Side-Lace boot pattern??

[Tim T]

I have a pair of Minnetonka side laced moccasins that I love.


My problem is that I'd like a pair in black hide leather instead of the brown suede leather ones that I have now.

I have been able to find front lace boots that have the typical moccasin seam that runs along the top of the foot, but thats exactly what I DON'T want.  I'm half temped to buy another pair of moccasins(they're only about $80), and a leather hide, and rip them apart, use the pieces as pattern pieces and remake it in black smooth leather.

Anybody out there ever see side lace pattern?

Thanks!!!

[Randal]

Sorry, I can't help with a pattern, but if I was in your position, I'd start by dying those boots black. They'd still be suede, but they'd be black suede.

If that's not appealing, then take those apart and use them for your pattern. Why spend $80 on a new pair, just to destroy them? Destroy one of the old pair. No need to take both apart. Carefully pick apart all of the stitching and glue each piece to rigid cardboard, like the back of a legal pad. This will make it easier to trace around the pieces onto your new leather.

Can I assume you've worked with leather before, and have the tools and knowledge to do this? If not, I recommend starting on a simpler project. Don't torture your feet with a pair of improperly made boots.

Just my 2 cents worth,
Randal

[Wolfden]

There are several custom manufacturers that make side lace moccasins but they are rather pricey around $600 and up. Bald Mountain and Catskill Mountain are two that come to mind, but they only fit you in person at a ren faire. If you are willing to make the investment, you might also look at www.Sodhoppers.com. He tends to be a little less expensive and will send you instructions on how to make your own casting. Another option are the boots sold by www.houseofandar.com. Finally, while not technically what you are looking for, you might want to view the boots at www.armstreet.com. They have some very nice medieval boots and some are sort of side lace. They are located in the Ukraine but I have purchased from them before and they do excellent work.

If you decide to make your own, I would caution against using bullhide for the shaft. Bullhide is very stiff and having a solid piece in front and in back of your ankle and shin may be very uncomfortable. This is why modern leather boots are front lace, so they will flex properly. Most custom moc makers use buffalo hide which is rather soft and stronger than bullhide, you may find some on the internet. If you want a more authentic look, consider using a large piece of buffalo, elk or deerhide that wraps around leg sort of like a gaiter and secure it by wrapping leather lacing or rope around your leg. While not renaissance period, check out www.arrowmoc.com for some examples. They are French-Indian War period but the basic design would be the same.

If you decide to get a new pair of Minnetonkas, you can dye them using a suede-specific dye, or take them to a cobbler and he can do it for you. Do not use the Ritt dyes found at the supermarket, they will not be colorfast since they are meant for fabrics. Lincoln suede and leather dyes are guaranteed to make any color leather into a true black.

Considering most people made their own shoes and boots during the renaissance, making your own would probably look pretty cool, and the rough pattern would be more authentic. Hope this helps.

[Tim T]

Thanks for the comments, guys.

I actually did dye these years ago with Rit dye.  I didn't know any better.  It actually worked rather well, but instead of turning black, it turned a chocolate brown color (which I like quite a lot).  I've learned a lot about leatherwork now, having made many belts, straps, frogs and such.  I'd like to have hide leather boots, but having a properly dyed black pair would satisfy most of what I want.  Most of my issues with the boot are due to it's color- it works great for some of my garb, not so well with others.  They're extremely comfortable too, once you drop in a nice insole, that is.

The cost would be very reasonable, say $80 for the boots and $10 or so for the dye.  I have yet to use a leather dye, but I've got some tan suede, so I could do a pretty decent trial run once I got some dye.

I think I need to do some shopping.

Thank you both!

[Randal]

Any shoe repair place should have the dye you need, or be able to do the job for you. Having personally dyed many a piece of leather, I'd be sorely tempted to avoid the mess, and let them do it.

A nice deep true black is not an easy color to achieve. Expect it to take a few tries. It's actually best to start out by dying the item another color first. Blue, red, and green have all given me good results.

Randal

[Wolfden]

You are quite welcome, hope you find what you are looking for. If you are still looking for a good dye, I would definitely recommend the Lincoln brand of leather dyes, they pop right up in a Google search. As a former Marine, I used their stain wax on my boots every day and it worked great, still use it on my civie boots and shoes today. I have no financial interest in Lincoln, just a very satisfied customer. I have also been on a similar quest for the right boots for some time. My decision is a little complicated since I have to wear a set of hard arch supports and I need a boot with a firm sole and lateral support. Without the arch supports, my day at faire would be ruined due to an extreme case of plantar fasciitis.

[Tim T]

An update:

I've found a couple of places to buy new boots from(the same kind I have now)- both for right at $80.00 delivered.  I'll probably order them in the next day or two.

I've also found that Fiebings sells an actual suede dye.  I'll let ya'll know how the dyeing goes.

Wish me luck!

[jcbanner]

If you're still intrested in making a pair, Tandy Leather has patterns availible for a few styles.

http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/products.asp?number=6035-00

http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/products.asp?number=62690-00

the second one is front lace, but I imagin it could be modifed to open on the side instead.

its MUCH cheaper to buy a pattern then to buy a pair of boots to cut up for a pattern