Monthly Archives: April 2009

I am all about the DIY.  After making a pair of sandals for Winter Count this year (I arrived with only work boots) I got re-interested in making shoes.  I have made many moccasins for woods walking, especially when I was into mountain man and F & I re-enactment and decided to make some new ghillies.  I like these because there is almost no sewing and I think they are cool.  Much of Europe wore a variation of this theme for millenia.  I then took it as a veritable sign when I saw this on the Instructables web page: http://www.instructables.com/id/Viking_shoes/.  Even though these are listed as Viking style, I think they are commonly associated with their Celtic cousins in Scotland, Wales, and Ireland.  I made a set of these years ago with little instruction and they were great.  These are a little more thought out and I will likely make a better pair based on what I learned here.  Click photos for larger picture.

pattern and finished

pattern and finished

rear view

rear view

sewn heel

sewn heel

lacing the toe

lacing the toe

after wetting and shaping

after wetting and shaping

drying before oiling

drying before oiling