Lacing Up
The last step.It matters a lot what you choose for laces. If you choose leather, use latigo lacings, at the very smallest 3/16", 1/4" is better. Since that's all I've ever used, that's what I'm going to talk about here.
Button placement
Buttons are sewn on the button block (duh...), starting above the lacing point
on the heel block. The buttons go up the boot, spaced between the lacing blocks, as shown:
the highest thing on the boot is the last button.
The starter hole for the lacings is on the button block, below the first button.
To anchor the lacing, you could knot the end and draw it through the hole,
but in my experience tension on the end of the lace will pull that knot
tighter and tighter and tighter until it starts generating heat and gravity
or, more likely, just pulls through the hole.
Yes, there is a better way. You bet.
Using a 3/8" to 1/2" very sharp wood chisel, punch a hole in one end of the lace, about 1/4" from the end. You can do this with a razor blade, and I have, but a chisel is less likely to slip and cut too close to the end or the edge.
The illustration shows the cut and the "knot" a little larger than they
will actually be. It was just easier to draw big, sorry.
To actually lace up the boots, the only hint I have for that is I like to put a half twist in the lace before wrapping it around the button. Lace from the bottom, naturally, and pull the lace tight after each button.
