Help A Beginner

[Aidanforsyth0]

Hey guys I'm wondering what materials I need to make a high quality leather wallet for me, then my family and some friends. I currently have punches for the sewing holes, edge beveler, groover, and a slicker and some scrap leather from michaels that is pretty bad. If you could help me out with finding great quality leather and thread, as well as the " know how" on the best way to cut leather so the cuts are perfect everytime. Oh also I have various cutting tools but do not have a rotary cutter. Thank you

[silverwingit]

What is meant by "a high quality leather wallet" is open to interpretation. Kevin King presents a fine tutorial on how he makes his professional-level wallets with multiple card pockets, rolled edges and fabric lining pinned in this very "How Do You Do That" section.

http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=9940

That is no place to start out, though. To give you an idea of a more realistic starter project, try searching the forums for "wallet." You will see many examples of people's work, from rank beginner to polished pro.

One mistake I see people commonly make is using leather that is too thick. The kind you find in hobby shops like Michael's. You might start out with that to design a pattern but you will soon see how thick the wallet gets when you add several layers. Be like putting a brick in your pocket by time its finished. You'll have better luck with thinner leather, say in the 3-4 oz. area. When you get into that thin leather you will find many of the tools you listed of little use: your beveler, groover and slicker are made for thicker leather.

My suggestion for a beginner is to go to Springfield Leather: http://springfieldleather.com/. They are a good source for leathers, tools and other items you'll need. They also offer an alternative that you might consider, their Chaylor-Fennel wallet interiors: http://springfieldleather.com/31/Chaylor-Fenneli-Interiors/

These interiors let you skip the difficult tasks of making many pockets, worrying about lining and so on and let you concentrate on the exterior. There you could let you imagination go wild and design any kind of exterior you like, even with thicker leather, since you are relieved of the problem of keeping the wallet thin. Since you will likely make several mistakes before you get a "keeper" exterior, this approach would afford you lots of flexibility.

You didn't mention what you have in the way of a stitching punch, but your battle will be won or lost stitching it all together. You might want to tell us more and/or look into some of Nigel Armitage's excellent stitching videos on Youtube. Stitching separates the true leathercrafter from the wannabe.

Good luck and get back to us,

Michelle

[Aidanforsyth0]

What is meant by "a high quality leather wallet" is open to interpretation. Kevin King presents a fine tutorial on how he makes his professional-level wallets with multiple card pockets, rolled edges and fabric lining pinned in this very "How Do You Do That" section.

http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=9940

That is no place to start out, though. To give you an idea of a more realistic starter project, try searching the forums for "wallet." You will see many examples of people's work, from rank beginner to polished pro.

One mistake I see people commonly make is using leather that is too thick. The kind you find in hobby shops like Michael's. You might start out with that to design a pattern but you will soon see how thick the wallet gets when you add several layers. Be like putting a brick in your pocket by time its finished. You'll have better luck with thinner leather, say in the 3-4 oz. area. When you get into that thin leather you will find many of the tools you listed of little use: your beveler, groover and slicker are made for thicker leather.

My suggestion for a beginner is to go to Springfield Leather: http://springfieldleather.com/. They are a good source for leathers, tools and other items you'll need. They also offer an alternative that you might consider, their Chaylor-Fennel wallet interiors: http://springfieldleather.com/31/Chaylor-Fenneli-Interiors/

These interiors let you skip the difficult tasks of making many pockets, worrying about lining and so on and let you concentrate on the exterior. There you could let you imagination go wild and design any kind of exterior you like, even with thicker leather, since you are relieved of the problem of keeping the wallet thin. Since you will likely make several mistakes before you get a "keeper" exterior, this approach would afford you lots of flexibility.

You didn't mention what you have in the way of a stitching punch, but your battle will be won or lost stitching it all together. You might want to tell us more and/or look into some of Nigel Armitage's excellent stitching videos on Youtube. Stitching separates the true leathercrafter from the wannabe.

Good luck and get back to us,

Michelle

[lionfly]

The chalyor fenneli interiors have been great performers anytime I've used them, but be warned, backorder items can be a couple of weeks or MANY months. They don't have any control over what gets shipped to them from Australia.