strapt

Well friends I finally got a little help with our digital camera and thought I would post some pics. But it's getting late here and it is a school night. Hope this works... The belts were for some fellow utilikiltarians, and the straps were for a couple musicians I would like to call friend. Thoughts, opinions, constructive criticisms. Anyone. Buehler...

Hey Rookie, I have made several guitar straps for musician friends and family members. I just made my own patterns with some poster board and a couple basic drafting tools. I still haven't sorted out how to work our digital camera or I would post a couple pics. But it really was one of the easier templates I've created. And easier still if you happen to know the length the strap needs to be, and can cut it all out of one piece. - No buckles or weaving parts together... I would recommend buying a pre-cut strap from Tandy if this is a one off project. Or investing in a strap cutter if you haven't gotten one already. I made my first few straps w/o a strap cutter and really had a hard time cutting 2 edges parallel and straight. Let us know how it progresses.

Hey there Wayward, welcome to the board. I'm also pretty new still, but I may have some answers to a couple of your questions. As far as making a piece of tooling leather more flexible, the only solution I've found is to remove some of the material and essentially make the leather thinner. You can do this by Skiving parts of your hide, or for larger areas an electric sander can be used... though it is a little messy and time consuming. It is my understanding that the sandpaper method is how most suedes are produced these days. As for the dyeing- I have found that wetting the leather first, and then using a sponge and water bowl in conjunction with your dye helps out quite a bit. Good luck with your new hobby! Kep us posted n your progress.

Looks preety nice Mark. Did you stitch that by hand? Looks like a fair amount of work...

Thanks MarkS! Your tips help out quite a bit. Hey so what part of the country do you reenact? Curious, since mine are for a period costume as well...

Beautiful work Storm!

Great question Papa Wolf. I too started as you have, without finishing my edges. I was gently corrected by someone who had been in the industry professionally for a while with the statement: "...I always finished the edges on MY work because unfinished edges looked like the project wasn't done yet..." Or to paraphrase- Anything worth doing is worth doing right. The first time. That being said, the same person gifted me with a lignum vite edge slicker that has become my favorite tool. I have looked high and low for another one with no luck. I would encourage you to pick up a nice edge beveler and a slicker - lignum vite if you can find one- and finish your edges. It will give your projects a professional look and the effort is very rewarding. A few minutes with a sponge and a slicker can really make your project look nice. Just my 2 cents...

Luke those are some good lookiing mocs you're a making. Thanks for posting them. And thanks to all of you for your input, and the great links. Sorry if my first post caused any confusion. I'm thinking I may need to develop my own pattern with inspiration from the online sources you all have pointed me toward. I'll keep you all posted...

Some of my first projects really suffered from large streaks and blotches, and subsequently got darker and darker as I tried to cover my mistakes. Then I asked for some help... (before I found this site) Here is a dyeing technique I have been experimenting with, as told to me by my Father in Law who worked in the leather biz for many years. He uses a 3 bowl method. 1st bowl has dye in it. The second 2 have water in them. Wet your leather with a damp sponge. Dip the sponge in some of the dye, then one of the water bowls and apply light coats. The water will allow you to build up layers of color without getting as much of the blotches and stripes. (or they'll be lighter anyway) I have all but given up using the wool daubers, except for applying gum tragacanth to an edge. I usually buy my sponges from Trader Joe in the kitchen aisle and just cut about a 1" square for dying, then toss it out when I'm done. This dye method has really worked for me, and I didn't even have to dig ot my old airbrush and get it going... Now if I can figure out that fangled digital camera we have I'll get around to posting some pics.

Wow... C'mon guys. All the fine folks, and vast knowledge visiting this board every day and no one has any pointers for a poor newbie? Ghillies are those lace up shoes worn with ones' kilt at the ren fair. Sometimes called ghillies brogues. I'd like to make my own, but could use some pointers. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks friends.

I'm looking for a pattern for a pair of lace up Ghillies. I would like to make a pair that lace partway up the calf. Anyone know of a pattern like that? Thanks!