CraftyNick

I am working on one of my first big leather projects which is a bag made out of veg tanned leather with some tooling and decor on it. I am going to need to stitch some pieces together, e.g. front and back panels to sides, but am not really sure where to start. I have been watching videos from Nigel Armitage and other people on types of stitching and stitching tools. However, I still need to decide which kind of stitch to use in my particular project, and then what tools I need for it. I have been learning about the saddle stitch, using stitching chisels and/or awls, but not sure if it would be appropriate for this project where panels will be coming together at 90 degree angles - but maybe it's fine for that, I just don't know. Any shared advice would be much appreciated. Thanks! ~Nick

Thanks for the info

I have wondered how to get that circular gradient fading from light to dark, and now that you've posted such a nice example of it, I have to ask how do you make it like that?

Cool. Making a bike seat is a fun idea. What does it entail?

Thanks for the input.

I am thinking about making a project that may have a combination of a picture and pattern in the tooling inspired by works like this picture. However, I am contemplating how this thing was done. The black background in the floral pattern gives it a lovely lacy appearance. Do you think this was done with just antique, or by painting the background separately? Also, the pictoral carving of the horse is what seems to me like another odd thing since I would think one would not want to put any dye or antique on a pictoral carving, but it looks like it was finished the same way the rest of the saddle was. If anyone has any thoughts on this picture, please let me know what you think!

Thanks for lots of input from all responders. I have been expanding my research into the different types, kinds, sources, and ways to buy veg-tanned leather. We could also expand the original question beyond just US leathers. I'd appreciate hearing from anyone what leather you find works for you, and where you get it.

Keplerts, thanks for your input, I appreciate your opinion. Did you mean here that Weaver leather sold as Herman Oak is really imported economy leather? Or did you mean to say "if it does NOT say Herman Oak..." Just wanted to get that clear so I could know what to watch out for!

I happened to watch that video last night. Kevin was just saying that there are portions of D grade hide that are as good as A grade hide, at least, that's what I understood from it. Though if you were going to buy a whole side at one time you would definitely get more good leather out of a higher-graded hide.

I don't think I'll actually buy from ALD. Not that I think there is really anything wrong with them, just don't know why I'd choose them since they don't even sell US tanned leather apparently. Does anyone get US leather from Tandy?

You guys are probably right that much or all of the American Leather Direct hides are tanned in Mexico, but, according to what they say, they must be from domestic steers. However, they told me that their "economy" leather is not necessarily domestic, but this doesn't apply to their normal tooling leather. That's why I said "much of their leather".is from US sources. It's good to know that they tan in the U.S., but does anyone know whether Herman Oak or WIcket and Craig use hides sourced from the U.S.? I don't know, maybe most people on here are professionals who buy in bulk, but I'm just a beginning crafter and would like to get material processed and sourced in the U.S. if possible. We ought to be able to make leather in this country, still.

HI JLSleathr, in response to your question, according to the company, "AMERICAN LEATHER DIRECT INC. offers a wide range of high quality leathers produced at one of the most modern equipped, state of the art tanneries in North America. We use only the finest U.S. steer hides." Thanks for the info on how prices compare. Do you know if Herman Oak leather is from U.S. sources?

Hi, I'm looking for input on what is the best company to buy from. I want veg-tanned not-dyed leather for carving and dyeing from a U.S. source. American Leather Direct says much of their leather is from U.S. sources. They are telling me their tooling leather is $7.00 - $6.40 per sq. foot. How do these prices compare? How does their leather compare? What other companies do you know of, or buy U.S. sourced leather from? To be clear, I don't have a business so I'm not talking about wholesale deals. Thanks! Nick

I'm looking to create an affect like this project where the background and details in the floral pattern are dark, without significantly coloring or darkening the lighter areas of the pattern and rest of the leather. I seem to find that using antique over the whole thing darkens the rest of the leather too much. I want to find out how to darken details while leaving the rest of the leather close to the natural color like this. Do you use a resist over the parts that aren't supposed to get colored?

This is a good question, at least for newbies, I don't know the answer as I am just learning, but I'd be interested in hearing some opinions on this.

It's fun, I like it. What style of stitching is that? I like it.

Hey, nice looking bag. I was just now making the same kind of thing and I was on here looking to ask someone this question. What do you do with the inside when you are dyeing? Do you leave it un-colored, or do you color it somehow? No right and wrong answer, I assume, but I was curious what you find works best?

Hey everyone! Sorry I've been a bit out-of-the-loop on this thread. Some of it is a little over my head on the chemistry side of things but the information and shared experience has been great. It sounds like it is an acceptable practice to experiment with natural oils. Linseed oil is a good one to work with. Let me know if you come up with any other good thoughts!

That's a beautiful piece of work! It looks extremely refined. Do you use already dyed/finished leather, or do you dye/finish yourself?

Thanks to each who replied for your suggestions. I am assuming that beeswax with some type of oil is good, though as mentioned above linseed oil might not be best, and I would be slightly concerned about almond. coconut or olive oil going rancid, perhaps neatsfoot or mink oil is best. Martyn, are you re-conditioning your pack with the same solutions as those with which it was made? One thing to note is that I am looking for something to put on new items right after dying, not just something to keep leather conditioned with, but perhaps the same solution would work for both, I'm guessing. Another thing to consider is whether these solutions would change the color of leather, I'm thinking yes, for most of them, which would be fine for a lot of things like leather equipment, for more delicate crafts, however, discoloration might not be desirable.

Thanks for the interesting video. Have you ever tried these materials on leather, or do you know if beeswax, linseed oil or terpentine have traditionally been used in leather crafting?

Hey all! I'm new to this board, and new to leather crafting as well. I have done some looking around on the web, and also on this board to find answers to this question but haven't found any that answered it specifically, or at least not in the way I am looking for, so I thought I'd ask. What I have learned as a standard procedure is that when making a tooled wallet, belt, dog collar, or other type of leather craft, one should carve, dye and/or antique, then apply a top finish to seal in the dye and provide moisture protection. While shopping at Tandy the only top finishes I could find that were said to be protective and water resistant were resin or acrylic based finishes, as is the popular Tan Kote. However, I have an inclination to the natural, and the traditional, and I doubt that the cowboys of old had saddles and belts coated in plastic finishes. So my question is, what natural materials have traditionally been used prior to the introduction of synthetic products like Tan Kote or Super Sheen that serve the same purpose? I am guessing that traditionally leather workers used some type of oils or waxes. Does anyone have any specific knowledge about this? Any products that are available or formulas that can be used? Just to be clear, when doing my own research I did come up with some natural leather oil products and such, but these were suggested as conditioners that should be periodically re-applied. Conversely, I am looking for a product that would be used when the item is originally crafted as an alternative to Tan Kote, and other synthetic leather top finishes. Thanks a lot for any info! ~Nick