jellyroll

Thanks for the explanation and the examples. I like the work. Can you post some pics of the inside of the "expensive" cover? Would like to see what you added.........I especially like the pen loop for locking it. I'm sure too that my first attempt will have multiple errors so I can make notes and readjust. Guess I'll make a few and determine the pros and cons.

Sorry for my delay in responding............looks like Omicron decided to pay me a visit. My thoughts on the more pliable cover were ease in opening and using the journal without the leather forcing a close. I'm using a journal that has stiff covers.....one I've used for years and have grown accustomed to. And I guess a basic leather conditioner for some type of protection.......maybe I've overthought this too much LOL.

So I have been trying to find some simple answers on something I have never made before............a journal cover. I tinker a few times a year and make sheaths for knives, tools, and pistols.......but it's always heavier leathers and the end results are very firm/stiff leather.....perfect for the application. But, I want to make a journal cover for my daughter out of some 2/3 ounce veg tan leather and I am perplexed at what's the best oil/method to make this very soft and pliable. I don't want add anything that would create a film that would soak into the journal itself. I'm leaning towards pure neatsfoot oil, but not certain if this is the best choice. Also, what would you recommend for a finishing coat? I use Resolene on all of the sheaths (been wanting to get away from this), but I don't want this cover to have that shine.........I want something very natural looking that she can keep with her for a long time, something that will handle being thrown into a back pack or tossed around, and something that will age well with time. Curious what y'all have used in this regard.

Charlie, I like your idea as well. I'm not very familiar with how the vulcanized material comes. Is it already thin or do you cut it thinner so that it can make the fold of the sheath?

Here's the knife and sheath.

Sorry for my delay. But here are some pics of the knife and the sheath that I made. I am installing a welt, but the problem as you'll see in the photo is that the knife is coming through the other side. Now it appears as the sheath is a little short......well it wasn't supposed to be. I had designed it to have at least 1/4" of space at the end, but the knife's hilt does not stop as designed......hence the poke through near the end of the sheet. Part of many "lessons learned"............

I made a pouch style sheath for a friend. I'm still new to this leather making and just did it for practice and my buddy was tickled to get a leather sheath. The knife is a 6" curved style blade and has a very large blue plastic handle (quite ugly). My pouch design was quite simple and I wanted to try to cover up the handle as much as necessary. Also, the sheath was a challenge since the blade is smaller than the handle and it was almost too much sheath to accommodate the such a small but curved blade (in relation to the handle). But, after finishing and pulling the knife in and out admiring my beautiful (sarcasm) product I discovered that my knife cut out near the end of my sheath because of the blade curve......oops. I'll make sure to tell him to be careful as I try a new design. So my question is does anybody have any designs/pics of sheaths for knifes similar where the handle is large (and ugly) and the blade has a unique curve? I thought a sheath that just covered the blade would be too small and funny looking, but I'm thinking that maybe I need to look at some options. Thanks! Jellyroll

Complete Noob here. Just got into this leather working stuff since I didn't want to spend $100 for a knife sheath that I wanted to buy and figured I could make it myself. Well........as everyone knows, I am now completely addicted. I won't show my knife sheath as it was my first project (and I think it looks like at leat a $50 sheath), but I have been trying to figure out my issues (too many to list), and edging is a big one. Thank you Bob for your explanations. Great responses from everyone as well. I tried your canvas suggestion for burnishing and holy crapola is that the way to go. I have no machinery to attach to except a Dremel to sand with, and I have been hand burnishing my items and it is all the difference in the world. And I don't even know if I'm using the right kind of canvas as I am using the only thing available.........old painters tarps. Now, at this point in my leather working experience (only about 1 week now), my "projects" are simply just making drink coasters. Easy to cut, nothing to stitch, and even the ugly ones work in the end............so at least I can put my junk projects to some type of work. But, as I was working on some samples I realized some streaking after using Resolene. Besides going lighter on the next coaster, how can I remove the streaks after I my first rookie coat? And is the removal method best for a polishing of this too after a second coat? (And for Bob.......how do you get any projects done with all of the information you post on here.....and I'm sure you're swamped with PMs and emails............quite amazing). Jellyroll