Sylvia

Hi Blakely You might find locating a pattern for gaiters a tad difficult. But if you want something that you can fit to your personal shape... you might try adapting a casting technique of pattern making to your purpose. Basically you put on a knee high cotton sock and have someone duct tape up your leg... over lapping the edges of the tape by at least 1/4" Decide where your cut lines will be and mark them. Then mark horizonal or perpendicular reference lines across your cut lines... then cut the whole thing off. Pull the sock off the tape and dust the sticky side with baby powder or corn starch. Use this to cut a pattern from card stock or butcher paper... be sure to measure and mark a seam line on this pattern. If you need pictures to look at .... try this link http://www.seamlyne.com/design/costume/footwear/footwear_index.asp

Hi Zina: OOOPS!! I've never used the Atom Wax stuff but the thing that worries me is the word "Wax" which has likely sealed the pores of the leather in a hap-hazard manner. If you try Cheryl's method of washing with saddle soap and trying again... well that might work... but just understand it may not. I, however ,would choose something that is a Known wax remover.... sudsy ammonia. (Fiebings has a leather dye prep that is basically Everclear, water, "proprietary detergent and ammonia). You could make it yourself if you want to take a trip to the liquor store. the formula is basically 90% water, 5% everclear, 5% sudsy Ammonia. In an open area with a washcloth "wash" the piece with the mixture and let it dry. (no need to rinse... since it is a dye prep) but it couldn't hurt to wash it with saddle soap after the ammonia wash. Now this is going to make the belt stiff...... you'll need to condition some... but do that before your Resolene, Satin Shene or Mop and Glo (50/50) finish. And if you can... spray your finish on with an airbrush or similar appliance. From what I've read and experienced.... the finishing is the most difficult, time wasting and surprising part of the process. Dyes rub off, or turn a completely different color than you had intended, take to the leather more or Less randomly in different spots.... you name it some of us have experienced it. UGG. It makes a person want to buy pre-dyed leather! LOL Good luck, I hope you end up with something you would be proud to wear.

LOL I choose to believe that you were just very tired at that moment.

it could be to simply remove dust.

KC I have seen people use the wooden strap cutter as a draw guage. You loosen the thing so you can smash the two arms together which allows the blade to come up. Take another blade and help the one in the cutter if you need to. Make your slit like Bruce says insert the strap cutter blade into the slit and away you go. Here's the video.

Yes, I had issues with it crashing on both firefox and chrome. In fact in Firefox (new update) it absolutely refused to load ANY flash... I just got a black box on the screen. GRRRRR I found a solution here. http://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/747269 Google chrome apparently has it's own flash... so I had to go in and disable the plug in. Here's the link to that one. http://www.lockergnome.com/media/2012/01/20/how-to-fix-shockwave-flash-crashes-in-google-chrome/ I will still get a crash when I play a particular game... but other than that I'm running smoothly.

Don't forget your decorative cuts, CC. Just a few like what Aaron did.

I saw this online today and I thought someone here might find it useful.... it is such a steal!! If you live in PA or are willing to make a trip to Old Forge, PA to pick it up BTW... Yardsellr requires a Facebook account to sign in. If you are new to Yardsellr you get $5 worth of Photons to use toward your first purchase. http://yardsellr.com...h-table-4536680 I hope this helps someone out. Heck the table alone is worth more than $60!

I think she knows that since she said she was not even close being done.

what I like about it is you can use any font you want... and if you feel like having 5" letters you can. It's much more versatile than a lump of 3/4" stamps that can be a challenge to keep straight and even.

JP... there is no "easing" when it comes to leather. You need to make sure you have the same number of holes on both the crown and brim... etc. Count, count, count!! Do you have a dremel? check that for small drill bits. Also a finish nail will work to pre punch holes. Here's a tutorial for making a leather top hat.... perhaps some of these tips will help you.

Hi Bill: The lister of these tools gave your answer in the listing you quoted. "The tools are listed and the Y after it denotes that this is a Craftool USA stamp....." So this was his method of letting us know which ones were Craftool USA.

I would look for a boxy pattern with raglan leaves and a shawl collar, if I were you. It would be much easier to set the sleeves and deal with the collar. You can sew lamb skin on a sturdy home machine... but you'll need to trim the fur away from the seam allowance and brush away the clippings. Something like this, but with full length sleeves. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Vogue-Pattern-5089-Misses-Wrapped-Coat-Easy-Sew-Raglan-Sleeves-Sz-14-/140777487239?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20c6fdfb87

Does anyone have a list of this years vendors?

Hi there: Please don't waste your time looking and paying a HUGE price for a discontinued set of stamps. Almost any rune font you'll ever need is right on the internet. Just pick one... https://www.google.com/search?q=Rune+Font&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=9j3&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=wPn4T_HNEIirrQHptaWLCQ&ved=0CF4QsAQ&biw=1280&bih=677 To use these, use your monitor ... put a clear plastic sheet over it and trace with a sharpie. Or if you want search for and download the font and use your graphics editor to orient and align before you trace.

Ah ha! Thanks for pointing that out.... I usually ignore those pictures.

Go here http://www.sewingmachinemanuals.com/pfaff-441-r-755 register and down load the PDF file. I think there is also a service manaual...

Ok that makes sense, Thank you. Wiz. All this sewing machine jargon is enough to make the most intelligent and pleasant person start to get confused and cranky. LOL

Thanks again Ron: I keep seeing "441 clone" but that is about as clear as mud to me. Who originally made the 441? and What companies make clones?

That's grand!! Now can you please show us a picture so we know what you are talking about?

LOL!! I'll keep that in mind. Those old Studebakers were tanks weren't they? I sure miss my Silver Hawk.

Thanks for chiming in Ron! Let me just say that Importing from China never was an option... ever. I was involved in importing fabric from Italy for an employer a few times and I know the pitfalls and that it is a PITA regularly. As for what I intend to sew. I'd like to sew a Studebaker fender to the wall of my house. LOL Seriously, though I intend to sew 2-3 layers of 10-14oz leather but I also want something versatile enough to sew thin upholstery leather if needed. So I want at least one that can sew 1/2"... but would love one that sews 3/4" The problem is that I have a kool-aid budget. Steve has a Ferdco 440R that he's found for me... and an Artisan 3000 that was quite a bit more than I wanted to pay....but I want to make sure I'm choosing the right machine.

Ugg... I still have nightmares about my High School Archery Class and the bruises I earned from those recurve bows.

From the info on that chinese trade site.... it is a lefty machine. The site said it was for shoe making and it has a roller foot. Here's the link. http://www.diytrade.com/china/pd/7246790/Industrial_Sewing_Machine.html I think I'll ignore it.