niniquesvk

Thanks guys, appreciated.

Thanks!

Thanks!

Full album with build process: http://imgur.com/gallery/hRuUB/ Greetings. I tried to make new leather sketch pad. I keep hearing from my wife, that I should get more rest, so that gave me idea with the citation. Mistakes I made: I want to be more precise with cutting. Letter shapes could have been better. I wish I made spacing between letters more tight and even. Creasing of the Togo leather was mediocre. I used higher temperature and it got better, but its still not that good. Sometimes I lost control over the stitching, few holes were misaligned and it broke straight line.. should be more careful with pricking irons next time.

Hi pancho, skywalker! Stiffener is cardboard like material that can bend and get wet without loosing shape. Although I have seen people using leather for this purpose.

Thanks! Its actually my first venture to imgur under account, was suprised that somehow even commented there

Build process: http://imgur.com/gallery/sd62q For some time I was curious about finer bookbinder leather and how would it hold in a bag. Bookbinder leather is made for the different use, so I was expecting some difficulties and had limited expectations from the end result. I bought two small bookbinder goats and made slim mini briefcase from them. Bookbinder leather is very delicate, winkles and scratches easy, and usually is sold quite thin. So I decided to use thicker stiffener to give it defined shape I was looking for. I have to say I quite like how it looks when stretched evenly over stiffener, it has nice texture and is very soft. Will see how its going to hold up after some use..

I see now your point, I havent seen this kind of videos you describe, I was lucky I guess..

I watch tutorial videos from time to time and attend regular classes with old leatherworker. Obviously I learned much more from having teacher and working with him in person, than from watching videos. But still Im very grateful for having these youtube videos available. Its always good to see how people do things, what tricks, equipment they use.. For example in one of the last Nigel Armitage videos, he mentions using simple pencil instead of awl or spatula to apply edge paint. I tried it and it really works for me too. So, leather youtubers, keep it up, I can only appreciate it.

I guess you use veg tanned leather. With chrome tanned or mix tanned, I dont use any finish. I leave it as it is from tannery.

Nice! Im making something similar just now. Have you considered using stiffener? Helps a lot with the rigidness.

Congrats! Looks really neat. Nice edges.

Hello guys, Im completely new to sewing machines and frankly I find the topic bit daunting. I have tried to do some research in the forum, but its too much information to process to make the decission.. for me at least. So Im asking for an advice. I want to buy my first sewing machine, budget is 2500 Euro. I make bags only. Main reason is time saving. I have so many ideas I want to explore but hand stitching everything is so slow and became a burden. I use veg and chrome tanned leather. Thickness varies greatly, but I say 3mm is maximum. Most of the time its about 1,5mm or lower. Im not interested in heavy production, its just very serious hobby of mine I want to devote as much time as possible. So simply put, what first machine would you recommend me buying? Thank you very much in advance! This forum keeps me going.

Howdy! I made my first attempt at bag that has stitches hidden inside (it is turned inside out after sewing). However while trying to turn it inside out, I discovered that I used too thick leather (veg. tanned) and I simply was not able to turn it inside out without damaging it. So, being desperate, I showered whole thing with water and then it turned inside out pretty easily. However, now, after drying, leather hardened and its too stiff and hard, almost like a cardboard. I cant imagine using it as a bag in this state. Is there any way to return softness to leather that was in water? And what if that happened to product while normal, every day usage? It can get wet in rain for example. How to protect veg. tanned leather products from getting too hard after contact with water? Im total begginner and Im aware that these questions are very basic, but I could not find any sensible answer with google. Thanks a lot.