braider

Greetings... I use life eye needles a lot, but, I'm not very familiar with roo. You could either go to a smaller needle or try screwing two ends into the needle at once. Or, I bend an inch or so back and point the double end - same difference as using two ends. Maybe use a different kind of leather for the second point. ...Dave

Candyleather... Thank you for your compliment about my work. It's always nice to hear that you've inspired someone. I noticed braiding on at least a couple of the bags in your pictures. I wish you well with your leatherwork/braiding. ...Dave

Hi Joel... This is Dave Anderson. I'm glad to see that you visited this forum and joined. While the forum is relatively new, it already has a lot of good leatherworkers as members. A lot of them know a great deal more about the leatherwork business than I do. I wish you well. ...Dave

Hi Shirley... Thanks for the compliment! The best I can do in regards to a lesson on pineapple knots is to direct you to a site that I think has some very nices images showing you how to build one. I think that for most folks images is an easier way to learn this knot than describing how to do it with text. Bruce Grant does have descriptions and images in his book - Encyclopedia of Rawhide and Leather Braiding. However, I recently came across a web site that I think has better images of it. The reason I think it's better is because it uses two tones - one for the foundation knot and another for the interwoven knot. http://www.snakewhip.com/pineappleknot/pa.php I hope that helps you. ...Dave

You can't have a section on braiding without pineapple knots can you? Here's a few that I've done. A couple of pineapple knot covered bottles, a pineapple knot covered golf ball, and a pineapple knot covered rock. ...Dave

I have braided thousands of feet of this braid using miles of lace to do it with. The first time that I used the S appliqué braid I wasn't very happy with how it looked. I soon figured out ways to, in my opinion, make it look better. The biggest difference in how I do it has to do with the lay out of the holes. I think every book that I have seen describing how to do this braid tells you to punch two rows of side by side holes. That made for one of the forward stretches to be longer than the other. What made me think of a better way to do it was when I used it to attach two pieces of leather together. When I was braiding it the longer stretch seemed to want to get shorter, and the shorter stretch wanted to get longer. I thought why not just go with that and make them both the same. Ever since then I have staggered the holes instead of punching them side by side. Make the two rows form a zig zag instead if them being across from each other. Subsequently, when I now use it to attach two pieces together I use three rows of holes. Two rows of staggered holes on the under side piece. The single row on the top side piece that goes over the outside row of the under side piece. I think doing it this way makes the braid more versatile. In particular, it looks nicer when going around corners. Below is a picture of a bag that I made using this method for the S appliqué braid and a picture of a section of the patterns used to lay it out.

This appears to me to be a variation of what Bruce Grant calls the crocodile ridge braid. His 'encyclopedia' shows it in various flat braids, a button, and more. But, I don't think it's in his book as an applique braid. I like it. ...Dave

Greetings dsenette... While I don't have my adult section pass just yet - I'm wondering if there's any inside scoop/nitty gritty we can get from you about Toyota/NASCAR/Michael Waltrip/Dale Jarrett and the brown truck? ...Dave

That is how I do it - 'subtracting a hole or two' or punching the holes farther apart. ...Dave

Thank you for all the compliments about my work. Here is an example of the vests that I build. This one happens to be for re-sale. I think the owner out grew it. If anybody is interested in it I'd be happy to put you in touch with the guy. It fits a 45" chest. ...Dave

Probably a more appropriate way to put it is "It's taken me over 35 years to be able to make it in a long day." ...Dave

Hi wildrose... I've been building these for a long time now and it's still hard to give that estimate. I've found that even when making the same bag - it can vary quite a bit in time. I can make most all my bags in a work day - albeit some, like this one, are a rather long work day. ...Dave

Greetings from a leather braider. I am just trying out this new forum and I'm hoping it all goes well for everyone. Below is an example of my work. You're welcome to visit my web site Anderson Leather Braiding at http://andersonleather.com/ I found the enlargement of this thumbnail is a better/correct picture of it.