HOW TO MAKE A MOCCASIN. 



BY TAPPAN ADNEY. 



There is nothing better for wearing about 

 the house, or when in camp or in a canoe, 

 than an Indian moccasin. There are various 

 kinds of moccasins, however, some of which 

 especially those so handsomely ornamented 

 with beadwork, that I think rather unsuita- 



ble for rough wear; while those made of soft 

 buckskin and moosehide are suitable only for 

 winter wear in countries where the snow is 

 dry, or in places where they do not get wet, 

 as they soak up water like blotting paper. 

 The Indians of New Brunswick and Maine 

 make a moccasin for their own use which is 

 very serviceable and may be easily made by 

 anyone who can use a needle and thread and 

 an awl. The material is a stout, but not hard 



and stiff ordinary heavy calf skin or cowhide. 

 The Indians sometimes make a very good pair 

 out of the tops of a pair of old boots. A 

 coarse sewing or shoemaker's needle, some 

 waxed shoemaker's thread, and a slender awl 

 are needed. 



The Indian does not use such a thing as 



a "last," but cuts out the leather and judges 

 its shape by the eye. The squaw — for it is the 

 women usually who make the moccasins — 

 takes the leather and places it in a pan of 

 water to soak. The leather must be large 

 enough to cut out two pieces shaped as in 

 Fig. i, for each moccasin. The larger piece 

 must be as long as the foot to be covered, and 

 there should be at least two inches to spare 

 besides. She takes a string and measures 

 around the ball of the foot. The smaller 

 piece will be exactly the same shape as the 

 other, one half as long, and somewhat less 

 than a third of the distance around the foot; 

 the two pieces edge to edge must be exactly 

 the distance. In order not to spoil a good 

 piece of leather, it might be well the first 

 time to make a paper pattern to cut the 

 leather by. The large and the small piece are 



then placed edge to edge and sewn together 

 as shown in Fig. i. 



The holes are made with the awl. About 

 three stitches, as indicated, will bring one 

 to the curves and it is here that a little judg- 

 ment is required. The distance along the 

 curve of the solepiece being at least twice as 

 long as that of the other, it must be 

 "crimped," about every quarter of an inch. 

 This is done by taking each stitch in the sole 

 about twice the length of the corresponding 

 stitch in the top piece, or "tongue," as shown 

 in Fig. 2. If the crimps have been taken right 

 the two sides will have the same number of 

 crimps in them, and the final fastening will 

 be exactly opposite the place of beginning. 

 When the moccasin has been completed to 

 this point it is placed upon a flat stone or 

 board, and the sewing carefully pounded flat. 

 The future wearer then puts his foot into it, 

 the back part is brought around behind the 



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