CountryStyle

Would like to see if someone has made this. Tom, you are a gentleman and a scholar for doing this, a huge thank you is in order for your selflessness in helping the less experienced leatherwork community (like myself). Put good out, get good in.

If someone makes this I'd sure like to see what it looks like finished! TIA!

This was either 7-8 or 8-9 (I can't remember) Veg Tan. I think they were some double shoulders I bought on sale a while back.

I would use those to practice decorative swivel knife cuts! Also you could make stain samples of all of the stain colors you have to reference what they actually look like on leather. And you could create stamping templates with different combinations of stamps for inspiration in future projects.

I did this with my wife's "cuttlebug." You should be able to search that and pull up a post I made about it. I actually used the embossing roller machine. It was a challenge getting 4-5oz through it but it can be done. Anything thinner would work just fine.

Ludlow is also selling 1.5" veg tan strips for $7 each. IMO that is a pretty darn good deal! I ordered some.

are you using pennies for the washers? If not how are the washers made? Is there a part of the jig that helps make them?

Where does a guy buy Veg Tanned Goat Skin?

Thinner thread would hep, but don't beat yourself up too much. Your stitches look really good for a beginner. I have definitely seen much worse.

IMO braiding when done right does an equal or less than job than hand stitching. A backpack? I would definitely suggest stitching. IMO braiding can look great when done right, but is outdated. A good saddle stitch is tough as nails, and looks nice as well. Good luck!

I would recommend a saddle stitch, you can find tutorials here on how to do it. I highly recommend a diamond shaped hole puncher (looks like a fork). As far as thread, you want something waxed to make it slide through the leather easier. I personally prefer artificial sinew to sew with, though there are probably many who would disagree with that... Good luck!

My local Tandy has stuff like this. Call the closest one to you and ask them if they have anything like that.

Since I really became interested in leatherwork about 2 to 3 years ago, I have spent more hours than I care to count rummaging through these forums. Each time I access this forum, I am more surprised and impressed by the wealth of knowledge available here, the willingness to help others (even if the topic has been covered several times, there are still usually those who are willing to re-explain it), the sense of community, and the appreciation for all types of leather artistry. I know that there are still many more topics I have yet to discover and benefit from, and that makes my future years of leatherworking all the more exciting. This forum is a jewel, a rare gem on display for all to see and appreciate. I just hope others have the intuition to appreciate it as much as I (and most likely many others) for what it really is: an invaluable resource and place to make friends. I am not nearly as active here as many, but I do like to chime in where I can. And although I don't "help" as much as others, I hope I have more time to spend here in the future. Even though I have a new job this year that requires more of my time, and I recently discovered that my wife and I are expecting our first child, I still plan on utilizing this thread and, as my experience grows, helping others with their questions. For I too was a wide eyed wanderer not too long ago (and in many ways still am) and know what it's like to wonder what the heck people are talking about when they say "casing" or "slicking the leather" like it is something EVERYONE should know about. I do plan on contributing a donation at some point in the near future when I have the finances aligned right. It may not be as much as I would like, but I would like to show my appreciation. For those of you who are new(ish) to this forum like I am, please don't see this as a place to just come solve a problem, for it is much more than that.

Bobby, I would like to ask how you developed your floral style. I like it very much for the fact that it is simple, and doesn't use 30 different stamps. I have been wanting to develop a style like that myself. I like that much better than using camo's and veiners etc.

It turned out very nice and clean. I'm sure it'll serve you well for a long time.