Canvas or Leather

[~*~MizzQaqimat~*~]

I was wondering what y'all prefer to bead moccasins on? I'm doing a pair right now on leather, and I keep breaking all my needles, and it hurts my fingers really bad to do it. It is also taking way too much time. I'm thinking about just beading on canvas and then attatching it to the leather after. What do you usually do to solve your mocc beading problems?

[kiowakat]

I like to use real brain tanned deer skins for the tops and real rawhide for the soles.

[Czechy]

My favorite stuff to make mocs out of is braintan deer. A well-done hide beads like buttah. My second choice would be commercial deerhide. I shop for the leather in person so I can fondle the thickness and see the color and where the thin spots and holes are. I bring a beading needle with me so I can test whether it will easily go through the hide. I use hand-processed buffalo rawhide for soles.

I've used canvas on mocs only when making them out of ribbonwork applique. It's not my usual material since canvas is not as durable as leather in the long run. If you are gonna spend long hours and hard work beading, you want it to last as long as possible, right? So for beaded mocs I would recommend deer or thin elk leather. At all costs, avoid cowhide and any split leather.

[Ron S]

I totally agree with the first 2 posts. Braintanned is the way to go. It beads faster, feels better and I don't think I've ever broken a needle with braintanned. I can't say the same for the first pair I made using commercial tanned leather. Trust me, it's worth the extra cost. But, beware. If you use it once, you'll never be able to go back to commercial again.

I can't imagine putting that much time and effort into canvas. I know some do, but it's just not for me.
Ron

[wyo_rose]

Echo....braintanned......braintanned......

[sltate]

My beader uses a material, not sure what it is called but it looks like shammy leather, you can buy at Helen Enox it's about 49 bucks a yard. But, get this, it beads like deer hide, looks like deer hide, wears like deer hide, but you can wash it in the washer and it doesn't wear as hard when you get it wet at the pow wow. Repair is easier when you have to repair. I have had southern leggings made out of this and after a particular "rough" weekend, I can throw them in the washer, hang them out and they look like new. Re-soling is easier too. Think about it for beading when you can't get ahold of deer hide. Or instead of.

[Blackbear]

I finally got my first chance to work with smoked brain tan hide and yeah.. definitely I would use it for moccasins before anything else.

[chazziff]

yea braintanned - just like butta .. lol. i really prefer it more .. i have used canvas/denim tops and leather soles but i prefer leather ...

[kgirl7]

My beader uses a material, not sure what it is called but it looks like shammy leather, you can buy at Helen Enox it's about 49 bucks a yard. But, get this, it beads like deer hide, looks like deer hide, wears like deer hide, but you can wash it in the washer and it doesn't wear as hard when you get it wet at the pow wow. Repair is easier when you have to repair. I have had southern leggings made out of this and after a particular "rough" weekend, I can throw them in the washer, hang them out and they look like new. Re-soling is easier too. Think about it for beading when you can't get ahold of deer hide. Or instead of.

Is the shammy (i've seen chamois also) leather real leather? I know my dad used to use it to wash his car, but i never thought about beading on it. I always thought it was some artificial material.

[Czechy]

My beader uses a material, not sure what it is called but it looks like shammy leather, you can buy at Helen Enox it's about 49 bucks a yard.

Sounds like Ultrasuede that comes on a bolt at the fabric store. I've beaded on that for barettes but never tried it for moccasins. The stuff I had I think would be too thin.

[~*~MizzQaqimat~*~]

yea braintanned - just like butta .. lol. i really prefer it more .. i have used canvas/denim tops and leather soles but i prefer leather ...

I have the rawhide soles--the latigo ones you know? I was just thinking of beading on the canvas first, then sewing the finished beadwork onto that commercial leather stuff I have, and then attatching it to the rawhide soles.

[kiowakat]

I have the rawhide soles--the latigo ones you know? I was just thinking of beading on the canvas first, then sewing the finished beadwork onto that commercial leather stuff I have, and then attatching it to the rawhide soles.

I make my own rawhide from buffalo/cow, it is nothing like latigo....




that is why I checked the "other" catagory.......





OMG i'm checkin the "other" box again ROTFLMAO can anybody else relate??hahahahaha

[chazziff]

if you sew your beaded canvas onto the leather - they'll be real "hot" mocs lol - temperature wise for the wearer. just bypass the leather part and sew the canvas moc tops onto the soles.

[Ron S]

If I'm not mistaking, chamois is sheep skin. Haven't seen it beaded on but I have seen someone use it for drum beaters.

[Blackbear]

Yeah it's sheep skin from Australia.. he's right. The real/good stuff is expensive, more expensive than deerhide usually.