Making hand stitched Vellies leather shoes for the 1885 Era Black powder hunt

Gert Odendaal

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Good day to all members. I believe al is well and good on your side and your planning for the hunting season in South Africa is going well???:A Banana::A Big Hello:
Members, here is a short tutorial about how I made my own pair of high grade cow leather " Vellies/leather made shoes to use as hunting shoes in the upcoming black powder hunt this year.
It all starts with good vegetable tan leather...
The normal procedures of making vellies includes the use of shoe lasts, this procedure does not includes the use of a last, I am using my own feet`s dimensions, in this I was assisted by my good friend Wallace Vosloo, since we want to do it the exact method that was used by the Boer Voortrekker people, our fore fathers...
We measured my foot dimensions:
Ilr0v2O.jpg

lhAA3aG.jpg


Drawn the pattern of my own feet on a piece of paper that will be my templet later.
21Ubcbi.jpg
64BJVpF.jpg
bSFbO48.jpg

These are the templets made according to what will fit my feet:
JwtLRd3.jpg

Cut out the leather according to my foot size templets:
bUKblN2.jpg

If you are not going to fit a crepe sole you have to cut a furrow into the bottom of the thick leather sole to hide the thread beneath the thick leather sole so it will not be damage when you walk with your vellies..
FMjslqS.jpg

Opening up the furrow for the thread to fit in nicely when you stitch the uppers onto the sole...
FKZVzpM.jpg

From now on I only use two needles, waxed thread and an awl...
b6F1cR3.jpg
Saj4mOp.jpg

Stitching all the part together:
0Kr5Dpx.jpg

srT4nrW.jpg

ixYb2pe.jpg
UsQOJur.jpg
8bCyDFi.jpg
RUvJTaf.jpg
0JYnYOx.jpg

Folding the seams assist in better stitching work..
3IpwRNG.jpg
vmRBE77.jpg
ph4cCNM.jpg

First one completed, another to go:
0lJ47ed.jpg
e8qAJs0.jpg

Two completed all stitching work:
ExkmxuG.jpg

Completed, put on a finishing solution, I am waiting for it to dry so I can add a color to it...
avfMDsU.jpg

Thank you for watching it is much, much appreciated...:A Banana::A Banana:
 

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Last edited by a moderator:
Georg, yours is made much , much better..MC is a genius when making vellies..
 
Hallo Jason, how are things on your side? When are you visiting South Africa again my friend???
 
Hallo Jason, how are things on your side? When are you visiting South Africa again my friend???
Hello Gert, all good here. How are you?

I will be back in SA the first two weeks of October this year.
 
Jason, may I ask. another favor if you visit South Africa, I bought a 8x68S rifle barrel from PAC NOR...it is at a friends house in the USA. If he does not visit South Africa in June, will it be possible to bring the barrel with you??? I will have all the relevant /needed documentation to send to you before you come, I will be on OR Tambo when you and as well...
 
Yeah, that shouldn't be a problem....as long as I have room for it in my gun case!
 
Good day to all members. I believe al is well and good on your side and your planning for the hunting season in South Africa is going well???:A Banana::A Big Hello:
Members, here is a short tutorial about how I made my own pair of high grade cow leather " Vellies/leather made shoes to use as hunting shoes in the upcoming black powder hunt this year.
It all starts with good vegetable tan leather...
The normal procedures of making vellies includes the use of shoe lasts, this procedure does not includes the use of a last, I am using my own feet`s dimensions, in this I was assisted by my good friend Wallace Vosloo, since we want to do it the exact method that was used by the Boer Voortrekker people, our fore fathers...
We measured my foot dimensions:
Ilr0v2O.jpg

lhAA3aG.jpg


Drawn the pattern of my own feet on a piece of paper that will be my templet later.
21Ubcbi.jpg
64BJVpF.jpg
bSFbO48.jpg

These are the templets made according to what will fit my feet:
JwtLRd3.jpg

Cut out the leather according to my foot size templets:
bUKblN2.jpg

If you are not going to fit a crepe sole you have to cut a furrow into the bottom of the thick leather sole to hide the thread beneath the thick leather sole so it will not be damage when you walk with your vellies..
FMjslqS.jpg

Opening up the furrow for the thread to fit in nicely when you stitch the uppers onto the sole...
FKZVzpM.jpg

From now on I only use two needles, waxed thread and an awl...
b6F1cR3.jpg
Saj4mOp.jpg

Stitching all the part together:
0Kr5Dpx.jpg

srT4nrW.jpg

ixYb2pe.jpg
UsQOJur.jpg
8bCyDFi.jpg
RUvJTaf.jpg
0JYnYOx.jpg

Folding the seams assist in better stitching work..
3IpwRNG.jpg
vmRBE77.jpg
ph4cCNM.jpg

First one completed, another to go:
0lJ47ed.jpg
e8qAJs0.jpg

Two completed all stitching work:
ExkmxuG.jpg

Completed, put on a finishing solution, I am waiting for it to dry so I can add a color to it...
avfMDsU.jpg

Thank you for watching it is much, much appreciated...:A Banana::A Banana:

Gert I am always impressed with what you and your friends do to make ready for the 1885 Hunt. Thanks for sharing
 
Thank you CAusten, I am lucky to have friends that are experts in their fields, this whole process was taught to my son Ruan and I by Dr. Wallace Vosloo who is unbelievable knowledgeable ...he is a great mentor who believes in sharing the vast knowledge he has...(y)(y)
 
My wife asked me, if there are shoes for women also.....:K Date:

HWL
 
HWL, I have a number 4 women pattern (South African size) ...what size shoe is Elfriede wearing ?
 
Here are photos of hiking boots I had to stitched on leather sole to replace the old worn soles, the owner of this pair of boots decided to glue on new tyre threads soles..I like this it really looks good...the tyre had some side wall damage, it is brand new tyres , he used it for these soles..:A Banana::A Big Hello:
O9V7y7J.jpg
Z1xMyGU.jpg
Lm9S5zK.jpg
 
Necessity and inventiveness so often go hand in hand.(y)(y)
 
HWL, I have a number 4 women pattern (South African size) ...what size shoe is Elfriede wearing ?

Was a joke,... some women have a very special relationship to shoes....they love it more, we love guns...

:D Beers:

HWL
 
Georg, it still is fine to make her a pair of vellies, I made my wife a pair and she loves it...(y)(y)(y)
 
Georg, it still is fine to make her a pair of vellies, I made my wife a pair and she loves it...(y)(y)(y)

You will embarrass her.... great idea....!!!

:E Celebrate:

HWL
 
Nice work. It is good to see the hand work and using what is at hand.
 

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