bland

Your edge looks great especially the blade portion, the upper edge may need just a little more sanding prior to burnishing. As far as the order of work, cutting, staining, gluing, stitching, putting it together, forming and finishing are all a bit of personal preference in my opinion. My preference is to assemble and then wet form. I have also used a fork as a tool. It works pretty good for many things. You can us it to mark your distance from the edge and to measure stitch spacing. You can also use it to mark the second stitch line that TUGADUDE talked about. When you are using a diamond awl to punch your holes you get the right angle about 45 degrees to the edge. You can see a great example of what the stitches will look like with the example photos SNUBBYFAN posted. His work also is an excellent example of edging and burnishing. I hope to get to that level one day. Anyway, your sheath looks good keep creating and they will look better and better.

Very nice! I would like to see a picture of the edge if you have one. Can you give us a little more information on the construction of the sheath, it will help with the critique. I know my techniques have changed with time and obtaining better tools. I have used many different methods for measuring and making stitching holes anything from eyeballing it, to a ruler, to a sewing marking wheel to my current of pricking irons. For punching holes in leather I have used nails, a drill and now a proper stitching awl. You get the idea, many here have adapted techniques to the tools they had available at the time and I am sure you are no different. Continue to practice and develop. Do not take any critiques personal. Here are a few things that caught my eye. Stitch spacing is a little inconsistent. Stitch line looks to me to be a little too far from the edge and too far from the knife. Maybe the pattern is overall is just a little too big. How are you marking your stitch line? Is there a welt around the blade? Did you wet mold it prior to stitching? How did you mark and punch your stitching holes? How did you finish it? Did you groove the inside for the stitching on the belt loop to rest in? Are you saddle stitching? Did you use an edger? Thanks for posting hope it helps.

Thanks all again for nice words. Crafty Nick-- Nothing fancy like skiving and turning the edges. I edged with #2 edger, sanded, dyed, sanded, dyed, burnished. Once with glycerin saddle soap and water with wood slicker and then with bee's wax and felt burnishing wheel. Then I sealed it with Resolene.

Thanks for your kind words .

I recently my wife asked me to make a wedding guestbook for my daughter's wedding. She didn't give me much lead time so I pushed some things a little hard. It is 5/6 oz veg tan except for pockets in front cover that is 3 oz veg tan that was quite soft which caused me some problems in stitching and edging. It is dyed Fiebrings British Tan. I had to re glue the edge of the 3 oz leather after stitching as it pulled up in some spots I think I got it down pretty good. The tooling on the back is not quite symmetrical. I'm still saddle stitching everything. Let me know what you think. Here are a couple more photos.

Very nice!

Very nice! Do you get a lot of orders for cross draw holsters?

The link below is some great feedback I received when I started carving. I'm not much better now, due to lack of commitment to practice on my part over the past year. Take the tips and comments others left for me as I see some of the same inexperience in your carving. Hope it helps. Keep practicing. http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=59654&hl=bland#entry384928

On your stitching pony I would suggest tapering the tops. This would allow you to use your awl more effectively.

very nice!!

very cool.

That is very interesting. I have never seen a bosal on a hanger like that. Very cool.

My daughter just finished first wallet for a Christmas present. Thanks again for the pattern.

Thanks. I haven't done any figure carving but this gives me something to try maybe a wallet is in the future.

Very nice. Do you take orders?

Very nice! I would be interested in seeing the mule deer drawing you used.

TBoyce, how did you lace the bells in? Slots in the leather? It is a great gift idea!

Thanks.

Very nice!

I like it!!

Nice.

Great work!

Great work!!

Looks very nice. I don't think there is any way to double stitch except at the beginning and back stitch at the end with a continuous thread.

Very nice!