chouinardragon

Hello Jim Saddler, No wonder when I study the stitches of Hermes, they always appear flat slots on the back and round holes on the front. I have few questions on hand stitching. 1) Questions on Awls. if the SPI is less than 12, what kind of awl should be used? The round awl with flat tip or the diamond awl we used to use? If it is the round awl with flat tip, the stitching holes on the front probably will not as big as the marks made by pricking irons. If it is the diamond awl we used to use, should we make half knots on the back? Also, if the diamond awl is used, the stitches on the front will not appear / / / / / but \ \ \ \ \, right ? So, is there any other ways to stitch? 2)Questions on Thread. As we know, Hermes uses "Fil au Chinois" linen thread. There are many sizes. 332,432,532,632,832,1032,1532. The bigger the number, the finer the thread. The 532 and 632 are mostly used. Are they as big as the 18/3 and 25/3 thread of Barbour's? Thank you. Chris

Hello, Do you accept Paypal and ship to Taiwan? Thanks! Chris

Thanks ,Art. It seems that it's difficult to locate one. Chris

This is the result I got. Pictures as attached. 1st one is the front side, 2nd one is the back side. I stitched with 7 SPI and 25/3 linen thread. I think the thread is kind of large for the stitching holes. Still can not get the Hermes pattern ... Chris

Thank you. I think that's the way the Hermes artisans do their stitch. I found a picture which shows a artisan is stitching a bag handle (picture attached). I notice that they do pull over the thread loop over the right needle. Unfortunately, I did the same way last night and could not get the same result. I will attach my stitch tonight. I was wondering if it is something wrong with my awl blade size and thread size. Do awl size and thread size effect the result? Thank you. Chris

Hi guys, I recently research some leather artisans in France and found some of them use a machine to seal the edge and creat creases, even Hermes uses this machine. Pictures as attached. Does anyone know anything about it or where to buy it? Chris

Okay, I tried to stitch some yesterday using the way that MADMAX22 said. The thread did go like this / / / / ,BUT the thread is kind of overlap. Okay, now I get the thread angle I want but not the way Hermes does. I will stitch the way fivewayswelshcobs said and put some photos later. By the way, I am pretty sure Hermes makes these bags by hand, you can find some pictures by searching "Hermes Festival in Crafts". The artisan made a bag by hand in the festival.

Thanks, Ben. I checked saddery forum in French, most of stitches they do are / / / / /.

I bought them new. I tried these punches and they did sharp. Solingen makes round knives? I did not see it on their website.

We all start from the left, don't we? There is a video on youtube, they stitch the way as we do. You can find the video by searching 'hermes saddle stitch'. By the way, what do you mean by saying "which flip you toss the half knot"? Chris

Really? I thought they make all their products by hands.

I think the angle is probably the same as we do because the angle of the Vergez Blanchard pricking irons they use are / / / / /.

Hello, Anyone notices that Hermes saddle stitches go like this ///// , but most stitches here or on any tutorial go like this \\\\\ Anyone knows why? Chris

Hello, I have few questions of my new toys. I just got my Joseph Dixon tools and found the strap pricker which is kind of different than imagined. I thought it is used on making leather belt but it doesn't look like. Anyone knows what is it used for? I also got some crew and hole punches and it looks blunt. Should I sharpen them before using? I have never used pricking chisels,so I bought a no. 7,8 and 10. It is not sharped, either. Do Dixon pricking chisels be used on marking on or pricking into leather? Chris

Hi Guys, I read the "The Leatherworking Handbook" by Valerie Michael and she mentions that we can polish leather grain side before layouting pattern. It will leave the leather grain side with a glossy and shining result. So, I damp the whole leather before polishing it. But, what I got is a burnished grain side with some dark spots on it. I don't know what is going on. Anyone can tell me? I don't know if I had pushed the wood slicker forward and backward not evenly or had pushed it too hard, resulting a burnished grain side. Do you guys polish the leather grain side before layouting pattern? Chris

Thanks, Nutty Saddler. I will consider to buy Sedgwick leathercare and will make one myself following the formula. Chris

Thanks, Nutty Saddler. Oh,my gooodness! I got the formula!!! By the way, can this curriers grease work well on 'non' English bridle leather? Chris

Hi guys, I saw there is a guy using tallow wax he makes for polishing the grain side of English bridle leather. After polishing, the English bridle leather looks shiny. I don't know if this could be used on 'other' leather. Does any one have formula for making tallow wax? Chris

I really love Ron's edgers.

I trid to email but the email is dead,too. Don't know what's going on. Chris

Hi Guys, I can't access ronstools.com recently. Why? Is he still in business? Chris

Thanks! It works very well. Chris

it's gone. Thanks!

Wow~beautiful ! I found my problem is that I can't cut the edge neat, so that I can't groove lines neat. So, I have a cutting problem.

Thank you guys. I rubbed paraffin to the edge yesterday and used the hair dryer to heat to melt then burnished. I worked well in the end. Thank you so much for your inputs. - Chris