leatherman13

Thanks for the information Wizcrafts. I checked my serial number and it is a 1933 model. Slightly newer than your 31-15 so I might try #92. If not, I'll settle in with #69 and get to work. Thank you! cdthayer - I'm going to try the #92 and hope for good results. I will be trying to feather the clutch and keep everything slow so maybe I won't break thread or burn it. I still need to work on getting a servo motor. Thanks for the information!

Hello all, I haven't posted in a while, but I've definitely been on the forums researching. I've been reading a LOT of forum threads about sewing machines and understand what is necessary as far as walking foot, servo motor, etc. Unfortunately, the cash outlay necessary is out my league, at least for now. I have been hand stitching all of my work and now have a client who would like some tote bags and I thought it was time to finally get a sewing machine to help. I have a small home machine which I do a lot of thin deerskin bags for the same client and I knew it wasn't going to help. I scoured the Bay and craigslist and found a lady selling a Singer 31-47. I checked ISMACS, and it was in the 31 family and is for heavy fabrics and leather. I picked it up for $250. It has the original table and clutch motor. I've done a s much reading as I can find, but my question is, after much digression, what is the biggest thread size that I can run through this machine? The lady I bought it from said her husband did upholstery work and the thread that came with it is size EE, which is 69? I'd like to go to at least 92 or even 138 but cannot find any information regarding thread sizes for my machine. If anyone can help it would be appreciated.

Looks awesome! I like the choice of leather as well.

Thanks Medsar. I am referring to buckskins. Sorry, I just recently found out how fantastic they are and realizing that buckskin is the preferred name. I thought that a lining would help. I would hope the ladies I would be making these for wouldn't include the kitchen sink to minimize the stretching. The stitching was, in my mind, a way to get away from lacing and hopefully create something different and hopefully still appealing. The big bag mfrs, use it a lot and, of course theirs is machine sewn (I'm a long way off from buying the right machine) and I will be using theirs as a guide for designs. One last item, the Aussie stranders are for a straight line cut? Would that work or an Osborne 1000 that is the circular cut? Thanks again.....

Hello all, I've tried doing research on stitching/lacing deerskin but haven't found anything relevant. I've made some small deerskin pouches using an old Morse sewing machine with upholstery thread and had good results. I'm wanting to step up to deerskin handbags, but most of the ones I've seen are laced. I like to handstitch my bags (see example pics) and was wondering if that was OK to do on deerskin because of stretching. I wouldn't mind lacing a few but need to acquire a lace cutter for matching lace. Or does it even matter - both are fine and it's just aesthetics? I'm still a newbie and coming up on a year working on leather as a hobby. Any advice would be helpful and appreciated. Thanks!

Thanks guys for your input. Chief, I'm over here in Cartersville. I don't like the leather lace look that much but it is all I have until I can get into the hand stitching which I would prefer. Since the Dasher hand bag, I have learned about wet forming and edge burnishing and I am trying to work on those areas as well. I have pics of the tan hand bag in my other post since I couldn't put them on this post. I didn't mention it earlier, but I've only begun this leather adventure since early January and I am really excited to learn as much as a I can to get better. Needless to say, I think this year everyone in the family will be getting something in leather for Christmas. Thanks for the warm welcome.

Apparently these are big files so here are some more pics.............

Hey guys, I've been on and off here quite a bit for the last two months or so trying to learn from seeing and reading. I've done some stamping with the two Tandy kits I bought, but I think I want to head in the purse,backpack,attache bag direction. I'm kind of on a tight budget so acquiring tools has been slow. Thankfully I have a good friend that bought me a rotary punch so I've managed to make the two projects you see. The little bag is the Dasher from Tandy. The other is a Kindle cover I made from the Tandy 8 1/2" by 11" tooling leather. The purse was a big step for me but I had to jump in with both feet. The leather was a veg-tan belly? that was on sale at Tandy for 20 bucks. I had no template or pattern to speak of, just what i saw in my mind. I measured and cut trying to maximize the leather for the biggest bag from this cut of leather, also for gussets and straps. I actually had to borrow money for the hardware. Anyway the bag is complete and as of later today it will be given to my wife for her birthday. I know I have a long way to go. I see what I want but have to get the tools and practice to get there. But hey, practice makes perfect. Let me know what you think.