07-08-2009, 12:59 AM
Done. About 9 hours work, from patterning to finish. Pattern on demand.
In short:
First I put serran-wrap 9food wrap) all around my foot, covered it in duct tape, and then marked it with heavy magic marker along the lines I wanted. then I cut the pieces apart and used them as the basis of the pattern. i made a separate pattern of the sole of my foot. This system can be used for any sandal or moccasin pattern, btw.
Having made a pattern, I cut the sole out of sole leather (16+ounce veg tanned cowhide) and the uppers out of 12 oz. veg tan cow. I wet them all, rolled the edges with a tool, and then punched the holes with a diamond shaped awl, which I'm pretty sure they had, even in ancient Greece, but that's another story! Then I stitched the uppers to the inner sole and tied them on. Both feet needed adjustments. So I cut them apart, adjusted for size, and re-stitched them--single needle. I gather that the harness stitch didn't exist yet. I used artificial sinew. i know how to use real sinew, but it's a pain to use and I didn't have any. Next pair!
After the final sewing of the uppers, I put hobnails into the soles, put a healthy dose of rubber cement on both upper and lower sole,a nd then stitched the two soles together all the way around the outside. Don't disdain rubber cement. Wonderful stuff in fine leather working--allows you to pull two pieces apart when you discover you've made a mistake.
![[Image: 3699018629_b73fed7589.jpg?v=0]](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2432/3699018629_b73fed7589.jpg?v=0)
![[Image: 3699017389_6a8840fdb7.jpg?v=0]](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2655/3699017389_6a8840fdb7.jpg?v=0)
![[Image: 3699016255_4d2864f5bc.jpg?v=0]](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2525/3699016255_4d2864f5bc.jpg?v=0)
In short:
First I put serran-wrap 9food wrap) all around my foot, covered it in duct tape, and then marked it with heavy magic marker along the lines I wanted. then I cut the pieces apart and used them as the basis of the pattern. i made a separate pattern of the sole of my foot. This system can be used for any sandal or moccasin pattern, btw.
Having made a pattern, I cut the sole out of sole leather (16+ounce veg tanned cowhide) and the uppers out of 12 oz. veg tan cow. I wet them all, rolled the edges with a tool, and then punched the holes with a diamond shaped awl, which I'm pretty sure they had, even in ancient Greece, but that's another story! Then I stitched the uppers to the inner sole and tied them on. Both feet needed adjustments. So I cut them apart, adjusted for size, and re-stitched them--single needle. I gather that the harness stitch didn't exist yet. I used artificial sinew. i know how to use real sinew, but it's a pain to use and I didn't have any. Next pair!
After the final sewing of the uppers, I put hobnails into the soles, put a healthy dose of rubber cement on both upper and lower sole,a nd then stitched the two soles together all the way around the outside. Don't disdain rubber cement. Wonderful stuff in fine leather working--allows you to pull two pieces apart when you discover you've made a mistake.
Qui plus fait, miex vault.
