Handstitched

G'Day, I was offered to modify a ute*/pickup cover to accommodate roll bars on the back of the ute. The client gave me another of the same to use as a template. After measuring , marking everything out ready to start cutting, and before I started cutting the holes out, I had the sense to check if I can get this thing under the machine to do the binding, turn it in circles........NUP !!! Can't be done on my Seiko STW. My bad So, have a look at the pic and see what type of binding machine would have done circles?? Something quite large , industrial and automated on a grand scale I'm guessing ? The machine moves around the item, not the other way around? Take into consideration that these covers are approx. 2 metres + square and like a heavy PVC/canvas & velcro , and a bit stiff. I do horse rugs, with those I can fold, flex, scrunch up, manoeuvre the rug to get it under the foot, easy peasy...but this is no horse rug. Too bulky. ( *Ute, pronounced ' yoot' ) HS

Stubby holders here in Oz . @fredk That wellington was a pr*ck !! Stealing the sergeants drink....geeez !! HS

Hope all is well in your universe Its been a while since I've been on this thread. All of the Canola crops are well & truly in full bloom now. Just blinding yellow everywhere you look. Its a stock pic, but you get the idea. Got the 'Grey Fergie' fired up ...yey !! A new battery , fresh fuel, a little bit of ' Start Ya Bastard' ( ether) and away she went. Now to get the Big Boy (Fordson) started....still sitting idle . All the usual property maintenance chores to be done this time of year . Almost cleaned up a kangaroo on Saturday on the way to a market. A red one too , only a few years old, quite unusual for down here. We get 'Western Grey's' mostly. The fully grown red's can potentially kill you. Some are the Kangaroo equivalent of ' Arnold Schwarzenegger' , a condom full of walnuts . My next foodie adventure is 'sweet & sour pork belly strips ' , can't wait HS

@fredk How about making them big enough to hold a stubby (small bottle) of Guinness, for the grown ups of course Only mentioned that as I'm enjoying one as I type, damn good too So, would that be considered doing a ' shoey ' ?? HA !! HS

Its a case of " can you do the job ?......o'h yeah, no worries mate !!" Then its " O'h f**k , what have I agreed to ?? " after the client has left the premises All you want to do is throw it in the 'too hard basket' The financial incentives seem to take over (your head) or any logical thought . But, I will use it as an experience to learn from . The more I put it off, the more it hangs around my workshop....and the more I keep moving it around to make space for other jobs. Best to get it done @RockyAussie 'With out the leather get a large plastic garbage bag and put it over the whole door skin then with a vacuum cleaner suck out all the air you can looking to see if it is possible to get minimal creases.' Thats a good idea. If all else fails, might give that a try . Thanks HS

I spoke to the customer just yesterday , he's actually a friend of mine. He's in a similar position to me , got so much on atm he's not actively working on the vintage BMW anyway that these skins are for.* But your earlier suggestion of using sand bags is the way to go. I also wondered if I should moisten the flesh side , put the bags in place around the arm rest ( without adhesive for the time being) and hopefully the leather 'might' take the shape of the arm rest as it dries, or just go for it , apply adhesive and sand bag it and work my way out. If it was vinyl I was working with ( yuk spit spit !! ) I would of had these done months ago . *I have two tractors to work on and get going ... real soon , so much on atm , but no time. HS

That worked fine for me, downloaded it for myself , but try this instead: https://www.manualslib.com/products/Pfaff-545-3553106.html HS

Australia ?? Cane Toad skins make good stuff too .No shortage of skins, we only have about 1.3 billion + of the damn things. The texture of the snapper skin reminds me of them . HS

I'm still 'stuck' on these 'feckin' door skins . I need extra days in my week...say another 3 or 4? Either that or I'll have to clone myself !! ( Off topic: I'm the chief cook & bottle washer atm , looking after two elderly parents...and doing property maintenance ...AND trying to work in between...AND doing markets *sigh* ) HS

.... and this and that An inlaid wallet perhaps ? or maybe a mobile phone case with inlay? HS

x3 Yep, reuse recycle . Theres quite a few things that can be made with that piece. As for the holes, find a project that requires lacing, they can be covered with the lacing. Also a darker dye will hide any 'mistooks' . Trim the holes off for another project . Use your imagination . ' What do you call a piece of meat that you burnt on the BBQ? A' misteak ' Sorry, off topic....sort of. HS

Another theory I just had. Here in Oz, we drive on the left. In the US they drive on the right. Any correlation? a'hem meanwhile....back to my carrot cake.... HS

Its a Pfaff 134 with reverse, and its a compound feed. I know I'm biased, but it will be a good machine, I own a Pfaff 60 . And yes, your post may get moved to the 'sewing machines' thread. All good HS

I second that. I have some in a old bottle that someone gave me. To get a good finish on a belt, I had to use a lot of white dye . HS

They should have gone to 'specsavers' . ...and cooks nicely on a BBQ HS

@Newbierockabillygal http://www.dixiesewing.com/PFAFF SERVICE BOOK.htm Is this of any use?? It does reference both 145 & 545 suggesting they are similar. Hope it helps. HS

It just means the cow is a vegan , only eats grass, hay & grain HS

I seemed to have started something here...OOPS!! sorry 'bout that . Yep, watched that a few times over the years , it sticks in your mind. Ironically , I'm watching the OS all over again. I have a TV and a DVD player in my workshop . Aaaaaanyway..... Back on topic. Leather myths?? Not so much a myth, but more of a 'beef' that p*sses me off...."Genuine Leather" labels on belts that often have cardboard as a filler in between , and they're sold for $10 ???? get real !!!!!!

Ditto. ' The Wrath Of Khan' springs to mind . Perhaps Captain Kirk can launch an attack on the leather industry ? Launch a torpedo at the shonks ??? HS

@fredk Not sure why, but those images didn't appear. Could be my 'ye olde' pooter . One of the valves may have burnt out. I've got some spares in the shed.....true. HS

I have a 441 clone, had it since 2005 . Not much more I can add other than , all of that ^^^ Its all good . Other than heavy leather, I've sewn heavy webbing & canvas (mainly on the thick folds) . Pros...It does exactly what I wanted it for, sew heavy leathers . Parts , threads and accessories are readily available . Best purchase I've ever made for my business. Heaps of tips & trouble shooting advice on this site Cons...it doesn't sew delicate silk . Apart from changing needles, I've rarely had to make any adjustments to tensions , and I keep it well oiled & cleaned. Look after it, and it will look after you . HS

@jcwoman I have in the past bevelled around each letter with both a beveller & modeling tool to help ' raise' the letter. Its fiddly, but effective . HS

Whatever you decide, hope all goes well, as this certanly very special HS

@DwightT Not sure if this is of any help, just a suggestion, but the dye I would be using is ' whisky' antique or similar , like what I used on the tool bag. I've had to repair or restore a few old hand bags in similar condition before. As for the holes, pretty much what @fredk suggested. Some reinforcing on the inside. HS

Yes, I enjoy hand stitching very much. Don't wish to off topic here , but my Mother did put a machine needle through her finger once on the machine that I now own, Pfaff 60, very mindful of that every time I sew.. I also cut the top of my left thumb with a newly sharpened tenon saw in school. I could see the bone move...I then went a funny colour and nearly passed out. Back on topic. Apart from a nice sharp knife, just take your time, don't rush . Once the piece is cut out, any 'wavy' lines can be cleaned up either by sanding or bevelling. Have fun...and stay safe . HS