LatigoAmigo

Possibly available at Maine Thread Company... https://www.mainethread.com/index.php/cotton-cord/product/194-burgundy-541-cotton-cord

Not too sure about the compatibility of the dies, but this has been my choice... for only $125. http://www.campbell-randall.com/product/italian-twist-press-no-3

Buy one and disassemble it. There's your pattern.

Very nice bag, and a GREAT story. Keep up the good work!

Give 'em a call and tell them what you're looking for, I'm sure they'll be glad to help you. They might even be able to send you a sample. Nice folks.

The Hide House (located in, of all places, Napa) carries 2-3 oz. black English kip leather in their inventory, plus they do international shipping. https://hidehouse.com/products/index.html?Product_ID=776

How about using a wood burning tool instead? Kits can be found at Amazon for $20 to $30, so that along with a temperature regulator (less than $50), and you should be in business for way less than $100.

Now that is something worth celebrating.

As the saying goes, "If You're Not Paying For It, You've Become The Product," otherwise why are valuable e-books be given away for nothing? The bills have to get paid somehow. Not neurotic, just cautious.

This is all very interesting, but wouldn't you need an active email address in order to get the "password" to activate your account in order to get more "free"?

Until they have everyone's name and email address.

I use Tokonole (Seiwa Tokonole Leather Finish Burnishing Gum available through Amazon). I paint it on with a small, stiff brush (usually two coats, maybe three), and have found that the color does not rub off at all. Water based and easy clean-up. Very happy with the results.

Setting rivets used to be a headache for me, as they would occasionally not set right and come apart under pressure. I would try to make sure that I imparted enough pressure with my rivet setter, but that would sometimes lead to an unwanted impression in the surrounding leather. And other times the rivet would set "off center" and have to be removed and reset. I solved my rivet problems by purchasing a bench style rivet setter. Nary a problem since.

With such interest, you might think that some of the leather suppliers who advertise here would find a way to obtain and sell these... hint, hint.

You might search this site for previous posts regarding this very same question. One would think these metal loops would be very available, but, surprisingly, they don't seem to be.

Gorgeous.

You might be able to answer the question yourself by building a prototype of your bag out of cloth before you cut any leather. Because cloth is not as thick as leather, the prototype won't have the exact same dimensions as the finished bag, but you'll be able to better visualize the end result, and that might get you closer to your answer. I've had to learn this lesson several times.

Brilliant!

Very interesting design for a guitar... busy, but not too much so, then well crafted. Good work!

Wow! Very nice work.

A search on Amazon turned this up... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O09PSM2/ref=sspa_dk_detail_4?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B00O09PSM2&pd_rd_w=N2kRx&pf_rd_p=8a8f3917-7900-4ce8-ad90-adf0d53c0985&pd_rd_wg=DeY0P&pf_rd_r=Q3WSZ6WW9SN9MVGSJFZ0&pd_rd_r=80a716d9-a80e-4ab0-a204-f7fc85b28353 In this case the supplier is Dangerous Threads. Click on their name and you will be taken to a page that lists their Amazon offerings. Plus Amazon will provide you similar products, for which you can find those suppliers. From there you can use the internet to contact those various suppliers to see if they can provide you with what you are seeking. Because there are many types of boot laces available, including variations in color, leather type and weight, you should have quite a contact list. Good luck.

Let your leather breathe. Give it a thorough inspection, and remove any mold with a soft cloth, like a cotton diaper or micro-fiber cloth. You might need to clean the leather, but how you do that and what you use will depend on the type of leather you have. Replace that plastic either with new plastic, or preferably some manilla paper. It is a brown, heavy paper that many leather suppliers use to wrap hides for shipping. It will allow the leather to breathe while protecting it from abrasions.

I may be saying this because I will never be a full-time leather crafter, nor will I ever apprentice under someone to expand my skill set. I just like "doing" leather work and having fun. But if someone is simply willing to buy your hand-crafted leather product, you might very well be able to consider yourself a "crafts-person."

Wow... Born in the UK, Kate Ballard, a Suffolk native, has wanted to make saddles since 11 years old. At the age of 15 she left school and started her career under the tutelage of Tony Russell and Ken Langford. Kate showed such aptitude for the trade and craft she was quickly offered a place at the prestigious Cordwainers College in London. There for 3 years she studied saddle making, bridle making, harness making, biomechanics of horse and rider, the muscular system and skeletal frame of the horse and finally lorinery, the study of bits. During her time at Cordwainers College Kate entered a competition for The Prince of Wales Award for Rural Crafts, not only did she win her class with her hand made saddle she also won overall champion. Kate graduated Cordwainers College after completing all C&G exams for Rural Saddlery. With the highest honours Kate received the gold medal for best student. Kate was then offered a four year formal apprenticeship with Geoff Dean, Master Saddler and Harness maker in West Sussex, England. Throughout her apprenticeship Kate continued to excel in her trade, winning the Society of Master Saddlers competition in London. Making Saddlery for Tina Gifford (now....) Britain’s 3 Day Eventing Olympic medalist. She was requested to make a bridle for the Kings Troop to be presented by Princess Anne at the Royal Tournament, Earls Court, London. After 7 years of training and working Kate’s love for her home in Suffolk beckoned and she was offered her an opportunity as a Journeyman in a local Saddlery for 2 years. After 9 years of education, exams, training, assessments, dedication, persistence and sheer hard work Kate earned her status as a Master Saddler and Professional Saddle Fitter, the dream she’d had from the age of 11 had come true. Kate’s reputation, high standards and professional ethics have made her a sought after commodity. In Dec 2002 Kate moved to the U.S. Bringing her wealth of knowledge and skill to a Country where sadly no education for this unique trade is provided she has endeavored to teach and educate those in the equestrian industry. Since being in the US Kate has lectured on the SMS overseas Saddle Fitting Courses, taught apprentices and most recently consulted for the U.S Paralympic Dressage team who won medals for the first time ever in an International Competition at The WEG in 2018.

That is very interesting. When I Googled Cauterie it looked amazingly like the Thread Zapper II that I got from Amazon... for around $10.