Miss_Nish

I'm working on my new regalia.... everything from hairties to my mocs.

Problem is.. I've never made mocs that had lazy stitch. Can anyone offer any tips for me?? I juss can't figure out how they sew it all together..

I wanna make the mocs like the pic.. that i attached.

Please help.. :(

Attached Images

fmocstn.jpg (11.8 KB, 161 views)

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Czechy

Yep, those are purdee mocs you got pictured there.
They are Plains two-piece style which means that the upper part gets sewn to a separate (and usually stiffer, latigo or rawhide) sole piece. Mocs are always custom made but you can find the basic pattern in many places. Um, as for where, lets see... let me think...

The video by Full Circle that is called How to Make Moccasins-Plains style. Its very good and easy to follow. However, it won't help much with doing the beadwork part. Full Circle offers other videos for that, even one devoted just to lazy stitch.

A commercial Plains moc pattern from Missouri River or Eagle View.

Book: The (Men's) Northern Traditional Dancer by C. Scott Evans

Skinny little book: with a title like Native American Footwear by an author named White.

Dang, maybe your local library will produce some other sources for ya....

As for the beadwork, its waaaaay easier to do it before sewing the soles and uppers together. In most cases when beading mocs in lazy stitch, you do the outter-most lane around the upper first. You can do 1 to 5 perimeter lanes but the more you do, the harder it is. Your picture shows 4 lanes of beading around the perimeter of the uppers. Then the tops of the toes are beaded and then the sides at the ankles. Leave a little space at the heel so you can sew that seam and trim off any extra leather.

After the beading is done, the mocs are sewn together inside out. Sewing starts at the toe and goes down one side to the heel and then from the toe down the other side. A narrow strip of leather called a welt is often sewn into the seam between the sole and the upper so that the stitches are better protected. Tie your two threads together at the heel and then turn the moc right side out. Sew up the heel seam, bead that, add tongues and laces and you are done.

You didn't say how much experience you already have with lazy stitch. Even so, you might want to practice a bit before tackling such a large project. Have fun!

eap7

Czechy,
Thanks for the info. You seem to know exactly what you're talking about.
I've been thinking about making moccs too. I have talked with some people, and a few have recommended canvas or even umm vinyl (?) to bead on as a easier material than leather. (I've never beaded moccs before). Do you have any suggestions?

Czechy

Mocs out of vinyl? That's a new one to me. Sounds like they'd be hot as vinyl does not "breathe". I haven't tried the canvas either but I've heard it works alright if you bind all the edges so they don't fray. I've always used leather, because when I make mocs, I want them to last through at least 20 years of dancing.

If you are new to making mocs, definitely get the video I mentioned above. Many craft suppliers carry it- Crazy Crow, Written Heritage, Noc Bay, etc.

You might want to make your first pair of mocs plain or with only a small amount of beadwork so you get a feel for how its done without investing too much time into it at the beginning.

nativewife

Thanks to Miss_nish for posting the question and thanks to Czechy for all of the answers.... I am going to try to tackle 2 pairs of mocs this year for my daughters. I've never made them b4. I don't think i'll try to fully bead my first ones, but i do want to put some beadwork on them.

thanks again.... this info will definately help!!

:Angel2

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Miss_Nish

Oh gosh....

Well.. I'm glad I wasn't the only one... My mom or sister usually make my mocs for me. This time... I'm on my own! :Chatter

Tanx for ur help folks!!

I'll be wearing purdee mocs like those up there.... real soon. (hopefully)

:Angel:

Miss_Nish

Hmmm... whoa... that would be hot!! I think I'll stick with canvas n hide.

ooh yeah.. was wondering... So.. all I have to do is cut the pattern.. sew the beads... turn it inside out... sew it all together... trim there.. here.. and I'm done?... Hmm.. sounds sooo easy. I juss hope I don't make the beads all come off when I turn it "right side out" again.

Again.. much tanx for the info!!

eap7

Yeah, I thought the vinyl thing sounded a little weird, but whatever works for you! lol

Okay another question about canvas- when you lazy stitch leather, you don't put the thread all the way through, so the threads never touch your foot. I am wondering if I beaded canvas, would the threads rub up against my foot when I'm dancing and break easier? Has anyone had experience with canvas-topped moccs?

I'll also look into that video too. Sounds good. Thanks for all your replies. :D

Czechy

The mocs I've seen that had stitches going all the way through were lined with calico to protect the stitching. And just like beading on leather, all the knots are made on the top side, nestled under and between bead stitches. You don't want any knots on the inside or your tootsies will feel every one.

One hard part about making mocs is getting the pattern to fit properly. Most beginners make them too wide across the instep. Experiment with a paper or fabric mock-up before cutting into leather. As for the beadwork, the hard part is beading the curve at the toe, if you are doing lazy stitch. It gets tight and that's why you see very simple designs there or nothing at all. The more perimeter rows you have, the harder it gets to bead that toe curve.

By the way, the mocs pictured above look like they were done in 13/o beads.

Wow! :p