I agreed to trade a pair of shoes for a couple of hats, and was thrilled to get the better end of the deal (the joke being that a good deal is defined by each party thinking that they got the better trade =). The order was for a pair of shoes similar to those in Lesson 8: Late 16th / Early 17th C. Heels (Timber), except that they were to be done on crooked (left and right) lasts, and with a very particular color of orange.
Oh yes, I almost forgot – the finished products! Do forgive the poor quality of the picture, but it gives a good representation of what the shoes look like.
Although the extant heels were the inspiration for this piece, there were a couple of departures that I took. I look forward to your comments, and hope that you enjoy!
I just posted a new tutorial on Shoemaker’s Wax (Coad). Matt and I had gotten together to make some shoemaker’s wax, and I thought it might be interesting and informative to document the process.
Shoemaker’s wax is used to coat the stitching cords used in the construction process, and acts kind of like a glue. As the coated cords are pulled past each other, friction warms and melts the wax slightly. Then, when the stitch is pulled tight, the wax cools and hardens somewhat, locking the stitch in place.
A pair of shoes for Edmund, very similar to Lesson 7: Mid 16th C. Shoes (Stacked Leather). I also pegged these shoes, although upon further reading, I do believe that rectangular pegs only started coming around in the late 17th. Perhaps the next time, I’ll experiment with a different type of peg. From what I have read on the Crispin Colloquy, they were typically oblong or oval shaped, probably from whittling away thin strips of wood.
Also note that in these shoes, I’ve made the lining much fuller so it can be partially pulled through the slits in the upper. I’ll be curious to know how well it stays!
Dedicated to the Research and Construction of Chopines, Pantoufles, Zoccoli, Shoes, Boots,and Other Raised and High Heels.
