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Thanks 🙂 I didn’t even think to look. I’ll go see what they have. They used to be the only place to get leather years and years ago.
I have an old self published pamphlet that shows some moc patterns. But they are hand drawn, pretty small and, IMHO not well explained. The book is ‘Craft Manual of North American Indian Footwear” By George M. White, copyright 1969. Basically it is the size of typing paper folded in half and stapled. Has quite a few pages though and lots of drawings. A friend gave it to me – but personally – I wouldn’t have paid for it. Again, just MHO.
I did a google search for the book and it is still being sold ..there were a ton of hits for it. One link I followed said the book was unavailable.. but they did have a video on making mocs. That might be intersting depending on how good it is. http://www.teachingdrum.org/OldWayWares/CraftandSkillBooks/
🙂
I would suggest that before anyone cuts into their precious hide that they first make a sample from the pattern to make sure it fits. I usually make mine out of an old ruined pair of jeans. Many times I have used a pattern that fit great on a friend’s foot, but not on mine. My hands aren’t strong enough for commercial leather, so I only use braintan, which is another reason I’m very careful. It’s easy for me to get good braintan here, although not necessarily easy to save up for it.
As for patterns, my feet don’t take well to the traditional patterns from the Northwest, I have to really alter those patterns, and some just don’t fit no matter what I do. Eastern style center seam and puckered mocs fit my feet best, I just have to learn to make them now. Apparently I have east coast Indian feet!
spilleddi wrote: Apparently I have east coast Indian feet!
I haven’t tried them yet. I have only worn the Navaho type mocs when I was a kid and Apache when I was older. Never worn the Eastern type. It might be interesting to learn how to make them. But isn’t the center seam uncomfortable?
My center seam mocassins are very comfortable. If you look at the pattern I posted above, the measurements are taken from your feet in an unusual way, not by inches. It’s interesting the way it works out.
Good idea about puncturing the leather with a sewing machine. I’ve always used a sharp awl. It allows me to sew through any thickness of leather. Then there’s always the leather punch. It may leave too big of a hole depending on the situation.
I was messing around the net tonight and found these directions for center-seam mocs. Thought I’d share it with y’all.
http://www.i4at.org/surv/mocinstr.htm
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