Leathercrafting Creations: PYC

[GriffingAve]

This is the first simple minimal bill-fold I just finished and need some help if any of you have a minute.

1) How do you guys keep the back of your stitches so neat? It seems like even if I manage to get the back looking straight it still looks real choppy and junky (see 2nd picture for reference).

2) In my 3rd picture I have my billfold sitting in my lacing pony. How am I supposed to place the piece into the jaws so I can stitch the sides correctly? As you can see I cant just smash the rest of the bill-fold into that area. Do I just have to buy a real deal stitching pony?

Any other help and pointers would be great. Making things is awesome even if I mess them up all the time!

You're gonna need a longer stitching pony if you want to be able to clamp the whole piece. There are folks that sell better ones or you can buy some wood and make it yourself. It's not too hard to make if you can cut the wood to the correct size and stuff.

Andrew

[JAW]

Piping has been something ive been wanting to do but am too scared. Props

[ItsJustNC]

Here's a bag I just finished. Lots of mistakes but better than the previous few (even worse) bags I made:

If you could pull off the D rings even more sleekly, it'd be perfect. Great job on the piping and the structure of the bag.! Looks mint.!

[GriffingAve]

Hm... what would you suggest for the D-Rings? I wanted to put them at the ends of the bag but I don't think that would've worked because of the zipper. Always looking for suggestions on improvements.

Andrew

[public denimy]

I think having the bag strapless would've been better. If you really wanted a strap attachment, I think you should've put a shorter zipper so that the d-rings would fit at the sides. Nonetheless, it's very impressive craftsmanship and it looks very professional. Good work!

[public denimy]

My first attempt at a dog collar.

[Hefty]

Hi everyone – greetings from a long-time lurker, first-time signer-upper/poster...

Love reading about and looking at everyone's efforts, it's really very inspiring. I'm still at the buying/examining/reverse-engineering stage, but one day hope to start on the making.

After having scoured the boards and thoroughly abused the search function, I have a brief question re. stamping/personalisation:

I recently bought a natural, veg-tanned cardholder (you have to start somewhere) from one of the names that pops up on SuFu not infrequently, it's currently tanning on my windowsill (bearing in mind it's 'Summer' here in the UK, so it's taking a several days), and I'll being subsequently lubing it up with some Fiebing's.

However, that's all by the by. What I really want to do is get some initials on it/into it. Sadly, much research and legwork has found no-one round here that can mark leather, so I'm thinking of taking it on myself.

I'm a graphic designer and have access to plentiful stores of un-used/redundant lead type; you can see where I'm going with this...

According to the oracle/google, lead (at least, the alloy that was used in type production) isn't perfect for stamping leather, as its softness leads to distortion after only a few uses. However, I only intend the one use, so...

Do any of the heads here have any experience of using lead type for stamping?

Any additional advice on the subject?

Aah, I have so many more questions, but I'll keep it simple for this introductory post.

Anyway, love reading the posts and salivating over the 'goods, keep it up!

[GriffingAve]

What's your edging process for the dog collar? Looks pretty nice.

Andrew

[spy]

Just finished this bag. Courier without a handle per request, SB Foot leather, wickett+craig straps. Handsewn

Took some of the advice you guys gave me and put it into this bag again. Thanks for all the help!

[GriffingAve]

I think having the bag strapless would've been better. If you really wanted a strap attachment, I think you should've put a shorter zipper so that the d-rings would fit at the sides. Nonetheless, it's very impressive craftsmanship and it looks very professional. Good work!

Yeah, I thought a lot about where to put the strap. I knew I wanted a strap cause this was gonna be a laptop bag and I knew I wanted longer zippers. I guess this is the compromise that I had to come up with. In a previous rev I had both D-Rings on the same side of the bag but it made the bag list one way when on my shoulder so this was the best solution I could think of.

Andrew

[GriffingAve]

Looks nice. What is SB Foot leather? What is the thickness of leather you used for the main panels?

Andrew

[spy]

SB foot is Red Wing leather. The bag itself is 5.5oz, the straps 10oz

[JAW]

Some new shit, horse and calf cardholders, natural one is lined with veg tan pigskin, natural veg tan knife roll.

Messing around with my leather burner thing, did a little doodle on this wallet:

Fun stuff.

[FALERBRAND]

Heres a new one for me, horween/hermann oak

<a href=" title="DSC_0292 by falerbrand, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7222/7218729124_1f2258fd4f.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="DSC_0292"></a>

<a href=" title="DSC_0294 by falerbrand, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7234/7218724986_15f248cd0a.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="DSC_0294"></a>

[FALERBRAND]

new wallet prototype. Horween/ hermann oak

Edited May 18, 2012 by FALERBRAND

[public denimy]

What's your edging process for the dog collar? Looks pretty nice.

Andrew

Hah! Someone at Tandy asked me the same question last week. All I can say is, it varies on the type of leather. However, I could tell you the tools and materials involved.

- edge dye

- saddle soap

- beeswax

- sand paper

- wooden edge burnisher/slicker

- and a soldering iron.

I try to layer a bunch of edge dye and it helps to get a smoother look. It's a really long process.

[lazybum]

Birthday gift for a friend

And a mid wallet fresh off the bench

[ItsJustNC]

Hm... what would you suggest for the D-Rings? I wanted to put them at the ends of the bag but I don't think that would've worked because of the zipper. Always looking for suggestions on improvements. Andrew

Well personally, i would have liked it more at the sides too. But hypotetically, lets just say a customer insists on having it at the handles on opposing sides maybe because he/she prefers the ergonomics that way.

This is what you've got now. The "inverted Mac Ds" looks kind off odd IMO. Which is a pity seeing as the bag in general looks really prim and proper. Very old school classic English style bag to me.

This is what i was thinking. Just slip it in along with the handle and rivet them together as per normal. So whilst you save time and materials, it looks less out of place too.

Was talking about it with my girl. And she still found my idea too... Distracting.? So she was thinking of a more subtle version. Basically having the strap and the D ring placed behind the handle. Yet at the same time, above the piping so its easier to hook on the clasp.

And at the same time, when it isn't being used, you could just flip it downwards and tuck it behind the handle. Which i thought was pretty smart. This is coming from a girl who doesn't fancy D rings. Haha.!

[ItsJustNC]

^^^ Lazybum, can't wait till you get off NS man. Always liked your workmenship. Going in this year myself.

[GriffingAve]

Hm... I actually like your idea in the second picture there. I might try that out for the next bag. I'll have to see though cause with the handle and the D-Ring doubled up like that might make the connection there look too thick. I'll have to play around and see. Thanks!

Andrew

[ItsJustNC]

^ No problem man. You could try skieving the D ring straps down too. That'll help with the less bulky thing.

[JAW]

Dropping some full chromexcel wallet options, some revisions will be on there way soon

[spy]

Standard courier in Horween dublin.

I need to buy some Natural chromexcel for these. It would look fantastic with dark brown straps... yum

[FALERBRAND]

a Medicine bag I made for a friend, one out of a series of similar bags. Moose Hide, african sand cast beads brought from africa by my friend. moose is a great leather to work with, its very soft

Edited May 20, 2012 by FALERBRAND

[lazybum]

^^^ Lazybum, can't wait till you get off NS man. Always liked your workmenship. Going in this year myself.

Thanks. Haha to be honest I think ill have less time after NS as it'll be university for me. Good luck for your NS!

[JAW]

Something out of the ordinary (for me). Tooled horsehide knife sheath for a buddy of mines knife that was made by his grandfather in the 40s. Pretty sweet blade.

[raWorkshop]

Caught up with this piece this weekend.

Edited May 25, 2012 by raWorkshop

[corter]

Redesigned my card case for fall. Natural Shell Cordovan

[spy]

That shell is absolutely gorgeous bro, must be great to work with!

By the way, is your stuff at Ball+Buck yet? I'm just finishing up a bag for them. Our stuff will look killer alongside each other

[corter]

Thanks! yea, I did about 500 pieces in time for their opening a month back, they've got full stock. All that's left are the key loops, the hardware just came in so those will be there in maybe 2 weeks or so. It's their in house brand though, my name's not on it. I just made it.