LumpenDoodle2

Hello. The best way to get a 'taste' of what you might need is to wander over to youtube and see the different types of leather (chrome and veg tan), and see the different applications and tools used. Do you know what type of leather you have? If it's upholstery/chrome leather, you might get away with using it as an edging, because of its flexibility. If it's vegetable tanned, then keep it for better projects, like your cover, and get some thin upholstery leather to bind the rug. As to tools, get yourself a cutting board (green self heal), a straight edge/ruler, and a good quality stanley knife (and replacement blades). Now we come to the sewing. You can pick up a reel of decent (not great) thread (including needles) from eBay, and an awl. That will get you started. After that project, you will probibly throw the tools into a drawer and go out and spend decent money to buy what you will now know you really need. Read this forum, watch the recommended youtube vids, and you will soon start to work it all out. Just to add, personally I prefer Le Provo for my stuff, so have a look there too.

The Walnut is a lovely colour. Trust me, I'm a short person.

Isn't it amazing how such a small amount of liquid can cover such a big area. I refill the 4oz bottles from the big ones, and had just done that when I decided to knock over a newly filled Spanish Brown 4oz over. Over the desk, into the 3 drawers, onto the laminated wood flooring, and my little rug (and me). Next day, my little brain must have decided that the resulting colour scheme wasn't quite right. So I knocked over a full 4oz bottle of Dark Brown edge cote. It complimented the other dye quite nicely. The day after that, I stabbed myself in the thigh with an awl while resting a piece of leather on my lap (I know.....). I carried on and didn't really notice anything until I saw my left arm and hand had a good covering of blood. Took a minute to work out where it was coming from. It looked quite impressive, in its own way. it was an interesting week..........

From personal experience, I would double check that the thread is actually sitting properly between the tension disks. Also make sure your thread isn't getting hung up on anything at the spool. Finally, rethread the machine, and back off the tension. Then adjust one thing at a time, and see if there is any improvement.

If only I could get someone to tidy my little workspace for me...........(sighing wistfully emoticon thingy here). I know it needs done, the castors on my chair are having difficulty running up and down the little mounds of scrap leather and thread scattered about the carpet. (Been a busy couple of days). If I leave it much longer, I may accidently end up on an episode of 'Hoarders'.

As has been said, try different height adjustments to your chair, or maybe change the height of the table (blocks under the legs, or get the saw out). Getting the right, and most comfortable working height can be a bit of a faff. After all, if you are not comfortable, your work turns into a chore.

Funnily enough, I was sewing a holster last night using tiger thread, and noticed that my length of thread was starting to twist. Looking closely, my thread had developed a gentle spiral which it didn't noticably do before. I have obviously developed a habit of turning the needles while sewing. All I need to do now is work backwards and see where this twist is developing. Obviously, being tiger thread, it's not a problem regarding unraveling, but it is a good example of a small problem that can multiply itself over a metre or so of stitching.

Abbey is fine, and no problem for signing onto. As to demonstrating you are a business, I think I just popped the business name in, at that was that. I agree, the Le Provo website is a bit basic, but you get used to it. I do have to say that the staff are absolute stars, are happy to help out, and (more importantly) know what they are talking about. Don't be shy about phoning them if not sure about an item. I've been buying most of my leather, dye, and hardware from Le Provo, and haven't even had a hint of not happiness over the quality of their stuff.

I have 2 of these cheap and chearfull sets. The quality can vary quite a lot, and they have a tendency to bend over long use. But saying that, they do the job, and let you try out the shapes, and work out which ones you will use most without paying out a lot of money. You can then just upgrade to the better quality stamps you know will used.

I agree, it appears to be a billiards based pinball. The balls fired using a billiards cue at either side, and points scored by whatever slot at the bottom the ball ends up in. I believe the four round 'stumps' should be open holes. Traps the ball could fall into, hense the catch box under the table. As a child, I think I remember we had a mini version of this, but we used marbles.

Well said. We all bite our collective tongue on occasions over something someone's said/posted, but since the core, and only purpose of this site is leatherwork, we put our own feelings aside, and get on with it. Sometimes it's like having you aged unreconstructed uncle come to visit. Dodgy stuff comes out, but to save upsetting the family, we brush over the comments. So, probibly best to try to not be the aged unreconstructed uncle, and just keep in mind, and respect that other folk may have difficulty with what you post.

Always worth making a couple, then giving them to a woodworker or two to roadtest. Not only can you then refine the apron's design, but you get your product out there to be seen by potential buyers.

Well done for taking things back to the basics. A nice simple, cheap, but efficient hot embossing system. It occurs to me that if you wanted a larger working plate area, removing the hot plate system off something like an old Dut hot foil stamper, and remounting it in a large upright press might be useful.

I think the good thing to me about the cheap thread, against buying little lengths of tiger thread, is that I don't feel 'precious' about using it. There again, maybe that's just the Scot in me showing.

No real problem with skulls, after all, everyone has one of their very own. I especially love looking at the old gravestones. Back in umpteen oatcake, because few people could read, skulls were used symbolically on gravestones to represent our paths through life and death. What upsets me is swearing. Ok, you might want to make a point through your art, but big naughty word, well, it's not exactly subtle is it (and it's so been done before). But if the customer want it........ I understand even less why sweary words are used in posts, some people just don't seem to be able to write a sentence without a profanity. Just seems like giving yourself more work when typing. Personally, I do have a preference towards 'clucking bells' if the need arises.

Lovely rich colour, and I do love to see some wrinkles and marks on leather stuff. It's easy for some people (customers) to forget that thier real leather 'whatever' used to do a proper job as cow covering once. A little mark, or wrinkle adds a bit more character IMHO. And thanks for your advice on getting the basketweave level, JLS. My basketweave still has a bit of that unintentional, rustic meander to it. Also glad to hear that I'm not the only one to stop dead, halfway through making a left hand holster, convinced I've just completely cacked up.

I've tried some the Chinese thread too. It's bit stretchy compared to the tiger thread, but I like having a little collection of mixed colours. It certainly seemed ok for a couple of wallets I've made with contrasting stitching.

The chap who originally made the maul did a lovely job, using a leather disk handle, heavy steel rod, and a couple of ali spacers, my contribution of the white poly was a mere upgrade to a well made object.

Here's my adapted maul next to a standard cheap and chearfull Chinese maul. I'm very happy with how it feels, and has a nice bit balance to it (more by luck than judgement).

Agree, gum trag does the job for me, and the weapon of choice for burnishing is a very large bone folder.

Now, if Dave could conquer his fear of elephants, and allow one to balance on him, that may just go some way to closing that crack. And don't worry about trying to explain said elephant, as no-one ever mentions the elephant in the room.

Would love just one of those machines. I don't really need one, but still want one. Need a workshop to put it in too.........

Agree, nice little machine.

I think the letter after the model number denotes where the Singer was made (K - Kilbowie, Scotland, A - Anderson, South Carolina, USA, etc).