DJole

I don't have any specifics about tool makers or shops, unfortunately. There are certain very skilled ateliers in the Seoul area, but not down in this part of town. I also didn't get a whole lot of time to really peruse the shops...the kids were on their last legs, so I really had to limit my time. ;-(

Does the thread melt or burn when you apply a lighter to an end?

Looks like the halibut lost that fight... Good catch...and good holster, too!

I just completed this piece. I'm working on a series of bags featuring tooling based on carved wooden designs from Norwegian stave churches, the wonderful old wooden medieval wooden churches. This is a double headed dragon from Ornes stave church, the oldest surviving stave church.

Welcome to the forum, and welcome to better health!

You might also look at Rocky Mountain Leather Supply. (https://www.rmleathersupply.com/)They have always been accurate and quick with my orders, and they offer free shipping in the USA.

I have a PDF of plans I found somewhere online, just for occasions like this, where somebody is looking for plans: https://djole.altervista.org/djole/Publications/Leather/S/StitchingHorse.pdf

Is the difference in the measurement? I seem to recall that the Japanese makers (and perhaps Korean and Chinese) measure the distance from prong tip to prong tip, whereas others (Tandy, maybe?) measures the distance from the sides of the prong to the adjacent prong. I may be misremembering this.

I rarely, if ever, knot the thread onto my needles. I find it more bother than it's worth, personally, if I need to take out some stitches. I also haven't bothered to lay the thread in a particular way. I guess I'm not that much of a perfectionist! I just recently bought some Vinymo thread to work with (round polyester thread from Japan)-- good colors and a variety of thicknesses. I've been pleased with it so far, although I do find it necessary to lightly wax it before using it. I have a variety of thread to work with-- Ritza flat braid, Vinymo round, waxed Irish linen in a variety of colors, a spool of Since linen thread, chunky waxed Tandy thread (which came in only 3 colors, and which I rarely use now,)and a sampler box from Maine Thread. Different projects use different thread types, after all!

I think the bottom design looks better because of the "fade" effect you used with the background tool. The top one has an abrupt edge, and it just doesn't look as clean and professional.

Ooh, that's a lovely piece of work! That's a knife fit for a thegn!

Those are so nice, I'd be reluctant to mount them on a saddle and get them banged around and scuffed up while riding! Oh wait...maybe on a parade saddle!

It looks pretty nice! I did something similar for my mother. It was a nice change of pace to just cut and sew, without messing around with tooling and the like!

All my new wallets together. The brand newest one is at the bottom -- it's cream Saffiano, with cream Ritza thread, with a black glossy/textured interior. I can't recall what that leather pattern is named. They look so good together!

Thank you -- I find that every time I make one of these, I develop a bit more skill. Like somebody (whose name I can't recall) once wrote, doing a lot of small projects, repeating the process over and over, is a great way to learn -- and I think it's true!