Tugadude
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Everything posted by Tugadude
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Seems your stitching is taking a long time. How are you making your holes? You need to be able to make a profit and I don't see how if you can't speed up the process. Even at $400.00, you can't cover your hours. Then there are the materials. Not being critical, just helpful, hopefully. -
Ian Atkinson has great videos on his website and/or Youtube. Check out his tutorial on hot stamping. Not expensive the way he does it. http://ianatkinson.net/leather/videos.htm
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Try this link, tells how to case leather. http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=19121 For chrome tanned leather, a heat gun and arbor press can work wonders. Check out Ian Atkinson's video on Youtube explaining his method. Works great and isn't cost prohibitive.
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Nice job and cool pups!
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I disagree that your stitching is mediocre, it is above average I'd say. Some stitches seem pulled tighter than others, that affects the look also. Did you tap the line of stitching down? BTW, funny how the white row seems like bigger stitches...
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+1, chrome tan doesn't stamp well. Casing is a learned skill. Follow the directions on these forums but the specific leather you use can have different results. Are you wetting the leather or soaking the leather?
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I wouldn't say cheesy, but be careful about overdoing it, I would say. Still, it is interesting and perhaps might lend itself to being a "signature" touch. Instead of backstitching, just stop and melt the ends if it isn't a high stress area. If it is, maybe loop around the edge twice and then tuck the ends in.
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Urban Chestnut Zwickel. A lager-style beer brewed by a craft brewer in St. Louis. Had a couple Friday night, yummy.
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Not stupid at all. Hopefully someone knows of a hypoallergenic rivet. I've never seen stainless rivets for leather, but they may be out there.
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Are the rivets for decoration? If so, only rivet through the outer layer and then line and stitch the whole thing. Posting a pic of the choker would help with solutions.
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As an experiment, try RH needle first, cross with the LH needle behind. Make sure the LH needle goes in the bottom of the hole and then cast the thread on the right side, the one you started from. This is the way I stitch mostly and I get a nice angle on both sides.
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Regarding casting, it all depends upon the whole process. Simply casting affects the stitch, but LH and RH priority does too. What side is the grain side on when you stitch? Are the holes angling down towards you or away? Which needle goes in first, which needle is in front when you cross? It all matters.
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I like the look of the asymmetrical flap, very interesting. Good luck!
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Try Springfield Leather. Nice folks and they advertise here, helping to support this site. They have lots of colors in lightweight leather suitable for bags, upholstery, you name it. Prints too. Just go to their website and look through the various types.
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I agree with Silverwingit and would add that a firm tap with a smooth-faced hammer should flatten the thread and force it to fill up any leftover voids in the holes.
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Overall very nice! Your burnishing is looking good. I think your stitching looks much better in some areas as compared to others. I think you are losing track of which needles are doing what. Good stitching involves straight runs of holes but then the stitching has to be uniform, meaning you do exactly the same thing every time. Looks like you are going along well then suddenly you drop a stitch. Suggest looking at any of several tutorials on Youtube. Nigel Armitage and Ian Atkinson are excellent. Good luck!
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Or she can buy you some nice tooling leather. They have a good sale on right now.
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Nice job! Yes, share details for others to benefit from. Much appreciated.
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My First Piece Of Leatherwork.
Tugadude replied to GAZXB9R's topic in Purses, Wallets, Belts and Miscellaneous Pocket Items
If it pleases you it fulfilled its purpose. Nice work on the skull, very nice design. -
Welcome to the forum! I hand sew everything so can't help but there are lots of machine experts on here that can.
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I dye first, never have to touch up but if I did, follow the q-tip recommendation above. Wing divider is a good idea but you can also make a fine line by easing up the pressure on your groover. Scratch, don't cut. Chisel will help too. Watch Nigel Armitages video on Youtube on stitching a belt keep, good tips in there. Watch his stitching iron vids too for tips and technique.
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Remember that the diamonds have a direction to them. If you punch the face of the outside it will not line up with the inside layer that was punched from the inside. So punch the outer piece from the inside or unfinished side.
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One thing about your awl, the blade is longer than I prefer. Many use even longer ones to good effect, but I find that a shorter one is easier to keep straight and level. Honestly, awl work is challenging. Keep your elbow out and make certain that the angle of the blade is exact each time. Takes time to get consistency.
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Here is one suggestion. Punch through one or two layers at a time, line them up over the remaining layers and push the diamong chisel through the existing holesand press hard enough to mark the leather. Then punch through the layer(s) just marked. Stack them up and stitch, or glue then stitch. What diamond chisel are you using, number of prongs, size, etc.?
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Actually there are lots of money clip wallets that use magnets and I've never found them to harm credit cards. I make my own templates, so can't help there, but try the template forum.