battlemunky

This will maybe be the most interesting thing I'll read today @fredk. It sucks for the creative folks but I have to appreciate them looking out for the endangered list.

Replying mainly so I can follow along and see how this turns out. Post pics if its interesting.

That is a really nice collar, especially for a first go at a collar. Are those jiffy rivets at the buckle?

As I was reading what you wrote I was expecting to see the "issues" you were mentioning. If you wouldn't have said anything I would find this completely flawless. You executed wonderfully! Are the handle hold downs 2 piece or one? If they are one piece, How'd you make that happen?

This wouldn't get you the tattered look but it'll certainly make it look like an older piece of leather than what it really is. Grab some felt, it doesn't have to be woolen, just any felt will do, and rub some wax into it. Take the waxed felt and scrub away at whatever you want to look older and worn and you got it. Should be able to target it pretty well to just the blue line unless it's small, just fold the felt accordingly, use a corner, etc. Post up some pics whatever you do, this sound like a good thing to learn once you figure it out.

Yeah, I love this whole thing. Great reuse of the reins.

The feel of a lined belt is far superior, IMO, than an unlined belt. You feel supported compared to a non-lined belt. I bet guns feel the same way I hand sew too and it does take forever. I've done 4 by hand so far. It is a labor of love for sure. My fingers still hurt with ghost pain from the needles a year after the fact. I love both of mine and my buddy would fight you to the death for both of his but I'll be damned if it was easy.

I believe it has similar tensile strength compared to hand sewing thread as well. It doesn't lay as fancy as thread so I only use it in places it doesn't matter.

I use some lacing cord from time to time. I've only ever seen it in white and black. It is flatter and wider than regular hand sewing thread but when you pull it tight to sew it skinnies up similar to hand sewing thread. Let me see if I can grab a pic or so to compare.

That looks really nice @Dunluce. I use 3-4 oz veg for all mine except every once in a while I'll use 5-7 oz veg for the exterior panel. Mine are pretty trim for veg and I could go down to 2 oz leather easily but I intend on mine outlasting the original buyer so I go a bit thicker than I likely should/do. Having said this, you are probably ok on the thickness

How's it tanned? It may not even burnish due to tannage. Looks like it may be chrome with the white edges.

Beautiful work!

Your work is as crazy good as the look of the mandrill on the diary Mike. It looks amazing and fun!

Again, master level work Sir. I'm better off having seen it.

I hope it helps more than feeling like I punted you off to look elsewhere for info. It's just that, for me anyhow, seeing folks make patterns is infinitely more helpful than trying to piece it together from reading it, especially from someone like me who may think he explained it well but didn't really. Don't be afraid to look at pattern makers using cloth as well since leather is basically heavy cloth/textile itself. There are a few differences here and there but you'll pick that up as time goes on. Also, wrapping paper/cardboard around things and marking edges while it is wrapped gives a relatively decent estimation of a pattern and then you can add room for leather thickness and stitch allowance, etc. Please don't stop asking questions!

@VartLiv If you search YouTube, you'll find a ton of content on pattern making. I believe there is some pattern making content on here as well. Having made some items from patterns in the past you can "see" in your mind how some things go together. You know more than you think you do. Get some empty cereal boxes and start experimenting! Mascon Leather on YT has a video where he makes some patterns for wallets. They are rudimentary but so are wallets. But there is a good bit of content on pattern making out there.

Excellent question. Here is what I do, not sure if it is what others do but its how I handle all of what you asked. First, I punch from the inside out as often as I can. I do that so I can see edges (I think that is what you mean by the lip) of pockets. When I'm making something that forces me to punch from the outside in, I will take my trusty round awl and poke juuuusssst a big enough hole from the inside out so that I can see where I need to in order to miss the edge of the pocket to keep from tearing through at a bad place. The hole is just big enough so I can see it, more of a blemish really, and then I set my pricking iron on it and makes it go away but in a place I know is safe to punch. I hope that description makes sense.

I'd guess that you simply went low when you shoulda went high, or vice versa, with your second needle...super easy to do. Next time, as soon as it happens (watch for it) just undo the stitch or two and ensure you are remaining consistent. It will help you determine what is going wrong. It does look like you have a hole a little off too though...so I'm not 100% sure which. It drives me crazy when it happens. Self doubt sets in immediately and then I spend the next 2 days watching Nigel and Ian videos on stitching.

Looks great. Tiny work is tough and those chain links still look like chain links!

Also, buffing the piece to get rid of excess dye that may be residual on the surface should help. It could be the dye too. In my experience, Fiebings Pro Dye leaves the least behind with Fiebings alcohol dye being almost as bad as waterstain. I haven't sewn through Angelus dyes so I don't know about those but they did transfer on my hands after they were dried so I expect they would wreck some white thread.

https://am-leathercraft.com/pages/custom-made-stamps-1 This is who I used. Everything is great except his shipping times. He's in Vietnam, IIRC, and expect a few weeks minimum to get your stamp. Other than that, he's affordable, sharp, and friendly to work with.

Really cool stuff!

Looks beautiful! Did you block dye the sunburst or is that airbrushed.

Lookin' great Yin! I love doing DG's patterns. I'm not a fan of Sheridan so much but you can't argue with how much you learn while doing it, even screwing it up, which you most certainly are not Sir.

Good luck and post pics!