Glossary and Details
Last: Foot shaped wooden form on which shoes are
stretched and sewn.
Turn- Shoe: Shoe manufactured by stitching leather inside
out in the early stages of construction.
Pattens: Wooden hinged sandals worn over shoes.
Their purpose is to protect your shoes (and not incidentally your feet) from mud
and abrasive surfaces.
Tunnel stitch: A stitch that does not completely
penetrate the leather. Generally used for sewing on reinforcing cords and
heel stiffener.
Reinforcing cord: A piece of linen cord that is tunnel
stitched to leather to add strength. Often used across seams to strengthen
them and prevent gapping. Also used around large, high stress openings to
prevent the leather from stretching.
Heel stiffener: A piece of leather tunnel stitched over
the heel to prevent undue stretching of the leather at this spot.
