HOW TO MAKE MOCCASINS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 224, 21 September 1929, Page 3 (Supplement)

HOW TO MAKE MOCCASINS.

PASTIME FOR LEATHERWORKERS. Tlie Witch Doctor recently received a request for a description of how to make moccasins, and we are publishing this article in the hopes that it may be of use to other readers. For each moccasin you will need a, piece of leather about 14in by Sin, and another picce about Gin by 4in. These measurements are for an average small man's foot, about size (5. Also two soles. For the rest, you will require a shoemaker's awl, some waxed hemp and needles, and a piece of thick board to make a round kind of foot-shape, called a "last."

This is not shaped exactly like a foot, but made like figure A, out of a piece of lin board. If you make it rather straight, and get it at the same length and width as your foot, there's no need to make two, as it will do for either foot. Cut out the leather soles about a quarter of an inch bigger all round than this piece of wood, and then sew them to the underneath of the leather "uppers," as you see in figure B.

Take a knife and cut a 4ittle channel about half-way through the sole, and about a quarter of an inch from the edge. Then run a blunt-pointed instrument round this, cut to open it up, and sew the stitches at the bottom of the groove, boring a hole for each stitch with an awl, and stitching with a waxed thread. ' Before working on the sole, put it iu a bucket of water for about ten minutes, tlien lay it aside for a bit until it is nice and workable. Beat the leather well, to increase its wearing qualities. Well, having sewn on the sole, • rub down the flange, that is, the cut you made on top of the stitches, and tap it down all round with the hammer, and you will find the stitches are perfecly hidden. The next job is to sjiape the "uppers" like figure C. Note that it is only liii wide at the toe, gradually widening out to 2in at. the sides. Then you soak it in water, place the wooden foot inside, and shape the "upper" over the foe by pulling and

banging and rubbing it into position; tack it round, as you see in figure D, to keep it there temporarily. You will find that it has a series of puckers all along the top edge. Try and get these as even as you can, and put ill a tack for each pucker. Now cut out the tongue from your piece of Gin by 4in leather, and begin to sew it in, starting at one side. When you have sewn right around, cut ofT the edges and hammer the toe into shape. Now turn your attention to the • heel. You will see how it is cut by referring to the diagram. Slip your foot in to find how much you need to cut away, then sew the two edges together like the top drawing in Figure E, and

Cut out the sole, and place it on the underneath of the leather as illustrated in B. C shows you how to shape the "upper." Place the dummy foot inside the "upper.," draw the leather over, and tack round as in D. Now cut out a tongue and sew inside as illustrated in the right-hand picture of D." E shows you how to fix the heel. Then finally you see the finished moccasins.

finish off by sewing up the flap, as sliown at bottom of figure E. Cut slits or punch holes, through which to run a thong. The sketch of the finished article makes this and the method of lacing aud fastening quite clear.

A DOG'S LOVE. From the Ardennes comes this story of a dog's fidelity. A group of woodcutters were surprised that one of their companions had not been seen in the. village for some days. At first they did not notice it, as he was working alone at a cutting and had built himself a shelter there where he slept.

Then it was noticed.tliat a stray dog 'which they knew had attached itself to him appeared in the village, barking and whining and clearly trying to attract attention to itself. So one of the woodcutters followed it to the solitary man's shelter, and there found him lying helpless. He had been injured by a falling tree, but had dragged himself to the hut, and then he had sent the dog into the village several times before its actions had been understood. On its return it had lain down closely beside him to keep him warm, and in that way, as well as by fetching help, had saved his life.