Members cjmt Posted October 2, 2013 Members Report Posted October 2, 2013 (edited) Hi All, Theres been some more interest on here in leatherwork in the European style so thought I'd post some recent pictures. This is a 20mm watch strap in Tangerine Goatskin handstitched at 10 spi in 532 Ecru Lin Cable. Its not perfect of course, it was made to see if the goat was strong enough to make a strap from Charlie Edited October 2, 2013 by cjmt Quote
Moderator immiketoo Posted October 3, 2013 Moderator Report Posted October 3, 2013 Charlie, that's great. I'd love to learn how you did this. I need to make one for a watch I have laying around here. How's the goat holding up? Whats in the inside as the core? Quote Learnleather.com
Members cjmt Posted October 3, 2013 Author Members Report Posted October 3, 2013 Charlie, that's great. I'd love to learn how you did this. I need to make one for a watch I have laying around here. How's the goat holding up? Whats in the inside as the core? It seems to be fine - its only a week old but wearing well. Its quite light and very comfortable. The leather is fully aniline so will pick up marks Im sure, its all part of the character of good leather though.The central raised area is c.1mm veg tanned cow, the stretch resistance is coming from the stitched goat though, its c. 1mm so enough strength not to stretch Charlie Quote
Members TXAG Posted October 3, 2013 Members Report Posted October 3, 2013 So how did you make it? Quote
Members WScott Posted October 3, 2013 Members Report Posted October 3, 2013 (edited) This look really nice! So is it two layers of thin goat with a cow spacer in between for the raised look? It is like making a mini belt. Did you hand or machine stitch? I know how hard these are, made a flat layer band with fine hand stitched thread I wound and waxed myself. Edited October 3, 2013 by WScott Quote
Members cjmt Posted October 3, 2013 Author Members Report Posted October 3, 2013 This look really nice! So is it two layers of thin goat with a cow spacer in between for the raised look? It is like making a mini belt. Did you hand or machine stitch? I know how hard these are, made a flat layer band with fine hand stitched thread I wound and waxed myself. Yes, basically exactly that, some goat or thinned bridle leather stitched around a spacer. We hand stitch everything, including these. They are basically very simple things - the devil is in the detail though and I find you (or at least I) have to try really hard on something this little and fiddly to get the finish and detail just right, they are very unforgiving and really show up flaws in your work. Charlie Quote
Members TXAG Posted October 3, 2013 Members Report Posted October 3, 2013 Ok, well thanks for all the detailed info on how you made it... Quote
Members cjmt Posted October 4, 2013 Author Members Report Posted October 4, 2013 Ok, well thanks for all the detailed info on how you made it... Surprisingly your sarcasm hasn't made me feel like spending an hour writing down every step of a process I spent a lot of hours developing so you dont have to. Do you have specific questions that you've taken the time to think about and research or did you just want me to spoon feed you? Quote
Members WScott Posted October 4, 2013 Members Report Posted October 4, 2013 Don't worry about that I understood what you meant. You are bang on about how simple yet detailed and intricate the work is. Now correct me if I m wrong It is really like making a mini belt. A spacer is cemented between the top and bottom layers for thickness. I loop my top leather over the bottom and glue it down with a watch pin in between to make space for the attachment to the watch If you take apart an old watch band you can easily replicate a new band. BUT the work is very finicky as a wise man says "the devil is in the details" Cheers, Scott Quote
Members cjmt Posted October 4, 2013 Author Members Report Posted October 4, 2013 Don't worry about that I understood what you meant. You are bang on about how simple yet detailed and intricate the work is. Now correct me if I m wrong It is really like making a mini belt. A spacer is cemented between the top and bottom layers for thickness. I loop my top leather over the bottom and glue it down with a watch pin in between to make space for the attachment to the watch If you take apart an old watch band you can easily replicate a new band. BUT the work is very finicky as a wise man says "the devil is in the details" Cheers, Scott Absolutely just like a mini belt. I make each part of the strap from one piece of leather folded over on the whole though rather than a different lining and face leather like most people do. My experience is that aside from being able to get the leather you want thin enough the only difficulty in a strap is getting the stitching and the edges right. In particular the edges when you start to get the layers of leather outer down to c. 1mm are very, very difficult to burnish/finish. The devil indeed is in the detail, you have to enjoy fiddley work to do them I think Charlie Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.