RkyMtnMan

40+ years ago I had a transistor radio in a fitted leather case; the corners were sewn in a similar manner. The front overlapped the edge of the side piece. The thread passed through the side piece as you describe: piercing the grain (exterior) side and exiting the edge. It then pierced the front piece in a more conventional way -- pulling the front down tight onto the edge of the side piece. I know this because the stitching wore out and I re-sewed it using the existing holes.

Wow! HUGELY helpful! Thanks! I have some follow-up questions, though, if I may: Can you get enough liquid onto a single pad/cloth to do, say, a 36-38 inch belt in a single swipe? I'm expecting that even if I can, the last bit will be lighter than the first bit. Any tips for getting a uniform appearance over that long an application? These pieces are long strips of approx 4 oz vegtan that have been doubled over through the various hardware components (rings, squares, buckles) so as to produce a strap with top-grain on both sides. I guess that means that *somewhere* I'm going to have an edge in the stain application (like, at the end where it wraps around the buckle) if I do each side separately. Excellent tip. I'm thinking that maybe the solution for me is to stain these pieces prior to assembly -- before I double them over. I'll definitely try that. *thumbs up* Doh! Thanks for your insight and expertise, Kate!

Nope. Just says "Eco-Flo All-in-One". The colors I'm using are Acorn Brown and Prairie Tan.

Very beginning leatherworker here, and this is my very first project to which I've attempted to apply any sort of dye or finish. The folks at the nearby Tandy store sent me home with this "all-in-one" product -- which may or may not have been the wisest selection on my part -- and I'm having some problems with it. I'm applying it straight from the bottle with a wool dauber to a belt-like strip of veg-tanned leather. I'm applying it pretty heavily, and then wiping off excess with rags of old cotton t-shirts. My results are streaky. The dye seems to soak in so quickly that I can't color a large area without seeing the edges. That is, if I dye/coat 12 inches of strap, and then take a few seconds to also coat the edges or the flip side, when I continue where I left off on the first side, a line has been created. I can't seem to keep a sufficiently "wet edge" (to borrow a term from the house painter's trade) so as to get a uniform application of color. Moreover, there aren't really any directions with this stuff. Am I supposed to thin it with water before applying? Apply to wet leather or dry? Spread it evenly and let it dry before buffing? Or apply and wipe off as I've been doing? Is this just the wrong product for me? Should I be using SEPARATE dye and finish? I just want consistent, even, non-streaky color. Help!