ShoeMaking: The Art of the Cobbler

Part 2 - Indian Moccasins

By Denis Bastien

Edited by Lisa A. Lawrence 

Denis Bastien, of Affordable Designs (www.affordabledesign.ca),walks us through making boots for Trent and Basil!  Because of the popularity of this design and process, Denis now offers "Boot Kits" for sale on his website that include all the materials needed to make the Indian Moccasins shown below, as well as kits for Workboots and High Lace-Ups!

Materials required:

suede remnant - 10" x 20" - as thin as possible

- 1 sheet - 5" x 8" - "PEEL'nSTICK" double sided sheet (usually sold in pack of 3 at your local craft store.

- sharp craft knife

- scissors

- 1 pair of AFFORDABLE SHOES (or any black Trent shoes you wish to sacrifice ). Affordable Shoes can be ordered via the Affordable Designs’ website

 INSTRUCTIONS

1 - TRACING/CUTTING the suede pieces.

- use the pattern to transfer the outline of each piece onto the back of a piece of suede of regular thickness. You will need two pieces of each... unless you plan to only make one moccasin! (LOL). Remember to reverse the pattern when tracing the second sole piece. This is the only piece that needs a right and a left piece. Cut all six pieces.

2 - MARKING SHOE PLACEMENT onto the sole pieces.

- use the sole pattern to also transfer the inner line to the back side of each sole piece. This outline will help us centre the shoe onto the piece later on.

3 - TRACING/CUTTING/APPLYING some "PEEL’nSTICK" to the pattern shaded area.

- using the shaded area of the pattern pieces, cut pieces of "PEEL’N STICK" , remove the protective paper from one side of each piece and apply them to the back side of your suede pieces as per pattern. Do not remove the protective paper from the other side yet... it would create a "sticky situation". (O.K. Not too funny... but I try!)

4 - CUTTING the fringes.

- using scissors or a sharp craft knife, cut fringes on each sides of the toe piece’s upper part. Do not cut into the "PEEL’nSTICK" band.

5 - APPLYING the leg piece.

- remove the protective paper from a leg piece and apply it to the back of a shoe. For the best results, start at center back and smooth the suede as you apply it to each side of the shoe. Do not try and stretch the piece too much. Repeat with the other leg piece.

6 - APPLYING the toe piece.

- remove the protective paper from the round part of the toe piece. Do not remove the paper from the two bands yet. Apply the toe piece to the toe part of the shoe. For best results, align the shoe’s upper edge and the top of the "PEEL’n STICK" line as a guide, smooth the suede at the center from the shoe’s upper line to the tip then pull slightly on each side "wing" as you apply them to the side of the shoe overlapping with the edges of the leg piece. You can remove/replace the piece until you are satisfied with the look. Using a sharp craft knife, cut the excess suede below the sole of the shoe. (photo 08) Repeat with the other toe piece.

7- JOINING the toe and leg pieces.

- remove the protective paper from one of the bands. Join the top piece to the leg piece by aligning the "PEEL’n STICK" with the edge of the leg piece. The pattern for the toe piece was drafted higher than the leg piece. The excess will be trimmed later. Repeat with the other band. Cut the excess suede from the top of the toe piece. Repeat the whole process with the other shoe.

8- COVERING the sole.

- remove the protective paper from one of the sole pieces. Place the shoe onto the sole piece using the outline as a guide.

Fold the excess over the shoe, creating small pleats along the edges of the sole piece.  Repeat with the other shoe.

FINISHED PRODUCT.

Other boots you can make using Denis' shoes!

Boot Pattern 10" x 5"