DJole

I have 2 Xacto knives, for lighter leather. I used these for a few years, until I realized that other tools are better suited for some tasks. For instance, I have a craft knife (snap-off blade) and a box cutter, for thick leather, and a rotary cutter which is excellent for soft leathers. The "push" cutting of my rotary cutter really helps me keep straight lines. I use Tandy's heavy leather shears for some things, especially lighter leathers with complex curves. I have recently been using my Japanese style skiving knife to cut straight lines and trim corners, after watching many videos of people doing that. And to skive with, of course! But not all leathers-- some I skive with my French skiver. I don't even know where my Safety skiver is at the moment, since I don't use it anymore. Most people have a variety of knives for different purposes! It really depends on the project. Probably just as important, though, are the following: Keep the knives sharp! Before starting a new project, replace or sharpen the blades. Learn how to sharpen a blade and how (and how often) to use a strop--it really makes a difference! Have a good cutting mat underneath. Cutting mats with grid lines are very useful for making sure lines are parallel. For straight lines, use a metal ruler to guide your cuts. A cork-backed ruler is what I use. But don't go out and buy all the knives right away!

Check out these beginner-oriented videos from Leodis Leather. He discusses what tools you might already have, what leather to use, and so on. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvoKYeh7ahyGB-numgnO3WxOVi3Sgkyzg

I regularly buy leather from PeggySueAlso. They are located in Tacoma: 2916 S Steele St, Tacoma, WA 98409, in the same building as North Star Glove factory (call 253-627-2656 for hours-- I believe they close at 2 pm) https://www.peggysuealsoleather.com/shop They have veg tan sides and full hides, in 2 oz up to about 10 oz. They can cut it as needed. You can handle the leather and view it before, too. They also have a tremendous selection of fashion leather, which the top link will give you just a taste of. They have shelves, and shelves, of leather, and another set of rooms with just cut panels. I've bought Saffiano leather there, faux alligator, faux ostrich, faux elephant, goat skin, and even floral prints, not to mention veg tan panels. The veg tan is very good quality, too -- nice and clean, takes tooling and dyeing very well. (Note that they do leather only -- no tools, accessories, thread, glue, etc.)

What is the project? Knowing how and where it will be used is information that makes a difference for thread choice.

Here are the four I have made so far, in a family portrait. It's been fun to try out different patterns and techniques.

I'm making a series of bags using motifs from the early medieval Ornes stave church in Norway. I finished this one last night. That flap (with the soft raspberry colored leather and the folded edge) was a pain! I won't be doing that very often. ;-) The red gusset is faux elephant, and the red edges are Vernis edge paint from Rocky Mountain Leather Supply. The purple dragon and buckle strap are done with Angelus dye, non-diluted.

Angelus dye has a Light Rose color. I've used it on veg tan, and it is pink.

Without a round knife, I use both a Japanese style skiving knife (from Olfa, with the replaceable blades, which I just sharpen and strop), and a French style. I use them for different tasks.

I don't have any specifics about tool makers or shops, unfortunately. There are certain very skilled ateliers in the Seoul area, but not down in this part of town. I also didn't get a whole lot of time to really peruse the shops...the kids were on their last legs, so I really had to limit my time. ;-(

Does the thread melt or burn when you apply a lighter to an end?

Looks like the halibut lost that fight... Good catch...and good holster, too!

I just completed this piece. I'm working on a series of bags featuring tooling based on carved wooden designs from Norwegian stave churches, the wonderful old wooden medieval wooden churches. This is a double headed dragon from Ornes stave church, the oldest surviving stave church.

Welcome to the forum, and welcome to better health!

You might also look at Rocky Mountain Leather Supply. (https://www.rmleathersupply.com/)They have always been accurate and quick with my orders, and they offer free shipping in the USA.

I have a PDF of plans I found somewhere online, just for occasions like this, where somebody is looking for plans: https://djole.altervista.org/djole/Publications/Leather/S/StitchingHorse.pdf

Is the difference in the measurement? I seem to recall that the Japanese makers (and perhaps Korean and Chinese) measure the distance from prong tip to prong tip, whereas others (Tandy, maybe?) measures the distance from the sides of the prong to the adjacent prong. I may be misremembering this.

I rarely, if ever, knot the thread onto my needles. I find it more bother than it's worth, personally, if I need to take out some stitches. I also haven't bothered to lay the thread in a particular way. I guess I'm not that much of a perfectionist! I just recently bought some Vinymo thread to work with (round polyester thread from Japan)-- good colors and a variety of thicknesses. I've been pleased with it so far, although I do find it necessary to lightly wax it before using it. I have a variety of thread to work with-- Ritza flat braid, Vinymo round, waxed Irish linen in a variety of colors, a spool of Since linen thread, chunky waxed Tandy thread (which came in only 3 colors, and which I rarely use now,)and a sampler box from Maine Thread. Different projects use different thread types, after all!

I think the bottom design looks better because of the "fade" effect you used with the background tool. The top one has an abrupt edge, and it just doesn't look as clean and professional.

Ooh, that's a lovely piece of work! That's a knife fit for a thegn!

Those are so nice, I'd be reluctant to mount them on a saddle and get them banged around and scuffed up while riding! Oh wait...maybe on a parade saddle!

It looks pretty nice! I did something similar for my mother. It was a nice change of pace to just cut and sew, without messing around with tooling and the like!

All my new wallets together. The brand newest one is at the bottom -- it's cream Saffiano, with cream Ritza thread, with a black glossy/textured interior. I can't recall what that leather pattern is named. They look so good together!

Thank you -- I find that every time I make one of these, I develop a bit more skill. Like somebody (whose name I can't recall) once wrote, doing a lot of small projects, repeating the process over and over, is a great way to learn -- and I think it's true!

Thank you for your vote of confidence! (I have made 2 others, not pictured, that already sold!) The Saffiano leather which I am using was purchased from PeggySueAlso leather (https://www.peggysuealsoleather.com/shop). They're local to me, so I get to go directly to the shop and handle the leather. I find that a 12X12 panel is enough to make the front and back side of a wallet, and the pockets for this pattern, with some left over for other projects like pockets. The pink was an 8X10 piece, taking the red from a left over strip. I found that some colors are stiffer than the others. The metallic bronze, for example, is quite a bit more flexible than the others, and the pink is quite firm. The blue and red are between the two. The firmer pieces skived very nicely (they are 1 mm in thickness). It is difficult to get edge bevelers to work on the leather. I use sandpaper glued to popsicle sticks, a sanding stick, to smooth out the edges. The edges sand well, for a nice flat surface for edge paint. And as a bonus, any slight overflow from the edge paint wipes up quickly and easily from the surface. The flesh side smooths very well with Tokonole, which also works on the edges. I really like working with the Saffiano; I can see why high end bag manufacturers use it. It has a nice feel because of the texture, which helps the wallet "stick" inside a pocket.

I'm building up an inventory. Here are three I completed this last week. Pink and Red Saffiano with beige Ritza thread. Blue Saffiano with blue Ritza thread. Bronze metallic Saffiano with faux ray-skin pockets, using chestnut Ritza thread. Each time, they go a bit faster and a bit smoother!