Advice On Measuring Uppers For Sheep Hunter Boots

[sepulverture]

Hey everyone,

First of all I'd like to introduce myself; My name is Nick/Nicholas, I am a U.S. expat currently living in the far east. I have been making leather bags for the last year and have begun to learn shoe making.

I have made a few pairs of moccasins that were hand-stitched with no last for a decent commission, and a few pairs of sheepskin slippers for family, but now I want to get into making more rugged work-boots for myself, and see how I like the art.

I have had a set of lasts custom made to my size and the style I want, but now comes the hard work.

I have used these lasts to help re-shape some old boots, but I have yet to use them to make a pair of boots from scratch.

I have read about a hundred tutorials on how to last the boot once the template is made, and pieces are cut out and pre-stitched together, but none of the tutorials I saw made mention of how to actually plan the cut-outs, and pre-stitch the uppers with reasonable accuracy, so that's why I am here.

(See here for the style of boot I'm going to be trying to make: http://www.russellmoccasin.com/images/sheephunters_repair.jpg )

I am hoping that one of the talented boot/shoemakers on these boards would be kind enough to give me a brief run down on how to measure patterns and whatnot before blade touches tanned flesh.

Thanks a lot, I hope to hear back from you all, and I'm glad to be a member of this community.

Regards,

Nick

Edited August 27, 2010 by sepulverture

[Leatherimages]

Wow Friend,

You've chosen a very ambitious style to start with. I won't be discouraging, but there's more to this than meets the eye.

Frank Jones of Noble Footwear has a pattern cutting book that I'd use if I were to attempt this design.

http://www.noblefootwear.com/Books%20For%20Sale/book1.htm

Good Luck.

[sepulverture]

Wow Friend,

You've chosen a very ambitious style to start with. I won't be discouraging, but there's more to this than meets the eye.

Frank Jones of Noble Footwear has a pattern cutting book that I'd use if I were to attempt this design.

http://www.noblefoot...0Sale/book1.htm

Good Luck.

Thanks a lot for the advice. Unfortunately I can't open that website, for some inexplicable reason it's blocked where I am.

I figured these boots would be a fairly ambitious undertaking, but I am confident that with patience and calm I can achieve some good results with them. They won't be perfect, but they will be mine and they will be a stepping stone, so that's alright.

[alb]

try e-mailing them directly:

books@noblefootwear.com

[sepulverture]

try e-mailing them directly:

books@noblefootwear.com

Thanks Alb!