viking 'yorvik' boots

[calanneh]

Hey folks!

These are un-dyed as of yet. I plan to dye them black and I figured I would take a few pics now as some of the detail will be lost in the black when photos are taken later.

These are a single piece 'turn shoe' style. I layed out a basic pattern I found on the net, made a big paper and masking tape version, then slit it where you see the seams and then traced it onto the 4-5oz veg tan leather. The toe and side were sewn by hand while inside out, then turned right side out, hence the name, turn-shoe. Then stitched the middle seam up the vamp and then the heel.

I was going for a boot that would go part way up the thigh, but had a few 'enginerring issues'. I cut them down to ankle boots and I am really pleased with the way they came out.

I am already making a second pair out of distressed upholstrey hide with the skin side out. I have a belt pouch I made last year and it has aged wonderfully. The distressed leather looks very very nice after a little use. I will post a pic of them when they are ready.

Enjoy the pic and let me know what yall think please!!!

cal

[TomSwede]

Viking shoes oh yeah!

They look very cool

What did you use for a sole, rawwhide? I think (I think) that is quite common amongst ren-fair people here.

Tom

[calanneh]

Thanks Tom!! I have ancestors I have traced back to Ireland, Finland, Norway and Greenland so the 'wild Northman" blood is in my veins...heheh

I dont have a sole on the outside as of yet. I have worn them as they are (with padded insoles inside) and they are quite comfortable, but a little slippery.

I will most likey take another piece of vegtan and glue it to the outside with the flesh side down. I did this with a pair of moccasins I made and it worked well.

cal

Edited September 4, 2008 by calanneh

[Daggrim]

Very nice boots. I've been making turnshoes, too, including the Jorvic boot. The heel looks well done...for me a very difficult area to perfect. I'll post a few pics later. I'd like to see a shot of your heel and sole sometime, if you don't mind. I'm still trying to perfect my techniques. You glued an outsole on a pair? Shoe Goo? I've heard Barge recommended, but I just haven't been able to believe it'd bond tough enough. I've sold a few Hedeby (?) style turnshoes at RenFaires recently, and plan to grow into this market. Not with the Viking boots, though...way harder to make. The two piece uppers don't demand the near perfection as the one part uppers. Thanks for the post.

Daggrim

[calanneh]

Thanks Dag!!

You're right, the heels can be a pain. Especially when you are using a stiff leather like vegtan. I rub them down a few times wiht Lexoll to help soften and lossen them up a little. It helps.

Below are a few heel shots. I simpley folded the back side pieces over each other, stitched them, then folded the heel 'triangle' up as high as it would reach, stitched the top tip of it to the back to hold it all in place and then stitched up and down the triangle sides.

I included an inside shot for that it's worth.

One thing i had to engineer on the fly was the sides. The outside seams stuck out a bit far, so I wet-formed the sides to draw them in a good bit. On the side view below, the stitchign stops were my thumb is. The crease after that is all wetforming to get teh shape of the shoe right.

I have not added the outer soles yet. I plan to use the normal 'contact cement' that Tandy sells. I have some rolled toggles made of the same vegtan I will put on after the boots are dyed black. The toggles will stay tan for a bit of contrast.

Thanks for all your great comments and questions!!!! Ask away as it makes me thing of ways to tweak the next pair!!

cal

Edited September 4, 2008 by calanneh

[Michael Sheldon]

I dont have a sole on the outside as of yet. I have worn them as they are (with padded insoles inside) and they are quite comfortable, but a little slippery.

If you wear shoes like this frequently enough, you'll probably find yourself walking differently, flat-footed or even toe-heel instead of heel-toe, because of the lack of a hard heel. Two things come from that. #1, your heels will thank you. #2, you will find that you slide less.

[calanneh]

If you wear shoes like this frequently enough, you'll probably find yourself walking differently, flat-footed or even toe-heel instead of heel-toe, because of the lack of a hard heel. Two things come from that. #1, your heels will thank you. #2, you will find that you slide less.

Well, I have two dr scolls insoles in each when I wear them to help pad the bottom, but I do not plan to put a true heel on them.....I want to keep them as authentic as possible.

cal

[tashabear]

Well, I have two dr scolls insoles in each when I wear them to help pad the bottom, but I do not plan to put a true heel on them.....I want to keep them as authentic as possible.

cal

Then skip the Dr. Scholl's and make yourself insoles with wool felt*. I have them in my Jorvik boots and they're SO comfortable.

*NOT the crap felt from craft stores -- get some wool roving from a spinner and make a thick sheet of felt, then cut it to shape.

[calanneh]

Then skip the Dr. Scholl's and make yourself insoles with wool felt*. I have them in my Jorvik boots and they're SO comfortable.

I would love too, but as I am in Texas and it is way to frigging hot here....and I am a bit..portly....I need the comfort without the sweaty feet.... hehehe

[tashabear]

I would love too, but as I am in Texas and it is way to frigging hot here....and I am a bit..portly....I need the comfort without the sweaty feet.... hehehe

It breathes -- trust me -- try it.

[Michael Sheldon]

It breathes -- trust me -- try it.

Agreed. One thing I've definitely learned over the years of doing reenactment, natural fibers are far superior to anything synthetic, because they breath. Whereas, modern insoles don't breath at all.

[calanneh]

*NOT the crap felt from craft stores -- get some wool roving from a spinner and make a thick sheet of felt, then cut it to shape.

Well you've convinced me to give it a shot. But first, what is wool roving and what is a spinner? I am totally lost.

Do you have an lol source you can pass on?

cal

[tashabear]

Well you've convinced me to give it a shot. But first, what is wool roving and what is a spinner? I am totally lost.

Do you have an lol source you can pass on?

cal

A spinner is someone who spins. Say, for example, me. I'd be happy to help you out if I lived in the same time zone.

Wool roving is what spinners use to make yarn; it looks more or less like this:

You can buy it online, but since you don't care about color, you might have some luck with contacting Lynn's Texas Fiber and asking if she has any cheap fiber or dye experiments gone bad that she can sell you. Explain what you want to make, and she might be able to hook you up.

As for how to go about making them, there are instructions here: http://www.woolcrafting.com/wool-felt-insoles.html What they don't tell you is that you don't have to wear socks in the shoes after you've put in the insoles. I mean, you can if you want, but you won't need to. Eventually they will conform to your foot and be incredibly comfortable.

Edited September 6, 2008 by tashabear