Hard sole mocs tutorial

[OLChemist]

I can't affirm PB49's comment about cowhide enough. I took a class umpteen years-ago. Because it was only a mocc making class and not beadwork, the instructor bought cowhide splits for practice, like you get in some kits. When the hardsoles rolled around, about half the people in the class beaded their uppers between class sessions (so did I, but on my own elk hide, LOL). During the turning all around the classroom you could hear the ping ping rip of the beadwork tearing right out. It was ugly.

[powwowbum49]

Crazy crow does sell russet leather, though they may not call it that. It is the stuff they sell for straps and to make belts out of. They also sell latigo in the right weight that is need for moc soles. I have never seen moc sole rawhide being sold by them though. The rawhide can be hard to find and once you find a vendor that sells it is best to keep their name if you like using the stuff. There is a vendor in MI that sells it and I often pick it up from him. Flying Feathers is the name of the outfit. If I can find his card I will post his phone #.

As for garment suede holding up...isn't that stuff also called a deerskin split, meaning it has had the smooth side shaved off so it is suede on both sides? If it is then I would say no, but if it is not a split then it should be ok. Deerskin splits are very thin and do not hold up well over the long haul. They work well for making fringe for dance clothes but not making mocs out of.

Hopefully over the next couple of days I can get the next step posted and field a few more questions.

[MAROONDANCER]

PWB49

I get what your saying . So basically you want strap leather . I can see it know . Crazy crow sells whole hides of strap leather . I'm sorry i never put strap and harness together as meaning the same thing, sorry my stupidity. i'm going to check that place you suggested first. thanks PWB49



Rob

[powwowbum49]

There are some other tools and things that one will need to have to put together this style of mocs.

An awl -- the awl will be used to prepunch the holes in the sole and will also be used to punch the holes for the laces. It is best to have an awl with a thin point. I say this because a fat pointed awl will have the tendency of ripping out the holes punched in the soles, especially in thinner material like the rawhide soles.

Imitation sinew -- used to sew the upper to the sole and tongue to the upper.

Glovers needles -- a medium size (4 or 6) is my preference.

Needle nose pliers -- for pulling the glovers needle through the sole leather when sewing the soles and upper together.

scissors -- you need these for the obvious reasons

A good pen or grease pencil will be needed for marking the leather and making the patterns for the upper and sole.

exacto or utility knife -- this is optional and is for the sole leather. It can be very difficult to cut this weight leather with scissors and often using a knife is a bit easier, but if you do use this method be careful and go slow so you do not cut into the canter of the sole itself or slip and cut into YOURSELF.

*** (Also if you are going to bead your mocs then you will need all those supplies)

[WolfTears]

:D LOL LOL Drolllllsss some more ...winks ....Gets out shopping list . Checks it twice yep yep yep ok ...wait did someone say beads ...hmmmm one can never have enough beads! Ads those to the list wink wink even tho I might not need them yet . Will shop them anyway....(Its all Black Bears Fault ) Sister woman you know it is ...:D Off to that little shopping list now ...Waits at the screen ...drollllllsssssssssss on Moon...oops sorry ...No worries I have a handi wipe.....LOL ....OK PB ..are we there yet ?? j/k

[Tibiki Kinew]

Originally posted by powwowbum49
There are some other tools and things that one will need to have to put together this style of mocs.

An awl -- the awl will be used to prepunch the holes in the sole and will also be used to punch the holes for the laces. It is best to have an awl with a thin point. I say this because a fat pointed awl will have the tendency of ripping out the holes punched in the soles, especially in thinner material like the rawhide soles.

Imitation sinew -- used to sew the upper to the sole and tongue to the upper.

Glovers needles -- a medium size (4 or 6) is my preference.

Needle nose pliers -- for pulling the glovers needle through the sole leather when sewing the soles and upper together.

scissors -- you need these for the obvious reasons

A good pen or grease pencil will be needed for marking the leather and making the patterns for the upper and sole.

exacto or utility knife -- this is optional and is for the sole leather. It can be very difficult to cut this weight leather with scissors and often using a knife is a bit easier, but if you do use this method be careful and go slow so you do not cut into the canter of the sole itself or slip and cut into YOURSELF.

*** (Also if you are going to bead your mocs then you will need all those supplies)

Don't forget a good old, old fashioned sewing awl, the needle and thread are all one unit with a good solid grip pushing handle made to fit the palm of your hand!!

[wyo_rose]

Originally posted by powwowbum49


An awl -- the awl will be used to prepunch the holes in the sole and will also be used to punch the holes for the laces. It is best to have an awl with a thin point. I say this because a fat pointed awl will have the tendency of ripping out the holes punched in the soles, especially in thinner material like the rawhide soles.

Needle nose pliers -- for pulling the glovers needle through the sole leather when sewing the soles and upper together.

OMG, AWL and NEEDLE NOSE PLIERS!! Was I putting myself thru unneeded torture just using my buckskin needle and scrap of buckskin??!!??

[powwowbum49]

TK

That might work well to prepunch the wholes but I would not recommend using one to sew the upper and sole together. It is just a simple whip stitch that is used to sew a pair of these mocs up correctly. If you have used this tool before and can take pic of the mocs made with it please do (a close up of the stitching if you could) cause I can see no way that you could use that thing to sew up a pair of mocs!

Rose

Come on quit pullin our leg...LOL!

[WolfTears]

LOL Rose I did that till mom watched me struggle long enough then she showed me the art of the awl . But not till I was half way through the second moc....:D

[Yelloweyes]

This is really great. Now I can find out why my uppers never seem to fit the sole and I end up spending time to adjust everything especially when there is beading.

Those needle nose pliers really save on the use of ones teeth.

[John&Pam]

Hi All-in case anyone is interested we have various colors of deerskin for sale. It usually ranges from 3.00 to 4.00 sq. ft. We hand pick all the skins to find the thickest, heaviest and least scarred. We can also get a full saddle boar skin for about 40.00 each. The tannery we go to just started making a "realtree" type camo color boar skin. Anyway-the profits from the skins go to the Tennessee Native Veterans Society to help with some of our programs. http://home.earthlink.net/~yonausdi/index.html
John H

Men-nie you still have a little drool there...right at the corner

[WolfTears]

LOL John I am trying to control that .. cant seem to get a handle on it .

[Blackbear]

Originally posted by Yelloweyes
This is really great. Now I can find out why my uppers never seem to fit the sole and I end up spending time to adjust everything especially when there is beading.

Those needle nose pliers really save on the use of ones teeth.

In the quilting supplies section of walmart, they sell these little yellow rubber circles... they are excellent grips for pulling the needle through your leather as well as pliers...and they don't hurt i fyou accidently drop them on your foot LOL...not to mention they cost less than 2 bucks

[wyo_rose]

Originally posted by powwowbum49
TK

Rose

Come on quit pullin our leg...LOL!

Hey I kid you not! I only tried one rawhide soled mocs and that was over 10 years ago. I just used my buckskin needle and pushed it thru with a scrap of TOUGH buckskin and pulled it thru the other side with a scrap of GRIPPY buckskin. I still have the Tough piece and you can see the many, many holes punched in it.

I have an awl, but it must be a FAT awl. Until I find a skinnier one, or someone gives me one;) I'll have to stick to soft soles or latigo.

Anyway, what's the next step after getting all these specific supplies together? And do you make custom patterns or do you have tons of patterns labeled by size?:Chatter

[MAROONDANCER]

Wyo rose
don't worry your not alone I don't even use an awl , just glovers needles, and some scrap latigo leather. I don't use an awl for fear that i'll gouge my eye out:wounded1: it is a true art ( all in the fingers)watch out for me guys:karate: . I think I'll use an awl on this'n though







Rob