Now that I’m not intimidated by leatherwork, I want to make some shoes.
Perhaps I’ll start with some poulaines.
Eoin, how are your Historic Reproduction shoes for wearing? Do your feet get tired/tender?
Now that I’m not intimidated by leatherwork, I want to make some shoes.
Perhaps I’ll start with some poulaines.
Eoin, how are your Historic Reproduction shoes for wearing? Do your feet get tired/tender?
I have 3.5 pair historic reproduction shoes. I am a big big geek, I know.
My home-made turnshoes (similar to Marc Carlson’s side-laced pattern, based on a pattern I drafted in felt) are of garment-weight leather, very soft, supple and stretchy. It was easy to sew them with a double-curved leather needle (the sort with the triangular cross-section) and waxed linen thread, and easy to turn them because the leather was so soft. However, they are totally inadequate for wearing out-of-doors (except on a soft grassy meadow), and they provide no support or cushioning whatsoever. I have strong arches and like to go barefoot, so I don’t mind these “feet gloves” for short-term wearing, particularly when I want flexibility and freedom of movement. They’re fine for a few hours dancing, or doing demos/events indoors or in well-kept parks. I wear hinged wooden pattens over them when I need to protect my feet, and the bottom of the shoes, from rough terrain. They’re comfortable for me for half a day at a time, and a little ergonomic countouring to the footbed (and padding on the order of a thin insole in the accompanying shoe) I think would make them twice as good. I bought the pattens 2 years ago at Pennsic (in August), and wore them at maybe 20 weekend events. In that time I wore down the bottom, unevenly, to such an extent that they are hardly useable anymore. I think they were made of a softer “hardwood” like poplar; IMO something harder like oak would be better. I tried making some to replace them, and it wasn’t exactly difficult–just the sort of tedious of a job that draws on craft skills one hasn’t developed. I gave the first pair I made to my friend Katherine, and haven’t been motivated to finish the 2nd pair I’d roughed out for myself. I’m hoping my knight will take an interest, since he likes that sort of thing.
The turnshoes from revivalclothing dot com are new; so far they’ve only been through one afternoon of walking around Gulf War gravelly roads, and a little dancing. they’re quite comfy so far. The sole, made from one layer of sole leather, doesn’t provide much support or cushioning, but is more sturdy than the garment-leather while still being flexible. I think they’ll replace my homemade shoes for most activities–as an upgrade.
The 14thc ankle boots from revival dot us (completely different company, similar name/merchandise = annoying), I’ve had for a year or more, and worn all day for weeks at a time. (While working as a re-enactor at Mission San Luis, before being issued shoes correct for 18thC… when I got the “correct” shoes, I wanted to switch back to my 14thc boots!). I find them quite as comfortable as most of my modern shoes, and better than some, though again, sole-leather soles don’t offer much cushion. I put wool-felt insoles in them, which is lovely until the felt gets too compacted. Probably modern orthopedic or gel insoles would do better for longer, but so far my geekiness rebels. I wore the leather down badly on the heels of these, and I’ve just got them back from the cobbler, who added 2 layers of sole leather to build up a scant 1/2 inch heel. Haven’t worn it yet, but I think it will be more comfortable and last longer.
All the hard-sole things (sole-leather shoes, pattens) needed to be scuffed a bit on gravel or rough paving before walking on smooth floors–they’re dangerously slick when new.
But they promote GORGEOUS spinning on the dance floor, and allow an entirely different style of step execution compared to modern shoes with rigid or rubber soles. It is possible to dance in pattens (and instructive–though they weren’t meant for that purpose, they do induce an interesting posture).
Happy to be a source of Too Much Information,
Eoin
What was the name of that “costumer’s bible” of Medieval tailoring? Also, I have the pattern for braes chauses and hose if you’d like to borrow it. Will you be at Jan’s tonight?
Also, any suggestions on where I can find info. for constructing a 16th century Russian coat. I have a friend who has a 16th century Cassock persona. I would like to gift him with a coat, but I don’t even know what it looks like much less where to find a pattern or instructions for how to make one. Help!