Simple project for renfest.

[Forrest]

Howdy All,

I was wondering if anyone may be willing to point me in the right direction for the cheapest route to do my little project. My father and I dont want to drop 80 bucks a piece on boots for renfest as our kilts, pins, plaids etc will already be costing us upwards of $300. I have however found ths website:

http://www.garbmonger.com/Footwear/footwear.html

We dont want to wear the traditional shoes and hose that go with the scottish attire. We both decided we want to wear boots up to a fat frog hair over our mid calves.

Half chaps seem to be a cool way to turn my old busted up black combat boots (they saw 5 years of service) into some decent looking sorta ren era boots that a Scott might wear.

I was thinking of ordering some leather here:

http://www.brettunsvillage.com/

they have a small toolkit for 15 bucks but I am not sure how much of it I would actually need.

I would like them to button or buckle on the outsides. I was wondering if any of you gurus might be able to suggest the spred of tools I should get or maybe a place to get buttons and buckles. Any advice on what type of leather to get? Any ideas/input at all would be appreciated.

I would feel good about the project if I could complete 2 sets (one for me and one for pops) under $80 cheaper of course would be better. This is just for a costume....wont be going to the highland games in these....only going to be worn once a year.

Thanks so much in advance for any advice anyone has to offer.

One last thing...these boots are my inspiration....not trying to steal this guys work....but they are what gave me the desire for boots.

http://mysticsoles.com/gallery.html

Not looking to get anywhere near fancy like this fellow does.....just want to make combat boots like like side button/buckle boots.

[UKRay]

Interesting idea and quite workable with some thought. I believe I would look for some soft thick leather that will mould to legs better than hard, stiff stuff. To save money I'd possibly look for cheap upholstery leather offcuts and glue/stitch two thicknesses together.

Just one point, those things which you are calling half-chaps we tend to call gaiters here in the UK. Much worn with boots for mountain yomping and other manly activities wot I know nothing about... An observation: I have never seen a Scot wearing a kilt and gaiters... in fact, I suspect there is a law against it and if there isn't there probably should be! Can anyone else shed any light on this? Anyway - you might want to have a look for a pattern for gaiters and see how it fits with the one on the boots web page. You could get some good ideas.

"we want to wear boots up to a fat frog hair over our mid calves." - I'm afraid this bit needs some translation...

Ray

Howdy All,

I was wondering if anyone may be willing to point me in the right direction for the cheapest route to do my little project. My father and I dont want to drop 80 bucks a piece on boots for renfest as our kilts, pins, plaids etc will already be costing us upwards of $300. I have however found ths website:

http://www.garbmonger.com/Footwear/footwear.html

We dont want to wear the traditional shoes and hose that go with the scottish attire. We both decided we want to wear boots up to a fat frog hair over our mid calves.

Half chaps seem to be a cool way to turn my old busted up black combat boots (they saw 5 years of service) into some decent looking sorta ren era boots that a Scott might wear.

I was thinking of ordering some leather here:

http://www.brettunsvillage.com/

they have a small toolkit for 15 bucks but I am not sure how much of it I would actually need.

I would like them to button or buckle on the outsides. I was wondering if any of you gurus might be able to suggest the spred of tools I should get or maybe a place to get buttons and buckles. Any advice on what type of leather to get? Any ideas/input at all would be appreciated.

I would feel good about the project if I could complete 2 sets (one for me and one for pops) under $80 cheaper of course would be better. This is just for a costume....wont be going to the highland games in these....only going to be worn once a year.

Thanks so much in advance for any advice anyone has to offer.

One last thing...these boots are my inspiration....not trying to steal this guys work....but they are what gave me the desire for boots.

http://mysticsoles.com/gallery.html

Not looking to get anywhere near fancy like this fellow does.....just want to make combat boots like like side button/buckle boots.

[tonyc1]

Try the gaiters that riders wear and alter them if needed.

Tony.

[gothycdesigns]

I work for a Shoe manufacturing company. Eventhough you would be making these yourselves, I would still recommend getting "Lasts". Lasts are basically plastic resin feet that ALL footwear manufacturers use to construct

our footwear. Its what allows the leathers when Lasted correctly to form to the shape of the foot, including the size and width. So eventhough you are wanting to keep costs down. Lasts are not cheap either.

You may get lucky and find some wooden Lasts, but mainly todays footwear use the plastic resin Last. Another thing to consider is the arch support. You're still gonna have to do something there such as a steel shank. You can also use heavy leather, dried and shaped, but even those will break down. Steel is the best choice.

Where I work, www.wescoboots.com, our boots take 155 plus steps for completion and only 33 employee in the factory.

Sorry, lol, I see posts about footwear an dI have to chime in. Good Luck !! Post pics when you get sone.

[tashabear]

I work for a Shoe manufacturing company. Eventhough you would be making these yourselves, I would still recommend getting "Lasts". Lasts are basically plastic resin feet that ALL footwear manufacturers use to construct

our footwear. Its what allows the leathers when Lasted correctly to form to the shape of the foot, including the size and width. So eventhough you are wanting to keep costs down. Lasts are not cheap either.

You may get lucky and find some wooden Lasts, but mainly todays footwear use the plastic resin Last. Another thing to consider is the arch support. You're still gonna have to do something there such as a steel shank. You can also use heavy leather, dried and shaped, but even those will break down. Steel is the best choice.

Where I work, www.wescoboots.com, our boots take 155 plus steps for completion and only 33 employee in the factory.

Sorry, lol, I see posts about footwear an dI have to chime in. Good Luck !! Post pics when you get sone.

Why in the world would he need a last when he's essentially making spats?

Besides, 98% of modern lasts won't work if you want to make historically accurate medieval shoes, as they're shaped for a heel lift and medieval shoes (pre-Tudor, anyway) didn't have heels as we know them. Nor did they have steel shanks or arch support, and you don't need them, if you can get real wool felt -- heck, you can make it easily enough, and 1/2" of wool felt makes a lovely cushy insole that conforms to your foot.

I bow to your superior knowledge of modern shoe manufacture, but medieval shoe-making is my latest research obsession, and a big part of my Reasonable Competence Project: two full sets of 10th century Viking clothing as worn in the Danelaw. One male, one female, skin-out, completely handmade down to spinning the yarn for trim and embroidery, including footwear, accessories, and outerwear. I call it the Reasonable Competence Project because for the most part, any reasonably competent Viking housewife would be able to make everything I'm making.

A great reference book on the subject is called "Stepping Through Time: Archaeological Footwear from Prehistoric Times until 1800" by Olaf Goubitz. It's a bit spendy, but it's practically the bible for making medieval shoes.

Edited August 20, 2009 by tashabear

[UKRay]

Why in the world would he need a last when he's essentially making spats?

Yay! Go Tashabear go!!!! LMAO

But next time don't sugar coat it...

Ray

[tashabear]

Yay! Go Tashabear go!!!! LMAO

But next time don't sugar coat it...

Ray

Hi, I'm Tasha, and I am a Blunt Object. Hopefully a somewhat polite one, but still... Blunt Object. :-D

[gothycdesigns]

Sorry, I guessed I missed the part that they were going to be spats. He mentioned shoes and thus I responded. I'll admit I don't know anything of past historical footwear, but no need to get high and mighty on it. I'll look into the book you suggested. I'm always willing to learn new material.

[tashabear]

Sorry, I guessed I missed the part that they were going to be spats. He mentioned shoes and thus I responded. I'll admit I don't know anything of past historical footwear, but no need to get high and mighty on it. I'll look into the book you suggested. I'm always willing to learn new material.

I wasn't. If you thought that was high and mighty, you clearly misread me.

[Luke Hatley]

now now ya"ll ne nice..........

[UKRay]

now now ya"ll ne nice..........

You tell 'em cousin Luke! That 'ole Tashabear is one scary lady and I'm certainly not goin' to upset her! LOL

Ray

[Suze]

kilts look silly with boots - my opinion

I am in the Society for Creative Anacronism (www.sca.org) and see a LOT of kilts

the guys wearing them with boots just look like they forgot half their kit.j

but if you are just going to make spats you could get (burn me now gang) naugahide from the sewing store and fuss with a pattern till you get it the way you want and then go get leather and make them up.

[UKRay]

kilts look silly with boots - my opinion the guys wearing them with boots just look like they forgot half their kit.j

You are not as scary as Tashabear, but you have some frightening ideas, Suze... <grin!> So what should they be wearing?

Ray

[Suze]

Fianally got back on - with a different OS - something is going on in Internet Explorer on my machine.....grrrrr

Anyway - Ray a kilt NEEDS to have the nice kilt hose and the low shoes

How else is a girl supposed to "appreciate" a well turned leg if they cover it up with a boot?

besides if you are going to go in a costume you might as well go all the way and do it right. Otherwise you sort of look like that guy in the Star Wars Stormtrouper outfit wearing sneakers. The rest of the kit may be dead on right - but there are those sneakers with the "swoosh" on the side......

[tashabear]

Fianally got back on - with a different OS - something is going on in Internet Explorer on my machine.....grrrrr

Anyway - Ray a kilt NEEDS to have the nice kilt hose and the low shoes

How else is a girl supposed to "appreciate" a well turned leg if they cover it up with a boot?

besides if you are going to go in a costume you might as well go all the way and do it right. Otherwise you sort of look like that guy in the Star Wars Stormtrouper outfit wearing sneakers. The rest of the kit may be dead on right - but there are those sneakers with the "swoosh" on the side......

So is this where I point out that that whole great kilt thing is post-period for both Ren Faires and the SCA anyway, or is that too blunt for this crowd?

[UKRay]

See what I mean? That Tashabear is definitely scary!

Suze: All this talk of well turned legs is making me think of Chippendale... LOL

[Suze]

Tashabear - I guess the guys think that they are being "different" and soooo right by putting on a kilt- who are we to rain on their parade?

mmmmmm - manly men in kilts are almost as good as manly men in tights......(I don't know WHY guys refuse to wear tights when they go to the pool in a speddo)

although the 400 pound guy at Pennsic wearing a loincloth was a bit much. (No tan either - I hope he got the sunburn of his life. some people SHOULD wear more clothes)

Ray - ;-P~~~~~

[tashabear]

See what I mean? That Tashabear is definitely scary!

Aw... you know I'm all cuddly-wuddly. I guess it's just that I've been researching Viking York lately and all the talk of conquest and Danegeld has me thirsty.