deeper snow.
I wrapped the piece of coat around my lower leg and pinned it together. Then I have sewn the edges together, using a allready present seam. You can still see the part where a pocket once was. After I had done that I turned the shaft inside out and cut off the excess cloth and cut the top level.
All in all a day well spent, I think!
Working, sanding and sawing on a wooden scabbard is not recommendable in my current state, gaming all day gets boring, too. So does hanging around facebook and/or other places on the net.
Time to start a milder prject; one that has had my attention, ever since I laid eyes on a scetch in one of my all time favorite books; North by Nicolas vanier. It shows how to make simple moccassins for the harser climates.
This is the one;
The person who is teaching me how to work with leather once got a lammycoat quite cheap at a fleamarket and she gave me this coat, so I could try my skills at this project. The main benefit is that I know what to do or not do, befor I use a real reindeer- or mooseskin!
These shoes probably will not be completely waterproof, but they will be warm and if they are not really usable for outdoor walking I still will have some nice, warm feet at home or around the camp!
I took the coat apart carefully en with the help of the sketches and my own feet I took general measurements. This meant a lot of fitting and guessing.
The main challenge was working with what material I had at hand and finding sollutions for avoiding useless areas, such as bottonholes, pockets or seams. The latter could however prove to be quite usefull, too!
After some measuring and dryfitting I managed to get the first 4 pieces done; the feet and the upperparts for the feet.
The toeparts proved tricky and I had to redo that area 4 times!
The first three times went wrong, because 1) I use a single thread, which broke while tightening the toe-area, 2) I used a double thread with a knot in the middle, which broke when I tightened afore mentioned area, 3) I used a singlelenght of doible thread, but forgot to tie off one end befor threading and tightening......
Then I turned my attention to the heelpart.
This is made up of 3 parts, which have to be stitched together tight. The outer 2 parts I shaved, to make stitching easier. The most inner part kept its wool.
Looking back at it now, I think I should have done this part first as it would have made it easier to make the shoe fit.
Finally I made the first of the shafts (?). I wanted to try and make high ones, as these would be more usefull in deeper snow.
I wrapped the piece of coat around my lower leg and pinned it together. Then I have sewn the edges together, using a allready present seam. You can still see the part where a pocket once was. After I had done that I turned the shaft inside out and cut off the excess cloth and cut the top level.
All in all a day well spent, I think!
