blue duck

Very nice. And most importantly, if Mrs. M is happy, then that settles it. Now you can hang it up and look at it for four months.

That is really dressing up those totes. They will certainly stand out. Are you making your conchos as well?

Very nice. She will be very excited. The one thing I would mention is the strap. Personally, I don't care for the look of webbing on nice leather cases. It just kind of detracts from your hard work. On the practical side, I don't like carrying a web strap, but may be that I have never had one done right either. So maybe consider a leather strap for it? Just an idea.

My opinion on that SBM, well we won't get into that too much, just don't buy into all of their 'reasoning' behind design etc. Much of it is just marketing, which they are really good at. But I would maybe steer clear of that type design to begin with for practical reasons as well. That will be a real bugger to sew, unless you have access to a sewing machine. I guess a patcher. It could be hand stitched, but don't think that would be any fun. For a beginner project, those are some really big pieces of leather to buy, work with, or perhaps mess up. Mr. Tuga has the right idea. Just cut out of paper to begin with and adjust to suit. The one you have looks like a good start on how you would create darts. After you make the paper look right, I would suggest making the pattern out of something cheap. Felt will have a bit of body and give you an idea how the design will work. When satisfied, you might even do it with cheap leather before using the good stuff. It will also help with the construction sequence. As a gee whiz, when making a pattern don't forget to add your seam allowance where needed. Another lesson learned the hard way.

You are quite right. If you do want to do this technique, make sure and lay it out on paper, put the actual fold in. You will find it is not a straight line across the bottom. You will need to add a bit extra to compensate for the fold. It is hard to describe, but if you would like to do it, I will draw (very poorly) what I am trying to explain. I am pretty sure it is just a design element. No pocket included, but you could change it to that if you like. See how the upper part of the gusset goes over the bottom? That would also help keep weather/water/etc. from sliding down into the seam. (Well that is why I would do it) For this bag I think you would want to add feet just to protect your leather. But you can accomplish this with many different options. Metal feet, 4, 5, 6 whatever keeps it off the ground. Metal or wood bars. Even use of 'spots' or other hardware that sits proud of the leather. Depending on your bottom leather, you may want or need to reinforce the bottom. I will certainly try. However, melatonin might really be the answer.

Jeff without actually seeing it or talking with the maker, my guess it is just designers choice. The top bag appears to have a rounder bottom corners, the bottom much more square. But that does not affect the use of the fold/dart. The darts/folds are created by making the leather wider along the bottom of the front piece and tucking it in. Again just a design choice, not necessary. I would bet the back piece of the top bag does not have those folds. If you don't want that look, just create your pattern as a flat piece and then measure your gusset around that. If you wanted the dart/fold you would create the dart to take up that excess material and then you would measure for the gusset. I believe the gusset is three pieces, perhaps more without seeing the bottom. It doesn't take nearly as big a piece of leather that way. If you want to create that fold look I would skive down the thickness at the edge, so the leather will lay down better. To make them even you need to measure out the same distance from each edge to start the fold and take up the same amount of material on both folds. Tack or glue it down and then sew.

Very nice Mr. Mutt! That one should stand the test of time. Really like the rugged look. I know what you mean about wasting the leather. Really bothered me, until the time the entire piece becomes a waste because there was no wiggle room left.

I don't know specifically about FASNAP, but those dies look an awful lot like the ones for a Press n Snap. If that's the case you might try Sailrite and maybe even Wawak for dies.

You might try and do a search for filigree. There should result in quite a bit of info here.

I might be over thinking this, but I don't use a leather needle when I work with this type of strapping. I thought it might be cutting the fibers.

I hadn't heard that Karina. That is some good news there. So @Starwind0 check them out. Lots of canvas options with them.

You might have a look at Big Duck Canvas. They only sell wholesale, but you said you would buy a roll. Think it is around $13/yd for a 50 yd roll. They have been really good to deal with.

Brian and Mrs. Brian ~ Thank you for taking the time to share all of this. Your insight and willingness to share is truly appreciated.

Don't reckon I will ever get to use croc, but it is still a good read. Your endless contraptions are just awesome.

Normally if you go in 2.5" you go 2.5" wide as well. Well maybe not normal, but if this is your first one I would sure recommend it. This way is for one that has a seam on the bottom as well as the sides. If you are making the entire front back bottom from the same piece of material you are correct. 2.5 x 5. That would give you a 5" wide bottom and gusset. Note that those calculations don't have any seam allowance figured in. Lay it out on paper first, then prototype it on something cheap, make corrections, do it again, when right, then you can cut the leather. Good luck.

That is really sharp looking! Love the combination of the leathers.

Not sure what red you need, but you might look at the thread exchange. Springfield Leather also has that wt. in several reds, I believe.

I don't doubt it is known by many names. When I learned about it, they called it a stairstep applique. Think in Bruce Grants teaching.

That is the cutest little purse I have ever seen. There is art and there is craft, this is art. You should have mom or dad skype or facetime you and let her open it in "front" of you. You only get to see that once.

I think it is just waxed canvas. You can get it most fabric places, think several leather suppliers carry it as well now. I would find the heaviest wt. that you are able to sew. Like 10 oz. as a minimum. But then again it depends on what you want to build with it. You can also buy regular canvas and wax it yourself.

This is just a dandy little purse!

Very Nice! Stitching those gussets in must have been some kind of fun.

Love inventive fixes for shop problems. Will file this one away. Nice belts too!

Those should work! So if those are 1/8" or 3.2 mm that is the size lace you should find as well. Let us know how it goes.

kbarker, don't know if you are interested, but seen a CB3200 for sale on craigslist in Belgrade a bit ago. Not close enough for me, think you are about the same, but you might like a road trip.