Cuaran/Bog Shoes

[CamelCody]

I've been wanting to make some Cuaran/Bog Shoes for a while now and recently got a hold of some leather and gave it a shot.
This will hopefully serve as a show and tell and a small tutorial for those out there wondering how to make these.

Step 1: Cut out the pattern



I measured the distance from my heel on the floor to about how high I wanted to the cuarans to go on my ankle (about 2 and a half inches). That would make the bottom flat line of the pattern 5 inches long total. Then follow this distance the whole way around the edge of your foot, giving maybe a half inch more around the toes.

Step 2: Sew the back seam



For this I used a carpeter's/glover's needle and some artificial sinew. You're just pulling the flat ends together and sewing them where they meet at the back of your heel.

Step 3: Punch holes for the drawstring/laces



I used a basic leather punch for these, and did them about an inch and a half apart. Where the cuarans need to be folded up around the toe I put the holes about 3/4 of an inch apart to make more wrinkles.

Step 4: Lacing



I started at the toe and worked the laces in and out of the holes until I got to the heel, making sure the laces were even on both sides.

Step 5: Tighten laces and wear!



This is a little easier to do when you have your foot in the cuaran. Just start cinching the leather up towards the toe so that it bunches up. pull the laces tight as you go and it should start to wrap around your foot.



The laces I used were just leather cord that I got from Hobby Lobby, 4 yards total making the lacing on each foot 2 yards. The tools I used for this whole project were:
buckskin hide
leather cord
glover's needle
leather punch
artificial sinew
good pair of scissors for cutting out pattern

I chose to sole mine on the bottom with the rubber sole of an old pair of sandals so I could actually use them for walking the hills and glens of central Arizona. For a more historical look you could go with a sole of thick rawhide and glue it to the bottom with Shoe Goo.
All in all this project took me about an hour and a half, listening to The Wicked Tinkers made it all the more enjoyable. Now all I need is a Belted Plaid to go with them, which I can nae afford right now but i'm open to donations!
I hope this helps someone, and if anyone has a bonnet tutorial in exchange please post.

[Nile]

Pretty cool, Colin. Thank you for sharing.

Nile

[kiltedrennie]

Nice!

I made a pair from recycled jacket leather for a renaissance faire outfit. I didn't have sole leather, so I stuck the bottom of some cheap flip-flop sandals inside after trimming/rounding the edges.

Unfortunately, I had to give them up. I wear orthotic inserts, and there just wasn't enough support for my feet.

As for a bonnet tutorial... do you knit?

[Liam]

Well done!

[CamelCody]

As for a bonnet tutorial... do you knit?

I have knitted in the past but it's been a few years. Hopefully it wouldn't take too much to pick it up again. I'd like to make a woad/indigo dyed style bonnet, but i'm up for anything.
Thanks for the comments.

[kiltedrennie]

I have knitted in the past but it's been a few years. Hopefully it wouldn't take too much to pick it up again. I'd like to make a woad/indigo dyed style bonnet, but i'm up for anything.
Thanks for the comments.

There's a few XMARKS members who have used the Classic Highlander's Balmoral Bonnet by Anne Carroll Gilmour. You can find it here: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/libr...almoral-bonnet. If you are game to try we'll help you with any questions you might have. Anne is really helpful as well.

Here's my latest. I still need to put the head band, tails, and cockade on it.



And my prior one that's finished: