humperdingle

Mange tout, my friend, mange tout.

Good idea! Might get in there and make one before patent is filed

Hi, I quite fancy making something similar for holding pencils etc... Could you possibly put up a pic of the seam, please?

Hi, the burgundy coloured leather outfit on the FB page is.... Stunning!

That's beautiful.

Hi, I don't know how much this would be to courier to you from England, but check ebay for a seller called: Heritage Abrasives. They auction huge boxes, sometimes up to 20kg, of natural veg tan. I've had a couple of boxes from them, and the pieces vary in size, but easily big enough for loads of possibles pouches, rifle bolt holders, sheaths, etc. What you can't use, practice tooling on.

Hi, thanks - The main compartment is 14" wide, 12" high and gusset was cut 3" deep. Smaller front compartment is 10" wide by 8" high and gusset was cut 1 1/2" deep. Leather is a waxy bridle tan at around 3mm.

Hi, thanks... I took inspiration from a variety of images found online, together with asking the missus for what dimensions it needed to be. I remember having something similar at school, but the leather was much thinner. Smells the same though

This is my third large bag, but first school satchel... Took around 10 hours, and all hand stitched. This was the first bag I'd put a one piece gusset on (well, two gussets), so had to learn as I went along, but worked out OK. I still need to even-out some edges, but it's more or less done. I added some clear plastic to the name badge frame, but might re-do this to stitch on a full frame, instead of being open at the top. I've also put on some Aussie conditioner since this pic, so it's a touch darker now.

Yeh I thought it would be, so i'd already pre-softened the gusset by bending the strip repeatedly to get it supple, then tacked stitched it in 6 places to hold it - Worked out well! Halfway through the large compartment... Sore fingers

First gusset line stitched, and was easier than I was anticipating! One hole punched and stitched at a time seemed to be the way to go. Next line may well be trickier, as it's only 1 1/2" deep, even less with the curvature, so it'll be interesting if nothing else :D Taking things slowly so I don't frustrate myself and stop actually enjoying it.

Thanks folks... Getting on with it today. Thanks - That's exactly what I did yesterday - I thought it would be easier if the marking points were mirrored exactly Yes, i'm pretty much doing things in the order you suggest, so my organising and planning must be improving lol - Basically working from the front to rear. God, I hate sewing gussets

Hi, I'm making my first 'old fashioned' style school satchel - One large compartment with gusset and a smaller compartment on front, also with gusset. So, i've cut everything out, prepared edges, sewn billet straps/buckles onto front piece etc. Now comes the part i haven't done yet... So do I prick out the holes on the front part and awl through to the gusset and stitch as I go, or do I mark out and awl holes in both front part and gusset, hoping they match-up??? I'm thinking they won't match-up at the bend parts.

Hi Adam, use a 50/50 mix with water... I wasn't impressed with it, but I'd used it neat and didn't realise until looking on here that it needed to be cut. I'll leave the other details to the more experienced

Hi, I know this is an old thread, but do you have the dimensions of this bag please?

Has anybody heard of a 'Saint's' walking foot sewing machine? Tried a search, to no avail. Just wondering if they're a known brand?

Very nice! I really need to get a mold made.

That's what i'm trying to avoid... I'd hate to make something for somebody else only for a rivet to come undone after a while. Yep, finding that myself. These tubular rivets seem more common in the states... Might have to try and find a UK supplier. Having said that, if I can bulk buy chicago screws, it may work out cheap enough.

Nice... Looks quite like one i made a while back - Must say, it never even occurred to me that it might be used to hold needles!

Does anyone routinely use chicago screws instead of rivets? I'm finding these cheap little rivets (2 piece) are just not particularly strong, and bend way too easily. I normally stitch aswell, but like to add a little something metal for high stress points. The chicago screws just seem much more solid, although more expensive. Oh, and do users tend to put threadlock on the threads?

I bought one like this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tandy-Jewellers-Rouge-3323-00-Veg-Tan-Leather-Work-Stropping-Compound-/330903365649?pt=UK_Crafts_Leathercraft_LE&hash=item4d0b60a811 But haven't used it yet! I don't really have anything to sharpen with a strop yet, as I use Stanley blades to cut leather (!)

Hi, thanks for the comment - That's exactly the size of laptop this bag will fit (Diagonal screen size). Next bag will be slightly deeper (this one is 3 inches) and will probably have a divider and possibly a phone compartment.

Hi, 'Band-aid' was for the American membership Basically, a strip of 1mm/1.5mm leather about 1" x 2", depending on how chubby the fingers are Butt stitched together. Loose enough so they're comfortable and easy to take off, tight enough so they don't just slip off. Glove fingertips would work, too, I suppose, but I like to keep fingertips bare.

Hi, the design used a 'T' shape of leather. The sides continue round the back for a couple of inches. The rivets at the top were just to hold the top corners of the overlap so they don't start flapping about due to wear. For the next one, i'll do a bit of extra stitching instead. No internal compartments either (another 'to do' for next time). The bag can fit a laptop and other paperwork in it no problem. She's been taking it to work, packed full of all her stuff and seems to be holding up, so fingers crossed!

Made this for my wife a couple of weeks back - Not sure of the weight of the leather, but it's around 3mm bridle, dyed from a natural colour (Bit patchy, but not tooooo bad) She's happy with it - Simple, no fuss design, quite 'boxy'.