946 
FOREST AND STREAM 
[Dec. is, 1906. 
Home-Made Moccasins. 
Forest and Stream is read by a great many 
persons who cannot walk into a store every 
time they need a pair of moccasins and get just 
what they want for hunting, fishing or canoeing 
wear. True, they can purchase these comfort¬ 
able things by mail of the manufacturers, but 
not every foot takes kindly to store footwear, 
and nothing is so uncomfortable as an ill- 
fitting moccasin. One may struggle along with 
a shoe that does not fit perfectly, but as a 
moccasin if it is properly shaped fits every curve 
of the foot—it stands to reason that the most 
comfortable moccasin is that which is fitted to 
the foot a number of times while it is being 
made. Therefore, the woodsloafer who will take 
the time to make his own moccasins is likely to 
be the happy possessor of something that will 
give him perfect comfort and fit his foot as 
nicely as his own skin; aye, and outlast any 
other footwear if good oil-tanned leather is 
selected. 
It would be time and space wasted to praise 
the moccasin for wear in hunting squirrels or 
other small game in the woods; for canoeing, 
etc. Every old-timer knows that, and the 
novices soon come to this conclusion. And 
while there is little that is new in the following 
descriptive matter, the novice who follows its 
details can work out a pair of moccasins that 
will give him a correct insight into what a 
moccasin should be. The work is not difficult, 
by any means, and a pair of moccasins may be 
made in a surprisingly short time if one. goes 
about it carefully and methodically. After the 
leather has been purchased it is probable that a 
pair of lasts and a few simple tools may be 
borrowed from some good-natured shoemaker, 
who will also supply wax-ends. These latter 
are necessary, as a harnessmaker’s needle can¬ 
not be so advantageously used as the bristle- 
end threads. 
The first thing necessary is to make the 
pattern. Take some thick paper and prepare 
the bottom pattern (Fig. 1), which is based on 
a No. 7 last, E width. From b to s the distance 
is I2b2in.; from m to nT, 7 ) 4 in.; m to c, and c 1 
to m 1 , 2in.; a to a 1 (straight line), 3 ) 4 in.; z to z\ 
6in. After drawing these outlines, cut the 
pattern carefully, then place it on a smooth sur¬ 
face, set the left foot in the center, and draw 
the outline of that foot, as shown in Fig. 1. In 
doing this, as well as in all fitting, it will be wise 
to wear a heavy woolen stocking, as the leather 
will shrink a trifle after drying, and a little room 
is needed to make up for this. 
Now take another bit of paper and fit it over 
the foot, cutting here and there until it re¬ 
sembles Fig. 2, when it should measure Sin. in 
length and 4m. width. 
The top pattern (Fig. 3) should measure 9)4in. 
from h to h 1 ; 13^ in. from n to n 1 ; I 2 ) 4 in. from 
q to q 1 ; n to q and n 1 to q\ 2in. each; n to h 
and n 1 to h 1 , 2^.in. The width of this pattern at 
b 1 is a trifle over 2%'m., but if a high top is 
desirable, allowance can be made for this. 
The pattern for the right foot is obtained by 
reversing patterns Fig. 1 and 2, while 3 is 
alike for both feet. 
The leather should be oil-tanned grain leather 
nearly a quarter of an inch thick for patterns 1 
and 2, while ordinary thick calf will serve for 
3. Soak the leather in hot water until quite 
soft. Then buy or borrow a pair of lasts, a 
curved awl, pliers, hammer, a bit of wax, and 
six or more six-strand wax-ends. The tools 
should come from the shoemaker, as they are 
better adapted to the purpose than others. A 
sharp-pointed knife and a bit of board to cut on 
will complete the working outfit. When the 
leather is soft and will stretch readily, lay it on 
the board and draw the outlines of Fig. 1, add 
the outline of the.foot in heavy pencil marks, 
then cut to pattern. Now place the foot over 
the leather and bend all the edges round the 
foot, using the shoemaker’s pliers here and there 
to pull the tough leather into shape. Cut the 
toe piece (Fig. 2) and fit its edges neatly to 
those of the bottom piece from x z round the 
toe to xV. Some trimming will be needed 
round the heel, too. 
When the two pieces are fitted to your satis¬ 
faction, trim all of the edges to a thickness of 
about ^sin., then fasten the two pieces to the 
last with a few small tacks. More stretching 
with the pincers, hammering, and trimming of 
edges will leave the leather in shape for the 
awl. 
With a wax-end begin at a and sew toward a 1 
round the heel. When this seam is completed 
it will join the edges c, c 1 to b; then sew the 
vertical seam b c c 1 to m m 1 , and that portion 
of the moccasin will be completed by hammering 
the seams flat and even and drawing that part 
of the moccasin closely to the last. 
A very long wax-end is now needed. Make 
holes at x z and take several turns with the 
thread to strengthen the end stitches on that 
side. Sew toward s t, making the holes further 
apart in the bottom than in the toe-piece, as the 
distance from z round the toe to z 1 is greater 
than from x to x’, and the leather must be 
gathered in to give perfect form round the toe. 
In this manner the leather must be drawn in 
until the marks previously made at s and t lie 
opposite when the seam is finished to that point, 
for otherwise the moccasin will stretch out of 
shape in time. Continue round to x 1 z\ where 
the thread is given, several turns, to hold bottom 
and toe pieces together, as no more stitches are 
taken in the latter. The thread must not be cut, 
however. 
Flie top piece (Fig. 3) is now joined on 
where the toe piece is left out of the seam 
THE FINISHED MOCCASIN. 
(at q z), and the seam continued on toward the 
heel, round the latter at seam m m\ ending at 
q 1 z, whereupon the thread is given several turns 
to secure it, then cut. Now hammer all the 
seams flat and shape the moccasin as far as 
possible while it is’still on the last. 
Ask the shoemaker to set two small eyelets 
at w (Fig. 2), four along the edge n h, and an 
equal number along the edge h 1 n 1 . Starting a 
leather thong through the eyelets at w, lace 
the moccasin tightly over the foot. Some 
pulling and twisting while the moccasin is dry¬ 
ing on the foot will be necessary, and it is 'well 
to wear it about the house until it has assumed 
the shape it will retain when thoroughly dry, 
then take it off, put the last in it, lace it up and 
set it away until all the moisture shall have 
gone out of it slowly, when it should be heavily 
oiled with several applications of good neatsfoot 
oil and put away until ready for use. 
The right moccasin is finished in the same 
manner, the toe seam being started at x z, on the 
inside of the foot. 
If it is possible to obtain heavy moosehide 
for the bottoms, it might be well to use it, but 
rawhide, while tough, has many disadvantages. 
Heavy oil-tanned belt leather has given me 
greater service than anything else, and it seems 
to stand rough wear better than any other 
leather so far tried; but it is difficult to soak 
it sufficiently to render it pliable, and shaping 
and fitting it are by no means easy. On the 
other hand, it seems to be almost indestructible 
and perfectly waterproof. 
Perry D. Frazer. 
Bird Preelection. 
It is remarkable how different are the methods 
employed by members of humane societies of 
Great Britain and America in their efforts to 
stop women from wearing furs and bird plumage 
as personal ornaments. When the Royal Society 
for the Protection of Birds met in London last 
week, it was stated that individuals were appealed 
to by letter and asked not to wear birds or birds’ 
plumage on their hats. The society’s members 
also employ women to attend church services and 
obtain the names and addresses of those wearing 
such ornaments, so that these women can be 
written to in a manner that is not likely to offend 
them. The aid of men was also invoked in the 
society’s efforts to protect song birds. 
In Chicago about the same time the American 
Humane Society held its convention, which was 
attended by a large number or women, many of 
whom wore bird plumages on their hats and the 
furs of small animals around their shoulders. 
One of the speakers aroused their indignation 
when he said, among other things: 
“Nobody but a barbarian would adorn, her hegd 
with the carcass of a bird or the heads of grin¬ 
ning weasels. Such things appeal only to the 
vulgarians. Such a woman is about as attractive 
as if adorned with a string of dried skulls. She 
excites pity, for she is a murderess.” 
Methods of this sort seldom accomplish the 
end sought. If it is desired to enlist the aid 
of a certain class, that aid cannot be secured by 
first calling out the resentment of those in¬ 
terested, and “calling names” acts as a boom¬ 
erang. 
A Thanksgiving in Michigan Woods. 
Saginaw, Mich., Nov. 30.—Yesterday I took 
my Thanksgiving turkey in the woods. I took 
my oldest boy, now seventeen years old, and we 
spent the whole day tramping after ruffed grouse. 
We had a good time; the weather was perfect, 
but we had" had so much rain that the woods 
were full of water and we found very few birds, 
the youngster getting two and I got four. I know 
1 only shot at two more and they were out of 
shot, but ruffed grouse have been very plentiful 
this year. 1 have had some very good shooting. 
I saw three coveys of quail yesterday, the first 
I have seen this year. They are plentiful in’ cer¬ 
tain localities, and in other places w'here once 
very plentiful, they are completely exterminated. 
W. B. Mershon. 
BOOKS ON SHOOTING AND HUNTING. 
Hitting vs. Missing, Hammond.$1.00 
The Art of Shooting, Lancaster. 1.25 
Gunsmith’s Manual . 2.00 
Field, Cover and Trap Shooting, ill., Bo- 
gardus. 2.00 
Experts on Guns and Shooting, Teasdale- 
Buckell. 4 00 
American Duck Shooting, ill., Grinnell'(de 
Luxe). 5.00 
Hunting in Many Lands, ill., Roosevelt 
and Grinnell. 2.50 
American Big Game Hunting, ill., Roose¬ 
velt and Grinnell. 2.50 
Trail and Camp Fire, ill., Grinnell and 
Roosevelt . 2.50 
American Big Game In Its Haunts, ill., 
These books are more fully described in the 
Forest and Stream illustrated book catalogue, 
which will be sent free to any applicant. 
