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Marcusstratus — Monk Shoes
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Published: 2011-04-08 06:42:57 +0000 UTC; Views: 9312; Favourites: 115; Downloads: 0
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Description
I finished these in March so that I could get proper, crisp photos for my final portfolio. For several months they've been sitting around because I just needed to get them sanded down around the sole and cleaned up. I didn't have good files to do that so I waited until I had access to a belt sander and was able to do it that way. After the fact, I think I'll just get a specialized rasp for my future pairs of shoes, because if I'm not carefull the sander can actually burnish the leather, causing it to be harder in spots and not take dye normally. Also, I don't think I'll dye the soles of any of my future pairs of shoes... I think professionals use shoe wax actually, not dye.Since finishing them, I've been wearing them as indoor shoes to keep my feet moderately cozy. I was originally planning on putting some rubber on the bottom to wear them outdoors, but maybe I'll wait until I actually make a pair of indoor slippers for myself before I enlist these for wearing outside.
Aside from all that, they're terribly comfortable and fit better then I could have hoped for, for a practice/learning pair. Of course, all the shoes after this will be better, but I'm quite happy with how these turned out.
See the WIP pictures:
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Made with Chrome tanned upper and vegetable tanned lower. All hand sewn construction. You can see similar techniques here [link]
Shoes with buckles instead of laces are called monk shoes, thus the name. I would be interested in knowing where that term came from if anyone knows.
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Comments: 67
Wonderful critique, even if my head is a couple sizes larger now 
and ohhh do I want to make another pair... along with all the other projects that are always stacking up.
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My pleasure. You did a great job there and I'm happy I could take even a slight part in it.
I've been reading and doing more research about such shoes and the techniques surrounding them since last time. What luck was it that my landlord (and former colleague) had a book from the mid eighties concerning shoemaking in Norway from 1820-180 and until the second world-war. It was really a gem, and I wish I could share it, but it's in norwegian.
Right now I'm in the process of gathering all the materials and tools for making a pair of my own, and one for my Lady. Furthermore I want to hold all the means to make such shoes as a part-timer (even though I know making a living that way is not going to happen, yet) and maybe even teach someone else the craft of doing so. Of course I look to you for inspiration.
Wishing you the best in crafting and in life.
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Aye, the same to you chap!
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Correction-edit! - 1820-1840 -
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These are just awesome, so few artisi make shoes or boots/ foot wear 'It's a very in-depth skill to learn' great job
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Oh yeah, I'd love to make more too, but it's a tremendous investment in time if you're not making them professionally.
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Unfortunately, footwear isn't something I can effectively manufacture for others right now. The way I made these, there's too much work involved. This pair took me approximately a year to make.
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Understandable. Regardless, you did a great job fabricating them.
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Holy shit! These are spectacular! I really need to learn to make shoes at some point. Regarding which, thanks for the book recommendation and other assorted information amidst the comments.
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Indeed! Yeah, I really recommend looking up "shoemaking" on youtube, there's some great videos by Marcell Hun
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Do... Do you do commissions? Because I kind of... Really maybe want these
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not for shoes, they're not as simple as just making a rectangular bag is, unfortunately
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So did you make the soles, or did you obtain them?
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Made every bit of it from unfinished materials. For the soles, I cut them larger before attaching them, and then trimmed them down real neat once I got them on, and with the heel I stacked all that leather as well
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Wooooow, so cool!
So how do you make soles?
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The soles are leather that I cut and sew to the bottom of the insole on the shoe. You can see several WIP deviations of it in my gallery.
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Oh, I see! Thank you. ^^
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I can see many people wearing them, though. Were they meant specifically to be monkish?
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No no, they're called monk shoes because of the buckle, instead of laces. It's just the style of shoe, such as derby, brogue, oxfords, etc.
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Ah! And now I've learned something new.
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These are quite stylish! I'd wear them, although I'd take them in black because it goes with everything...Jeese I wish I had a million dollars so I could buy from you a pair of shoes and a bag and an outfit or two and...and....
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hehe I would certainly enjoy that
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You should try and get on that show...Project Runway. I think you'd do great at it!
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hehe Yeah, working on that now... Yesterday I ran out of things to do and so got started on her boots. Right now I've gotto get the foot forms to match her feet and then I will work on the patterns.
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Oooh I can't wait to see them!
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I got confused at the part when you put the sole xD, where did you learn to make these? xD they're absolutely great
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I got all my information either online (youtube, blogs, etc.) or in a book called Bespoke Shoemaking, by Tim Skyrme (don't know if spelling's correct). Look up "shoemaking" on youtube and you'll find a bunch of videos by Marcell Hun, a fine european shoe maker. You can also look for blogs by the same fellow and another great blog is by CarreDucker, an english shoemaker [link]
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thanks man, that's really useful!!
now I just need some spare time from my seminar and I'll be ready to try it
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heh yeah, well I hope you can get it done faster then I did.
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These are just BEYOND awesome! I love the overall shape and just how...well for lack of a better term- CLEAN they look (even for a first pair!)
And judging by your description, sounds like it was a good first run~ 
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I'm really diggin those. The cap on the toe is too heavy for me, personally, but pretty outstanding
all around.
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Yeah, that's my style, even with a pair of simple shoes like these
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even though I saw these coming together every step of the way it's still hard to believe they're completely hand made - they're so awesome!
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^.^ Thanks!
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holy crap marcus! fantastic stuff my friend. i do plan once i get my skills a little higher to make a pair of zombie stomping "combat boots" what kind of leather did you use for the top? fantastic work, im glad i found your work here on DA, really makes me want to work harder, thanks again for the inspiration.
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haha that's my next goal too! (well, as far as making footwear for myself, I think I'll actually make my wife a pair of boots next) The upper leather is just an oily chrome tanned, 6-8 oz leather. For my next shoes, I think I'm going to use thinner leather and line them with a fine veg leather. Also, it's very important to use leather with a tight grain... which excludes like 80% of the stuff in the US market... You get your leather from Tandy right? try using the "stoned oil" leather they have... and their imported from europe leathers are great, though expensive. I certainly think it's worth it, if you're going to be putting the time and effort into making something, might as well put the effort into using good materials as well.
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hey was thinking about this a bit and its exspensive but what about kangaroo. its supposed to be the toughest leather you can buy at half the thickness and weight. a friend of mine was saying some bikers use it for leather due to its strength. just a thought at $14 a sq ft down here not in my budget at the moment. but the big question is the sole for the boots. ive been looking around and i cant find anything except like inserts or places i pay to re-sole my shoes... did you make your own sole or get one?
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Yeah, kangaroo would be excelent for a fine pair of boots or shoes. I've actually got some from Tandy Leather Factory for $11 sq ft (average hide is 4-6 sq ft), if you have one close by go see if you can get it for that price. They're discontinuing it and it's half the price it used to be. I think I'm going to be making gloves out of mine, but if I were to make boots I would use the kangaroo and then line it with a nice veg tanned lining leather. Oh, and look into horse leather for making the uppers with. That's what those old WWII German leather trench coats were made of. When it's chrome tanned it's super strong and makes for excellent garment leather.
The soles of these shoes were made of the finest leather I've had a chance to work with to date. The leather store in my area stocks tons of shoe making supplies because they deal to all the cobblers in town. Anywho, it's fine quality leather specifically intended for soles (rough cut shapes of feet), very dense and tight grain. There were a couple brands that were american, but the best stuff is Italian. I can also get it sheets where I pay per pound instead of sq ft. (which is the stuff I would make a heel out of) I don't remember any brand names off the top of my head, but I can look into it if you'd like.
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So the soles ARE leather?
Sweet C:
I wish you didn't live so far away...I'd love to be your pupil
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100% leather, save for the thread, hardware, metal shank in the sole (for support) and the thin layers of glue.
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You are the God of dead animal flesh c:
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hahaha! Praise me!
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