Handstitched

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

When I first get a hide, I make a straight edge for straps etc. I just use a length of 2 x1 timber as a giant ruler ( I do intend to get a metal one...one day) .I then use the strap cutter. Any off-cuts get used for small items, book marks, keepers for belts and so on. Hope all goes well . HS

Forth rule: keep your fingers away from the edge of the ruler Words of experience. HS

The lower half of Western Australia is green after good rains, and at this time of year , the native trees start to flower, the Canola crops ( rapeseed) are in full bloom , just a blinding sea of yellow, ...and the O/S tourists go onto farmers paddocks to take happy snaps, (like they've never seen yellow flowers before) not realising they're actually trespassing . Some farmers are a bit touchy when it comes to bio security . There are notices for the O/S visitors in various places to warn them not to trespass on Canola crops to take happy snaps But in a few weeks time, the flowers start to die off and then it starts to smell like rotten cabbage . Had to take time off from the workshop today to slash all the weeds around the garden . All was going well until....**crash** , my ride-on hit a rock causing it to shoot a 3" hole into my bedroom window ... The glazier comes out next week . My Dad does a bit of weeding on occasion, but not fully cognisant as to where the weeds should go, like in a bin or a wheel barrow ...including small rocks. Bless him. HS

Yes. Eg. I have cut a belt length for a project, only to find I've come up short* . So, I moisten it, then 'pull/roll ' it around a corner a few times , like on the edge of my bench. (A piece of metal pipe, 1" or 2" does the same job , secured to a bench) that gives me the extra length I need. The same could be applied to smaller and thinner pieces. *Another trick, for belt lengths at least,I put the end of the moistened belt length under my right foot... .... grab the other end.... and pull up . Shhhh.... Don't tell anyone , its a secret !! HS

I'm in Oz, and I use toluene* to thin out contact cement when it gets a bit 'gluggy' in the tin. A little bit in the tin, a quick mix, leave over night, all good next day , ready to use. *I'm quite familiar with toluene ( as well as MEKP) , used it for many years in another industry . HS

I don't use machines, although I have considered it. In my left hand is the belt (or other leather item) to be burnished and also using my leg as a 'work bench' , or stitch clamp, in the other hand is a wood slicker. The other 'slicker' I use is a component from a roller door or sliding door, its plastic approx 35mm diameter, and has a 20mm wide opening.I can tilt it either way , not sure if that makes sense. I also use the narrow 'curvy' parts on my wood beveller handles as a slicker, good for getting into tight areas to be burnished. I burnish straight after I have dyed the edges & while the dye is a bit damp. Each to their own I guess, and whatever works.. So long as you're happy with the result. HS

That idea worked . I tried the common sizes I use on some heavy leather, heat the wax up a bit, dipped the tips in the wax. HS