AEBL

Hey, thanks for the feedback folks! Looks like there's lots of options out there. I've been watching a lot of YT vids of Asian bag makers (Navico, Hahn's Atelier, Bitchen, KKomeda). They make the Japanese leather knife look like such a natural tool. Also appreciate the English paring knife - sometimes just knowing what a thing is called helps to find it.

yes - something like that, but I was thinking that I might find something less expensive if it were like a plane blade (just a beveled piece of steel). That said, I'm not opposed to buying something like that. I'm also assuming that RH skiver is for RH people?

I've bought $100 knives before and not passed out ... I understand that quality tools often have pricetags to match ... I guess since I'm new at this, I don't know enough yet to know what I like.

I'm right handed, and I am looking for a tool that looks like a wood plane blade with an angle on it. I'll probably cover it with leather for a handle. I like economy tools, but I'd rather not buy junky Asian tools ... I have a round knife, but I'm having trouble using it on the small stuff I'm making (wallets, card holders, small knife sheaths, etc.) Perhaps I should just figure out some way to hold it safely ...

Thanks for the feedback folks, looks like I will be ordering a groover

I'm trying to learn/practice saddle stitching with an awl, and I have heard two things "around on the internet": * stitching groover helps keep your stitches below the surface of the leather, and therefore prevents wear-and-tear on the stitches * that nobody should use a stitching groover (but no explanation as to why ...) I suppose if I were forced to invent a reason, I'd say that perhaps it weakens the leather there so that it might get dry and rip? Should I buy and use a stitching groover? (I currently don't own or use one).

Thanks all!

I don't (yet) have a leather sewing machine. I do have a "regular" sewing machine (like a cheap Singer machine a family member gave me). I'm not going to try and sew 10oz leather, but is there some really thin leather that can be sewn safely?

Hahn's Atelier has two glove episodes on his YouTube channel. This one is closer to garden gloves. He either has free patterns or sells them - check the comments in the video.

For "authentic" patterns I found this book: "Craft Manual of North American Indian Footwear" by George M White. It is a bit hard to find. https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/craft-manual-of-north-american-indian-footwear/author/george-m-white/

kkomeda on youtube has some design advice for those sorts of bags out of leather. If you navigate to her page, you have to click on "videos" to see it. She usually has a short video and then a longer video with better explanations.

Great, thanks - I'm already checking out his site just now.

I thought sewing with an awl was challenging at first - but I am really starting to like it. I can punch lightly with chisels and then make the holes to finished size with the awl. I think that the thickest leather that I'm likely to be using for a while might be for a knife sheath, so perhaps 2 or 3 layers of 6 oz leather? Right now I am mostly trying out bag patterns, wallets, etc. I might try thicker stuff later though. Is there a "new guy friendly" place to buy awl blades / hafts? The only places I have been shopping around on are Tandy, Weaver and BuckleGuy ...

Thanks for the pictures, those help. Hmmm - trying to install it, and the awl blade appears to be too large to fit through the ferrule . I'm sure I ordered it wrong (from Weaver), but it is a Saddler's Harness Awl 2-3/4", 2.0 mm. The awl haft is Weaver part number CSO145. Looks like I will be ordering another blade.

Ok - thanks, I figured it must have been as simple as that. I had seen some other video on YT where someone had to put the awl blade in a vise and hammer the haft on. (the video was J.H. Leather's "how to assemble and sharpen a stitching awl" if anyone was curious) The awl she had in the video appears to be a different sort of hafting. It sounds like the one I have is simpler to assemble. When I sharpen it, how far up the blade must it be sharpened - just the first quarter inch or so, or the whole thing?