battlemunky

Well, you can find a pic online and sketch it onto some transfer paper and go from there, you don't have to be an artist so much as be able to put down clean cuts and bevels after you transferred the image onto the leather. The art part is easy unless you are coming up with it out of your skull.

I like looking at it! I carved a face into a sheath I made and that is about it. It is difficult and I don't have the time to get better at it so I am leaving it for a later time. I tried an old dead tree once too but it got super fine super quick and I couldn't get my cuts made well enough.

That is really cool work dude, I especially like the basket weave on the left and right bottoms of the piece.

Some people really suck. Ian seems like a good dude and I hope all this BS smooths out with no more impact than he's had to put up with already.

If the pics ain't doing that justice, I'd love to see it for real. It looks great even in the pics! Did you line it and are there any pockets or anything?

Nigel Armitage has a pack of wallets for sale on his website. I think they were 9 bucks USD or 10 pounds. I've used it for the trifold so far and not only does he have dimensions but he has directions and tons of encouragement on how to mod the designs to make them your own. I added a outer piece to hold cash His written template packet is as good as his videos. Between the instructions for the template and the instructions, it's a slam dunk. Super easy and really good designs, I can't suggest strong enough. For your convenience: http://www.armitageleather.com/product-page/simple-fold-wallet-design-pack

A rag? I don't know if you'll get all of it off but I've never had a problem leaving it on, just don't burnish it or else you'll end up with a shiny spot.

That looks bad ass. Tell him I said Semper Fi Marine!

Looks cool as all hell. Well done!

That looks really cool. I think you nailed the dragon and the scale grid is super cool.

That looks great!

I'm a righty and hold and move the stamp with my left hand and use the mallet in my right. I also cut with my right.

CAS from Maryland, huh? Do you know a CAS that goes by Smokey Hill Thompson by any chance? Great looking rig by the way. I love the flow of the camoflager and how it rolls along.

@immiketoo posted this upcoming class: Watch the video and see some rather mind blowing examples. And then take that class when it is offered. I want to. That looks amazing and you need so little to do it not to mention adding that skill to your arsenal

Wow. That looks like its gonna be awesome.

And that stitching issue will go away when you get that practiced more. I recommend watching Nigel Armitage's saddle stitching video and also find Al Stohlman's stitching book. It is a great read and then stitch away. Then read/watch it all again. Wash, rinse, repeat. It'll all make more sense.

Welcome! I'm relatively new here too. Youtube has it's merits as well and many of the folks on here have channels that are very good but I get what you are saying. Don't be ashamed to post your stuff, put up some pics for either critique or just to show it off, we all love pics and it'll help you figure out how to post pics here which is about the only downfall to the site. Aside from that, there is a great bunch of folks here and a cornucopia of knowledge. It's good to have you here!

My hands are a sore, gnarled, and twisted mess just thinking about how long that took....which looks good so far!

That's a lot of legend in one pic!

I just use pricking irons or a overstitch wheel to get my spacing right and split the difference in places I can't get to fall evenly like corners.

Goodwill? Also Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/market/round_purse

If it is a field use knife you leave a little bit of welt off down at the tip so water can drain/vent.

That's a tough break right there. Aside from the extra dye, it looks perfect.

looks pretty epic

John James needles are the best needles I've used. I don't know what they do differently in making them but they rarely break and are ridiculously smooth to sew with. I think the rest is all up to you and what you want to achieve. If you want a nice tight look with full stitches, go with a close spacing and a thick thread, if you want a gappy look to your piece, go with a wider spacing, bigger hole, and thinner thread. A lot of it is just aesthetics and most times, a saddle stitch will hold the work together just fine no matter the spacing given you are using a good thread of adequate size. I have the Chinese pricking irons and the Chinese knockoff tiger thread and they are working just fine. I'm not trying to pass off any of my work as ultra premium. Vergez Blanchard has really good tools but you pay for them. It all depends on your level and what you are willing to put into it as well. Me, I'm waiting until my skill can catch up to meet the quality of the tools. I know this doesn't answer you directly but it isn't really a simple question to answer since taste goes into it.