LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Moccasins
built 633 days ago
Moccasins are shoes typically made of soft leather or suede. Moccasins have a sole characterized by being soft and flexible and an upper that may be adorned with embroidery, beading, ties, or other ornament as decoration.
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Moccasins were usually made from the soft tanned hides of deer, moose, elk or buffalo. Rawhide was used for the hard-soled moccasins. Hides from the larger animals were much thicker than buckskin. Thicker hides were more difficult to sew, but produced sturdier, longer lasting moccasins. Sewing is easier with soft Indian-tanned (or brain-tanned) leather, but commercially sueded and split leather is ... suitable for moccasin making. Commercial leather is most like brain tanned leather when it is split (sueded on both sides), as the smooth outside of the hide has been split off.
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Moccasins allow the wearer to feel the ground while offering protection. The Plains Indians had hard-sole moccasins because the ground they walked upon was rocky and there were occasional cactuses. The eastern tribes had soft-sole moccasins. These were perfect for walking on the leaf-covered ground in a forest. Moccasins are fairly light, allowing the wearer to be virtually soundless when walking.
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Moccasins were worn by Native American Indian men, women and children in tribes throughout North America to protect and adorn their feet. There were many styles and variations of moccasins by tribe and period. They could be soft sole, hard sole, one or two piece, side seam or center seam, pucker toe, high topped, with a tube legging attached, etc. Tribal variations included the cut, style, materials and decorative additions. Indian moccasins were fashioned from tanned buffalo, elk, moose, caribou or deer hides. Adornment included partial or full beadwork, porcupine quillwork, painting, silk embroidery or silver discs and was typically reserved for special occasions.
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Moccasins were assembled inside out to hide the stitching in the finished shoe. Stitching would be done traditionally with sinew through holes punched with an bone awl. For comfort, knots were kept on the outside of a shoe. The whip stitch was commonly used in moccasins, often with an added narrow welt running the length of the seam to make the moccasin stronger and to help hide the stitching when turned right side out. The running stitch was ... used in places where the whip stitch was not as practical, as with added fringe. Seams were often gently pounded flat in puckered areas.
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A very nice pair of Lakota beaded moccasins from South Dakota. Colors are typical sky blue and white background with dark blue, yellow, red, and salmon tipi design. Complimenting the tipi design are black, orange, and green chevrons. Appliqué stitching is found on the tops with lazy stitching on the sides. Hard soles are found on the bottom of the moccasins, showing wear with no holes. The moccasins appear to be sinew sewn.
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Moccasins