swivelsphinx Report post Posted August 12, 2011 (edited) Ok.... I've been doing custom leatherwork as a sideline for at least 4 years now. For starters, here's a bit of internal dialog that occurs far too often than is probably good for me: "Ooh! I've never done one of those! I bet I can do that!" This project ties for 1st place for a PITA award (PITA = Pain In the Ass). This older woman brought me a decrepit old backpack purse (purchased between 1986-1988) that had a zipper & snap closure under the flap, two outside pockets and shoulder straps....none of which I had done before. I had the old back pack taken apart as a model, some analog travel photos from all around the world featuring the back pack, and a slew of digital photos *I* took of the bag both inside out and outside out before I dissembled the darn thing. No pattern, no instructions... no sewing machine... just my collection of Stohlman books and a stack of Leathercraft magazines. Oh yeah... I *hate* working with soft leather on anything more complicated than a drawstring bag. I took up leatherwork with harder leathers in part because I am no good at working with cloth. Anything more complicated than a pillow case has the potential of driving me to tears. This bag was made of 2-3 oz "distressed cow" (MOOO! GET ME OUT OF HERE!!!!) leather.... identical to what you will find in a "brown leather bomber jacket", The leather in the original bag was slightly thinner. I think what made me do it was that she had been sent by the local shoe repair shop.... apparently this bag had been patched and repaired over the last 12 years and they were sick of looking at it. The man at the desk said that his shop couldn't revive the poor little bag anymore (or wouldn't) and gave her my number. I almost didn't get photos of it the day of pick up. I finished the last stitches less than an hour or two before the customer's arrival. FYI: This bag took me more than 6 months to figure out before I was confident to even cut the pieces. What an arrogant little snot I can be... damn my helium hand! If I'm ever asked to do a project like this again, I'm charging 3-4 times as much as I charged this customer. Comments welcome I guess.... ( ;. Edited August 12, 2011 by swivelsphinx Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gringobill Report post Posted August 12, 2011 Ok.... I've been doing custom leatherwork as a sideline for at least 4 years now. For starters, here's a bit of internal dialog that occurs far too often than is probably good for me: "Ooh! I've never done one of those! I bet I can do that!" This project ties for 1st place for a PITA award (PITA = Pain In the Ass). This older woman brought me a decrepit old backpack purse (purchased between 1986-1988) that had a zipper & snap closure under the flap, two outside pockets and shoulder straps....none of which I had done before. I had the old back pack taken apart as a model, some analog travel photos from all around the world featuring the back pack, and a slew of digital photos *I* took of the bag both inside out and outside out before I dissembled the darn thing. No pattern, no instructions... no sewing machine... just my collection of Stohlman books and a stack of Leathercraft magazines. Oh yeah... I *hate* working with soft leather on anything more complicated than a drawstring bag. I took up leatherwork with harder leathers in part because I am no good at working with cloth. Anything more complicated than a pillow case has the potential of driving me to tears. This bag was made of 2-3 oz "distressed cow" (MOOO! GET ME OUT OF HERE!!!!) leather.... identical to what you will find in a "brown leather bomber jacket", The leather in the original bag was slightly thinner. I think what made me do it was that she had been sent by the local shoe repair shop.... apparently this bag had been patched and repaired over the last 12 years and they were sick of looking at it. The man at the desk said that his shop couldn't revive the poor little bag anymore (or wouldn't) and gave her my number. I almost didn't get photos of it the day of pick up. I finished the last stitches less than an hour or two before the customer's arrival. FYI: This bag took me more than 6 months to figure out before I was confident to even cut the pieces. What an arrogant little snot I can be... damn my helium hand! If I'm ever asked to do a project like this again, I'm charging 3-4 times as much as I charged this customer. Comments welcome I guess.... ( ;. Looks like you did a good job! And I can imagine the self talk and trying to figure out all the pieces and what had to be sewn first, etc, etc. A ton of planning and figuring. If you sewed it by hand you really deserve the PITA award that would be cruel and unusual punishment. I'm not sure there's enough money to entice me to tie into hand sewing a project like that! Good job! Bill Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
particle Report post Posted August 12, 2011 Well, I think you did a fantastic job - looks great! Bags are one area I'm dying to get into. Well, messenger bags... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spinner Report post Posted August 12, 2011 I think it totally works and looks good. I agree with Bill though, not sure if there is enough money to convince me to hand sew a bag with that many seams. Kudos to you for sticking with it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
King's X Report post Posted August 12, 2011 Ditto........but my other half tells me that I am my worst critic. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lui Report post Posted August 12, 2011 I know exactly how you feel. I get myself into all sorts of trouble betting I can do it. Then Im cussing and moaning thru the entire process. But I wouldnt have it any other way. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
srminimo Report post Posted August 17, 2011 Hand sewn? That's incredible. How did you do the inside out pockets on the outside. I've actually been trying to figure that out with no success? cheers. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
swivelsphinx Report post Posted November 1, 2011 Tip on the outer pockets: - On the pockets, I have used the following options. I sew the gussets then the flaps on the outside of the bag *before* stitching on the fronts of the pockets. The fronts of these pockets can be sewn from mid-bottom *up* (middle to the left or middle to the right). I tend to hold everything in place with either Barge Cement or Testor's White Rubber cement. The other option I have used is to sew on your flaps and flare the gusset on your pre-assembled pocket *out* and sew it to the front of the bag facing *out* rather than tucking it in. If the pocket is wide enough, I can actually sew the flap on, assemble the pocket and then glue the seam of the assembled pocket so it does not show... to the front of the bag before *that* is attached to the main bag. That last option is how I did this one! The Swivelsphinx Hand sewn? That's incredible. How did you do the inside out pockets on the outside. I've actually been trying to figure that out with no success? cheers. Yep... it's a kick to figure this stuff out... the kick in the *pants* is figuring out how much I *should* be charging! -The Swivelsphinx I know exactly how you feel. I get myself into all sorts of trouble betting I can do it. Then Im cussing and moaning thru the entire process. But I wouldnt have it any other way. Ditto........but my other half tells me that I am my worst critic. Well... I feel it's my *job* to be "my worst critic" rather than my customer! Best Wishes, The Swivelsphinx Arrgh... I'm embarrassed to say I charged 175.00 for this thing.... "next time" I would charge about $600.00 I think it totally works and looks good. I agree with Bill though, not sure if there is enough money to convince me to hand sew a bag with that many seams. Kudos to you for sticking with it. <br />I think it totally works and looks good. I agree with Bill though, not sure if there is enough money to convince me to hand sew a bag with that many seams. Kudos to you for sticking with it.<br /><br /><img src='http://leatherworker.net/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/notworthy.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /><br /><br /><brArrgh... I'm embarrassed to say I charged 175.00 for this thing.... "next time" I would charge about $600.00 I think it totally works and looks good. I agree with Bill though, not sure if there is enough money to convince me to hand sew a bag with that many seams. Kudos to you for sticking with it. <br />I think it totally works and looks good. I agree with Bill though, not sure if there is enough money to convince me to hand sew a bag with that many seams. Kudos to you for sticking with it.<br /><br /><img src='http://leatherworker.net/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/notworthy.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /><br /><br /><br Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
swivelsphinx Report post Posted November 1, 2011 Well, I think you did a fantastic job - looks great! Bags are one area I'm dying to get into. Well, messenger bags... Yeah... messenger bags or their ancestor "the Pony Express" bag are pretty cool! I first fell in love with "the possibles bag" and went half-nuts looking for patterns... until realizing that over half of the "rustic" purse patterns Tandy has sold over the years are variants on this historically manly bag! I now affectionately refer to it as "that f*cking bag" because it seems to be *everywhere* in shooting magazines, old copies of "The Craftsman" and of course, on Ebay disguised as *purse patterns*. -The Swivelsphinx Thank you for the encouragement... I certainly gave myself the short stick when I thought 175.00 was adequate for this "experimental project". Now I try doing web searching on "going rates" for these things before taking a stab at pricing.... The Swivelsphinx Looks like you did a good job! And I can imagine the self talk and trying to figure out all the pieces and what had to be sewn first, etc, etc. A ton of planning and figuring. If you sewed it by hand you really deserve the PITA award that would be cruel and unusual punishment. I'm not sure there's enough money to entice me to tie into hand sewing a project like that! Good job! Bill Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
