JeannieH

Thanks for the extra info webicons! I haven’t noticed the stretching, but I am new to leather and handstitching so that may be why lol. Yes Bill is great. If he starts selling leather hides for me to make bags with I will be ecstatic! Have any of you heard of Gruppo Mastrotto express? A tannery in Italy. Mastrotto.com Im having a hard time finding the leather I want for my bags. Well fineleatherworking has the shrunken calf I really want, but it’s not cost effective for me right now...my bag needs 5 sq ft..the shrunken calf is perfect but I won’t get a lot for my money. I need at least 4 oz..supple but hold its shape..soft..but not floppy..high quality but not too expensive..lol..any suggestions throw them at me!

Thank you. I did use a beveler..but I haven’t mastered that lol. Maybe I didn’t take off enough? I’m still not sure how I’m supposed to hold it and how much I should take off. I did not burnish. I lightly sanded with 400...then painted..repeated..then after painting I heated an edge creaser and ran it over the edges..then repeated..now, I don’t know if that was right...but that’s what I did. I have a lot to learn about finishing edges!

Does this help

Yes it is! If you can master getting the right tension you will do fine! It can make or break your day I tell you that lol! The Vinymo thread is polyester. It will work with everything. Before it I was using bonded nylon and bonded poly. I was never happy with how it felt and it didn’t look high end to me. I accidentally came across this place and tried a small spoil of the thread. Never looked back since lol! It is some times tricky sewing lighter material on the industrial machines I have found. If you can get the tension right you can see medium weight fabric with no problem.

The leather for my strap trim and tassels came from there. It’s the Haas Barenia.

Here is the back. I think this has what you need.

No number 8 is smaller. You can order a sample book. Here is a pic of it.

Very welcome

Yes It’s the only thread I use. I have the number 8 in ivory and black. Free shipping over 6 bucks I believe..maybe 7. This thread is beautiful. I posted pics of a bag I made. I will paste the link. Oh this is the topic with the bag lol. So that bag pictured is all Vinymo thread in size 8.

Wanted to share this site with you guys. Mainly for the thread it sells from Japan. It’s called Vinymo Mbt. Google it, it’s awesome! You use for machine and handstitching. So for someone like me who does both on my bags, I don’t have to worry with mismatching threads. It doesn’t fray like every other thread I have used. It goes through the needle like butter lol! Just lightly wax and go! For machine just thread and go. The owner of the store, Bill is super friendly. He is based in Atlanta, Ga. He sells high end leather cuts, tools, supplies etc. here is a link for you to get 10% off your purchase! http://i.refs.cc/i95g1PzD?u=1520691892201

Hello everyone! I have been using this business to buy my supplies. The Vinymo thread from Japan they sell is the best I have ever used! It can be used to hand stitch AND in your machine!!! That’s such a bonus for me! Reasonable prices and extremely great customer service. The owner, Bill has helped me so much. I thought I’d share the link to his site. He has everything from leather, tools, edge finishing supplies, books, etc. the link will get you 10% off your purchase as well. http://i.refs.cc/i95g1PzD?u=1520691892201

I finished the leather bag I was making. To place the leather on both sides of the zipper, I measured how much space I wanted from the teeth to the top of the leather..then I cut thick bag stiffener to that width and about 4 inches long. Then..lol I place masking tape down on my cutting board..put double sided tape down..placed stiffener on top..then cut. So now I can move it all around as I place the zipper. It’s working for now lol. I want to make something in the future..a tool. Something that would work for all types of zipper placing. To be continued lol!

Ok. I will do some youtubing too.

Ok! So I will get gum trag and a wood burnisher. I already have an edge skiver. Thanks for the info!

Thanks for the replies guys! I should have been more specific lol. I am talking about to finish the edges. I have tools to mark the stitch lines and make the holes...but I only have edge paint. I know there are different things needed to finish the edges just by burnishing. So, what are the basic things I would need to get nice edges without using paint?

I love that! I want to teach my kids how to hand stitch. They are home schooled. What are the basic supplies I need to finish veg tan wallets?

Thank you I will take a look at it!

Hello! Please, the expert edge glazers out there..help! I am in serious need of a heating tool for my edges. I make hand bags and I must have a professional finish. I haven't started selling yet...because I don't feel great about my edges. That brings me to the fileteuse. So, I know I'm not going to buy the read. Leathercraftpattern has an version that looks and works just like it..plus you get tips that come with it..http://www.leathercraftpattern.com/leather-tools-leathercraft-tools/Creaser/electronic-leathercraft-creaser Campbell randall has one but I'm not sure how much each tip costs... What do you guys use? SHould I go for the regad kind or just the upcycled soldering iron from Campbell?

Thank you! Don’t give up! Each bag gets better because you learn what not to do on each one lol! I look at bags every time I go to the store..I take pictures of the high end bags and figure out what makes it so special. Mostly it is the name attached..but being very picky at how your stitching looks and other things that others wouldn’t know...makes for a well made bag. I’m a tomboy and never cared about purses lol..now I can’t keep my eyes off of them! You set your mind to making bags like the luxury brands..and you will do it! I challenged myself to skip the baby steps and go for the mountain...only obstacle I have is not having the money to get the some tools I need and the fine leathers. Keep it up and you will get to where you want to be in no time!

Thank you so much! Thank you! Working on a second one now!

Thank you JMcC! When I’m ready to start selling I will give you my info so she can see the bags and get one if she wants!

Lmbo yes I imagine you would! Thank you. Yes I just got a skiving machine a couple of weeks ago. I didn’t skive the fron and back, but I skived the gusset and the ring holder strap is one full piece with a thinly skived piece glued to it to cover the raw side. I’m loving that machine! ps. Not sure if that comment was for me or alpha 2!

Ok thanks I will look at their site!

Thanks! I’m still learning myself but I will definitely help you any way I can! I find bags online made by the high end designers..I look at the bag for days and get the measurements from websites. Then I think some more days on what they had to do to make it..then I make a pattern from the measurements. I’ve done that with the first two leather bags. This one I made my own but used techniques I learned from the other two. The dooney and Bourke Sloan was my inspiration. Thank you so much! That’s what that knot is called? Lol Dooney and Bourke does that with some of their straps. I fell in love with it and spent many nights in bed making it in my head until I figured it out lol!

Ok thanks! I got the idea from dooney and Bourke. I cut slots and twisted it within itself. Thank you very much! I am enjoying learning how to make them!