How to Make Ankle Moccasins
Ankle moccasins are traditional Native American footwear that are usually handcrafted from different types of hides. Because of their durability and charming appearance, ankle moccasins make great footwear. Crafting a pair is a great project if you'd like moccasins that are custom-made for your feet. Using supplies from a local fabric store, you can sew a pair in an afternoon. Although yours will be custom-made for your feet, you should use a template, available online, to cut the sides and tongues of the moccasins.
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Things You'll Need
- Template
- 2 Pieces moose hide, larger than your foot
- 2 Large pieces doeskin, large enough to wrap around your foot from toe to heel
- 2 Small pieces doeskin, large enough to cover the top of your foot
- Leather punch
- Needle, size 16
- Linen thread, heavy
- 24-inch Buckskin strap
Instructions
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1
Place your bare foot in the center of a piece of moose hide. Trace around the perimeter of your foot. Detail around the toe isn't necessary. Remove your foot and draw a second line around the perimeter of the tracing that is 2 inches from the tracing. The back of the heel will be the only section that doesn't use a 2-inch buffer.
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2
Cut the shape of the sole out of the moose hide around the second line. Cut the heel off at the first line but leave the 2-inch buffer around the rest of the foot. Lay the sole cutting on top of the second piece of moose hide, upside-down. Trace around it to make the pattern for your opposite foot. Cut the second pattern out.
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3
Cut the ankle flaps out of the two large pieces of doeskin. Use your template as a guide for the shape, and scale it up or down to accommodate the size of your foot. Cut the first ankle flap out and use it as a pattern to cut the second flap. Use a leather punch to punch three sets of two holes around the upper edge of each flap. Punch one set on each side of the flap and in the center. Each pair of holes should be about 1 inch apart and 1/2 inch from the edge.
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4
Cut out the tongues of your moccasins from the two small pieces of doeskin. Use your template as a guide for their shape. Make the tongues larger or smaller according to your liking and foot size. You can also use the first tongue as a pattern for the second tongue.
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5
Thread your needle with heavy linen thread and begin stitching around the perimeter of the first tracing of your foot. Place a stitch every 1/4 inch until you've sewn all the way around the tracing. Pull the thread tight enough to make the moose hide pucker up and form the sole and base of your moccasin.
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6
Insert the bottom edge of the tongue into the sole and sew it to the base of the moccasin just above where your toes will sit. Place a stitch every 1/4 inch, sewing down one side, across the toe, and then up the other side. Pull the thread to size the moccasin to your foot.
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7
Place the moccasin on your foot and make any adjustments by tightening the tongue thread. Wrap the ankle panels around the back of your foot and draw them to a close in the center of your heel. Stitch the heel flaps securely.
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8
Stitch the upper edge of the ankle flaps to the upper portion of the sole. Stitch around the entire edge of the ankle flap until you reach the front.
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9
Lace the buckskin strap through the sets of holes. Start on one side at the heel; lace around the front of your foot, and back around to the opposite side of your heel. Pull the buckskin tight to secure the moccasin to your foot.
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10
Finish constructing the second moccasin by repeating whatever earlier steps are still necessary.
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Tips & Warnings
Moccasin templates are widely available online (see References).
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Hemera Technologies/AbleStock.com/Getty Images
