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Slipper Project Slipper Project Slipper Project Slipper Project |
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CLASS ONE Alice showed us to decide whether making small, medium or large uppers by choosing the template and then to trace it on the stroud in a smooth half circle for the top. Students used the scissors to cut 2 copies for their slippers and they chose a flower from Alice’s picture album or from their own designs. Susie showed how to centre the picture of the flower on the upper before drawing; She said you fold the upper lengthwise and in the top half to start the middle of the picture and draw out from it. Alice used a regular pen for drawing on the stroud and traced it with the coffee paste. She used instant coffee (2 tablespoons and some water to make a thickish paste for drawing); She did not dip the pen in coffee paste but she used a sharp pencil. There was a big drip on the end but she worked it quickly like a paintbrush to outline the pen marks in coffee paste. (If the paste had a scum on top, she said not to use it but the more liquid part of the paste). When one upper was finished she quickly placed the other one on top and pressed down to copy the coffee outlines. If the second copy doesn’t have a good outline, then use the pencil or skewer to make a clear coffee paste outline. The uppers have to dry separately before storing. There had to be a thumb space all around the edge of the upper rounded side. |
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The paper grocery bags need to be cut the same size as the uppers and vamps in order stiffen the stroud while beading. Mina, Susie and Rita chose more beads at the Loonie Store, JJ Hobbies and Polar Parkas to add to the supplies; Students were encouraged to choose their colors or bring their own supplies from home for next class.
SUPPLIES NEEDED:
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CLASS TWO: More students cut out their uppers, a flower or other design was drawn on the stroud upper by Alice and some tried also, then copied with "coffee" ink. The impression was pressed on the other upper and traced with the “coffee” ink. The ink had to dry before proceeding. Some also chose to make a design on their vamps also. Alice told us we needed to cut out 2 shapes of the upper on grocery bags and to baste it to each of the uppers with thread and regular needle. Next you need two needles. One beading needle (long needle to hold the beads) and one shorter needle to sew over each bead. The beading thread would be doubled and the other needle thread would be single. The best thread is nylon. Some students believe the thread should match the beads, while others felt the thread could be white. |
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CLASSES 3-20 (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday afternoon) Students began beading their uppers by following the lines of the patterns. A knot at the end of the threads was necessary. The beading needle came from the back through the paper and Stroud holding several beads (5 or 6) were on the needle at a time. The small thread also came in from the back through the paper and after the first bead it overlay the thread of the beading needle. Alice said not to have the small needle thread too tight, the beading needle thread was held more taut. For the beads to be close, the fingernail was pushing on the bead and thread of the beading needle. The 2 uppers were matched when you count the number of beads used to follow the lines of the design. After completing one part of the design, go to the other upper and do some of its filling. Beading from the centre of the design is best. Fill the inside first, she advised. Beginners should use round beads instead of the cylinder type beads. A light-colored stroud material shows off dark colors while a dark-colored stroud material shows off light colors. A line can be drawn around the edge of the upper about a half-inch. This line will the used for filling the rest of the beads with a contrasting colour from the beads of your flower or other design. |
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Class 21 Many students were still filling in the uppers with beads and needed to finish their backing. The backing could be a regular canvas material that is sew by machine or by hand onto the back of the uppers.
Alice had each person trace their foot on a piece of paper. Students chose which color of hide they wanted to use for their moccasin. The elk hide was too light colored and stretchy and will be used for jewelry or other objects such as vests to sew. Some students chose the commercial tanned hide, most people chose the moose hide. |
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Class 22-28: Alice brought in a moccasin template, which was for the moccasin of each foot size. Half size smaller than regular size would do… because they will stretch. Students were assisted with cutting out the hide with the template on an area of the hide that was not too thin nor not too thick and not to waste too much hide. The scissors needed to be of excellent quality. Sinew for thread and glover needles (these are square and necessary for working with leather) were now necessary. The sinew was split is 4 strands.
The finished upper was placed good side down on the dark side of the hide(good sides together. Three points needed to be sewn from the upper to the hide: the middle of the upper to the middle of the moccasin arch, the 2 points on the diameter of the semi-circle. (see diagrams below.) Also, a strip of hide was cut to fit around the upper which has a small width. The edge of the upper, the edge of this strip and the edge of the moccasin hide were sew together starting from a diameter point. This requires a thimble and a pair of pliers to pull the glover needle through these 3 strong pieces of material. The sewing stitch was an overlap moving the needle from your body to the opposite side always. After ¼ of the way down the upper, the moccasin must be gathered to fit around the upper. These gathers are easier if the hide is wet for some hides. A cup of tea is useful here (See Lucy Ann’s picture below). |
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Class 29: The vamps and the fur: Most students used a strip of stroud to make their vamps—some people beaded the stroud and then the fur was chosen and cut to the width of the meter stick. Many people chose beaver fur although some chose black dyed rabbit. To cut the fur, use an Exacto blade or an ulu—sharp blades are important. The pressure must be on the hide and not to cut the hair. The hair is sewn on with the vamp and moccasin…first inside out then outside in. Sinew for thread and glover needles were needed again. |
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Class 30-40 Each person worked at their own pace and with their own design ideas. Aboriginal day had some people still not finished but several were done. One moccasin from each finished pair was displayed in the T-pee while Flossie Oakoak and Annie Kendi discussed the information with visitors who stopped by for tea and bannock. |
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Class 22-28: The last day of the project we placed slippers together for a photograph and came up with a new Training Centre Logo with the Native Women’s Assoc NWT flower: |
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  Flossie also donated her slippers to the Aven Manor –to one of the clients: 
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