MarkCdub

Also remember, you are painting a flat surface then bending it into a circle which causes the leather and paint to stretch. I would recommend bending the collar into a circle first and that will pre stretch the leather, paint it while it has some curvature (not completely flat) to it. Also try using the other tricks others have mentioned they will all help with a longer lasting product. Good luck.

You could also try leaving 1 card in the top slot, then finding 2 old cards or buy some blanks (found 20 for $8 just web search) and shove them in the bottom slot to help stretch the pocket out and relieve some of the tension. The pockets are just too tight with the first card/leather thickness of the top pocket. It will break in with use, but you can speed up the process and keep from bending your cards by using two cards and massaging the leather. Or if its veg-tanned, wet the whole wallet and shove the cards in there while wet and work the leather, loosening and kind of wet forming the pockets with the cards in there. Good luck.

One thing to remember is that as the wallet is carried with cards in the wallet, the keather will stretch some. So you don't want to make the card slots too much wider than the cards. When I made my card slots, they were a little too tight and I bent my drivers license in half lol. I try to keep all those credit card offers that send a card (I don't see them very often anymore), and use them as sacrificial to test and stretch the leather before use. I think you can buy CC blanks, I've seen them come in a few craftsman wallets. I just did a quick search and you can buy pvc id card blanks from many different companys. I found 20 cards for $8 and 110 for $13. You can buy in bulk for less per card if you need.

Be sure and let us know what you do to straighten it and how it turns out. Good luck!

What are yalls feelings on this clicker press? Right now I'm making smaller items like wallets, tool pouches, and ammo holders for rifle butts and slings. The Tandy pro clicker press price is dropping from $799 to $599 this weekend and I have the military discount plus 10% this weekend. So I could potentially get this for around $250(not exactly sure how the discount will be implemented). How are your feelings at this price point vs other options. I really think this will help me be more productive and keep things uniform. Thanks, Mark

Really awesome! The only suggestion I would give you is to start and stop your stitches with a round awl instead of diagonal stitch hole. It will make the threads disappear instead of leaving the rest of the diagonal hole.

What SPI are you using with the .8 mm tiger thread?

What do y'all use for clamping while glue is drying? I had to use my stitching pony and steal some chip clips from the pantry to keep my wallet edges together. I only had 2 chip clips and the bottom ended up popping loose.

I gotta be honest, I know where the seem is and I can barely see it! The scale pattern does a very good job of camouflaging the seem. Once its wrapped around your cane, I doubt anyone would see it.

I am making a cover for a large paperback Bible. I am concerned that the binding is so thick and the cover so thin, that the leather will keep slipping off when open. Should I make the inner cover deep enough where it touched the inner binding when closed? Anything else I should consider? I'm planning on using 2-3 oz veg tanned leather.

I'm looking for a nice brushed or shiney copper money clip to add to my wallets. The ones I like are very expensive on places like etsy, or cheap looking on Amazon. I want it to patina along with the wallet. Any ideas where I can find them at a reasonable price. I dont need them monogrammed, just thick and plain.

Don't forget to show us the finished product when you figure it out!

Similar to this.

I'm starting a leather valet tray, I am planning on adding contrasting stitching along the border and am thinking about adding a western stitch design similar to what you see on the toes/sides of western boots on the tray bottom. Anyone have a good idea where I can find something similar (stitching designs) to draw inspiration from? Or any ideas really.

Ball peen hammers are fairly cheap, buy one a save your friendship :-)

Yes, I am using chisels. I jeed to order another set. I am using a stitching pony, but it was difficult to align with the clip attatched. I realized my lines were crooked too late and just wanted to complete it. This is my third project, and I know my stitching is a bit rough, I started going the wrong direction (against the chisel hole angle). Unfortunately I don't get alot of time to work so I haven't been able to build any muscle memory. Thank you for the critique and words of encouragement. My next project is a holster, gonna be a challenge.

Really nice, that will outlast the knife.

This should keep my notebook and pen from falling out of my pocket everytime I bend over at work. This project sat unfinished for a couple weeks, its really hard to find time to punch holes, when kids/wife are gone. Anyway, gimme any critiques y'all want.

Thank you all so much. I know the same questions are asked repeatedly, and I appreciate y'alls patience and willingness to help without being condescending ie. "Use the search function!".

I made a minimalist wallet and I am not happy with the CC slots. I really like the way the CC's sit in this style of card slot. I want to add this feature to my next wallet, how is it sewn to keep the cards from falling down to the bottom?

I like the chocolate, it has alot of character. It looks really good. I wont beat you up over the stitching, I have only stitched 2 items but I watched every you tube video and read every article I could find before I stitched my first stitch. I watched Nigel Armitage,s saddle stitch and improved? Saddle stitch videos while stitching. You can pick up a cheap set of wing dividers for a couple $ dollars on Amazon. Or go to a store where you can get school/art/drafting supplies. Keep it up, the yardest thing we did was start making.

I'd love to see a tutorial on how you wet mold with such sharp detail. Probably propriety lol...

Thank you kiwican, and pmease feel free to give me some criticism. It isn't finished yet, I still need to top coat it and punch the belt slots. I know I need to make the flashlight pocket slightly larger next time around and I didn't give myself enough thread for the outer seam... Lol, live and learn. I am happy with it for my second (nearly) complete leather project though.

Took me a couple hours, still need to punch the belt loop slots.

Almost finished, just need to punch the belt loop slots.