Wedgetail

G’day all, I haven’t posted for a long while, being busy with work, renovations, and life; but every Christmas I like to make some presents for the family. This year sunglasses sleeves will be in the Christmas stockings. A simple fold over design, Matt black Alran sully goatskin with 0.6mm ritza tiger thread. Looking sharp with a contrasting gold foil imprinted logo, I think! Template roughly 175mmx195mm, I got 6 out of one large skin, with some material left over; enough for a couple of keychains (for those estimating yield). All supplied from Rocky Mountain leather supply. So whether you are with family, friends, or going solo. For those celebrating a good year, or doing it tough; You are never alone with community like this around you, and there is always hope for a bright future. Take care and look after yourself, I hope you have a merry Christmas.

Nice, thanks. I’ll go check that out.

Hahaha once a year sounds long enough to recover. Yeah I am pretty happy with how the one I made came out… but I can definitely see the difference between what I did, and what I vaguely remembered seeing here (that I was shooting for)! Lol still, getting back into it for the first time in a while I really wanted to push myself to get those skills back. I think I’ll try some of the simpler gussets next. They look great, will suit what I’m making, and are way less fiddly!

@RockyAussie found it!

@RockyAussie no, but thanks because that’s the style I’m going to try next though I think. I think I called it a welted gusset or something, and your description for what you called them consisted of an assortment of symbols representing the frustration that one endures when constructing them! Haha from memory it was a handbag, included a stiffener in the gusset, and I think was used when you wanted the lining to be visible from the outside… not that I did that here. @Spyros RM leather supply were great to deal with. But the last time I ordered from them was mid 2019… back then shipping was ridiculously fast too, it arrived in 8 days. But fast forward 2 years, and add this global situation… can’t say whether it is the same experience. Regardless i plan to reorder from them again soon.

Thanks @RockyAussie! rusty as a nail but I’ll get there! I actually searched for an age on here to find where you posted pics of a similar gusset… couldn’t find them, so just winged it instead, using what I remember of it as inspiration haha Thanks @Spyros I was toying with the idea of using some reinforcement too but worried about it being too stiff. I think the next one I make I will definitely try it. I haven’t tried Uniters yet, will look into where I can get it. I’m usually a burnishing guy myself but these were chrome tanned so… no chance of that! Haha The goatskin is imported, it’s Alran tannery which is French. I shipped to Oz from Rocky Mountain leather supply a long time ago. I think locally in Australia now you can find Alran goatskins at Coastal Leather. the kangaroo was from Birdsall leather.

G’day all, been a long time since I have been active on here. I moved house and left all my stuff in storage while working on the place… including building my new workshop, among other things. But I’m back in action now, and this is my first project in 2 years. kangaroo skin outer (dark brown), chèvre chagrin sully lining (marine). tiger thread, mid brown, 0.6mm edge paint is fiebings edge kote, dark brown…. It was what I could get quick because all my old paints dried out and separated beyond recovery. I don’t love it. Taking suggestions for a good edge paint! cheers,

Try using a low tac contact adhesive like frisket film. I've used it to make stencils before, which didn't mark the leather... but haven't tried laser engraving with the frisket film on the leather before. Would try it myself first but my laser blew up over a year ago and I haven't got around to fixing it yet due to an overly long 'honey do' list.

It's this one https://www.ebay.com/itm/WUTA-Leather-Craft-Pattern-Clutch-AcrylicTemplate-Zipper-Installer-Mold/153228874232?hash=item23ad2711f8:g:wgEAAOSwTY9ZZdLT

Wuta pattern, the acrylic set with the spacer block for shaping the zipper around onto the inner. I know exactly what you mean... I cut it square per the pattern and can just see a bit of it... it bugs me. Using thinner leather helped (pattern called for 1.6mm or 4oz, I used .8mm or 2oz), because it didn't have to make such a wide turn at the spine... but came with other problems (like being too thin to cover the Puckering of the zipper tape around corners so looks rippled) But I looked around on the web and noticed two things: 1. There are a tonne of wallets with just exactly that problem... using thinner leather seems to make it less obvious. 2. Wallets that don't seem to have that problem are stitched all around, where my stitch line stopped at the spine... if I had tried to stitch all around it should pull the zipper together with the flesh side of the outer. Access was a problem. Trying to get even stitches around there would have been a folly. Next time I'll try to make one with the gussets cut where they go around the zipper pouch inside the wallet... that will mean I can open it up wider for stitching. Then sew the gussets together in the centre of the wallet and edge finish them... access does not seem to be a problem then, because the zipper section in the middle tends to move easily back and forward.

Thanks guys, most of the horrors are pretty well covered. I got some shop debris under the outer panel when I was gluing it up and had to pull it apart to separate after the glue dried... which made a mess of the stiffened board underneath it. And stretched the leather a little so now it looks a little ripples. I also used a tape width that was too narrow, so I had to try and stitch too close to the edge to catch it (not even sure I did in some places, if I'm honest) which meant that on the inside bottom left you can see where I missed the internal liner entirely. Oops... Also didn't get the zipper to lay flat enough around the top right corner there on the outer photo so you can see the zipper rippling under the leather. Other than all of that... It is alright. Haha The leather is the ochre colour glazed kangaroo from birdsall leather. It's my favourite tan colour they do. The inside is their dark brown glazed... not sure what it is but second darkest in their glazed range (not the havana). The thread is just plain old white which I used to contrast on the interior

First project after a good few months. Not super happy with it, a few mistakes made that I could have easily avoided... But it looks nice so here it is! Made from kangaroo leather around 2oz. Hand stitched as normal. YKK zippers. The flowers in the picture are from a Jacaranda tree in my back yard, very pretty this time of year

Well look on the bright side... you just found a way to add a variant of an existing pattern to your product offerings, which might appeal to some more people

Imagine that would make life easier to get your straight edge before cutting your belt straps, Brian!

They aren't the lightest of things that's for sure... Even though mine is only a bench top mount, on the floor it stands about waist height I suppose, it is pretty solid! Wouldn't want to put it in a space you intend to use for multiple purposes.