Invasion

Great job I bet your daughter will treasure this for ever, just because her Dad made it for her I think no matter how good you get at something, you will always see faults in your own work. The key is DONT point them out to people. My wife is always telling me stop pointing out things in my work that I have done wrong...as they will probably never notice;) I used to call myself a perfectionist until some said to me "Oh you are are you. Well, a perfectionist is just an idiot that didn't get it right first time round" I didn't know what to say to that lol and have never called myself one again;) Keep up the good work

Really impressed....a satchel is on my to make list very soon. What leather did you use; is it just veg tan ? If so what dye did you use ? Stiching looks really good also Can I ask where you got the magnetic buckles from ? I have been looking t getting a makers stamp as it does seem to give a better finished look to projects did you get yours in the uk ? Adam

This is great really appreciate the effort you have gone to on this for all of us Will be giving this a go really soon. Would you happen to have dimensions of the parts please ? Can I just ask do zips come in different sizes - length wise -or are the just super long and you cut it to length required ? Thanks again for this

Thanks for the info. I will check out metropolitan leather see what they have

Thanks for the info really appreciated Looking on abbey england it gets quite confusing on what to order http://www.abbeyengland.com/Store/tabid/77/CategoryID/106/Category2ID/161/Level/2/Default.aspx Ill try to get in touch with Nigel Armitage for some advice.when I was learning how to stitch I was going to contact Nigel and ask some advice but after two weeks I got it by myself Did you contact Nigel through the forum or his website Thanks Again

Yes indeed; I did. It seems that my iPad, likes to make its own choice, and correct me while I'm not looking I take it that cutting the wrong way will make it stretch ?

I have made a few things since I started working with leather, and have improved with each project. I have made few knife sheaths, dog collars and belts -although non of the belts have been big enough for me to wear as I didn't have a long enough piece of leather. (I've attached a pic of my first belt) I would like to make some really good quality belts and was thinking bridle leather would be a good choice. I then,don't have to worry about staining it and the colour coming rubbing onto clothes etc. I have been led to believe it is a much better quality leather? I am hoping this will give a much better overall look and feel. Would like some advice on what thickness -in mm- I should choose and how many square feet so I have good choice of belt length and maybe the odd guitar strap. I really like the Fiebing's professional oil dye in Dark brown. What would match that in bridal leather I will be ordering leather from Abbey England. Another question is: do people line belts with pig skin or something similar, or not bother at all? Really appreciate any advice

Really like that wouldn't walk down the road with it myself but for a female it is great Can I ask did you glue and stitch or just stitch the main bag ?

I really like that bag; love the buckle/catch fastner on it. Like other have said, I really like the colour and thanks for the explanation of the process that you went through to achieve it Something like this is on my to make list and if it comes out looking half as good as yours I will be pleased

Your analysis would make sense. I'm sure, on a video Nigel had done on saddle stitch, when he showed the back it was the same as the front side ?? I may be wrong though. I will go and have another look. Maybe I'm wrong and my stitching is perfect

Hi, I used a Dixon pricking iron and then obviously the Awl. I didn't want the stitches to lay in a groove; I can do that. I was after the the traditional English saddle stitch like Nigel Armitage does Thanks for your input It's driving me mad. If that's the way it was meant to be that would be ok I really like the staggered look like you say it is much nicer looking. I have tried putting in the knot like Nigel does on some work and also I have tried when starting with right hand putting left needle on top and under before passing left one back through ???

I'm trying to perfect my saddle stitch today. I seem to have trouble;with the back looking the same as front. I would love my stitching to look like Nigel Armitage's, and that is the goal, I have set myself. Nigel's workmanship just amazes me and is totally outstanding! I am using Tiger thread and John James harness needles. I think the front is correct just not sure about the back ? I have attached two photos so you can see the front of the stiching and then the back any suggestions ???

I want to make some really high quality dog collars that are durable and improve with age. I was thinking bridal leather would be just the ticket. I was wondering what you guys thought on this? I also have a few questions: Can I still use a makers punch on Bridal leather and will it take any tooling at all ? What do I need to do to finish once item is made; creams etc ? I have noticed with veg tan it wrinkles easily making it look horrible does bridal leather have same traits ? If it is pre finished the colour you want what happens when you bevel the edges does it look untreated or does the dye they use penetrate deep enough ? Sorry if these are silly questions Thanks

Thanks for the info I think I did read someplace that putting stitching in a groove was becoming very popular but overdone....kind of like a fashion thing at the moment. Nigel Armatige all I can say is wow....his work is amazing! I have to get my stitching like his no matter how long it takes me...which may be some time Thanks again

Thanks Yeah I agree on the belt loop. Was an oversight to be honest, when I make mark 2 I will try to sort this out. I have some Tan Kote; can I apply that now it has been dyed ? Haven't seen Ian's videos on you tube but ill check them out soon

Thanks for those pics really appreciated. As they say a picture is worth a thousand words That's the stiching pony I have. I am deffinaltley getting the stiching clam makes the stiching pony look like a toy. The loop idea is brilliant, so simple and does the job! Thanks again for taking the time to post the pictures really appreciated

The wing nut on my tandy one drives me spare as you say thread gets caught up all the time. I do like the fact that you sit on it to hold it in place; but then I may find like you I prefer the clam! Have you got a picture of how you attached loop that you made ?

Ahh thanks for those really nice of you to find them for me...sorry for that late reply I missed your post! That's interesting that you like it much better than the stiching pony; any particular reason? I like the idea of the leather strap mod you did Thanks for the info really appreciated. What is a quick-release strap ? ( I think that is going to be a silly question) I guess it is a matter of trying and seeing what suits best. Thanks for the info

All I can say is wow what Amazing work! Would love to be able to make something like that one day. Having only just made my first knife case; i think im a long way off Really like the the Red it works really well

This my second fInished project; a knife case for my spyderco knife. I'm really pleased with the results of this and, would love anyone thoughts and suggestions. Reading this forum has helped me no end and helped me improve, in fact without it, I don't think I would of been able to make it at all Thanks for looking

I am a new to the world of leather craft and trying to get to grips with stitching. I am from the UK and it seems as if there are different styles between the US and UK. In the UK it seems to me the style is like saw teeth with no groove for it to run down and very stylised in appearance In the US the stitching seems straight and recessed in a groove. Are there any advantages, or uses, of one over the other ?

Ahh ok thanks for that How do you hold these things while working ? I take it this is like a long stick with curved clam shape jaws ?

Thanks for the input guys appreciated:) It could be that is was from the belly. To cut a long story short I ordered 8 square feet of veg tan shoulder and whe. It arrived it was way under size. They sent me some more to make up for it and I am now wondering if this was from the belly? Now using different supplier (Abbey Engalnd ) Thanks again

Thanks for the replies much appreciated I will try to leave overnight in future as you guys suggest. I am a little eager at the moment as this is all new My original thinking as if the leather is damp (although touch dry) it is going to flex about more when stitching and create more wrinkles/creases/lines on face of leather ? I went ahead yesterday and stitched when it was touch dry. It seemed to go ok but, I think I will leave overnight in future. More than anything just to slow me down and stitch in the morning when not so tired out that way I might do a better job! Thanks

I have the super skiver. I am also new to all of this. I spent yesterday practicing on a 20x20 cm of veg tan and I am now a dab hand at it I think it is just practice and developing your own technique. I can't put into words really how I do it. A key point is watch the cutting edge and adjust by tilting back and forth as you go if that makes sense ? I got my 3mm veg tan down to 1.5ish and even and I am super fussy/critical Hope this helps