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GavinO

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Posts posted by GavinO

  3. Posted · Report reply

    My first sew in a while!

    I am mostly happy with it, though I think I might add some sort of fusing in the flap (thin but firm) to make it a little more rigid.

    I think the exact positioning of the magnetic snaps is just atiny bit off which is making it stretch/warp slightly. 

    I learned about quilting with sewfoam on this forum and I love it now, so thanks for all the help!

    This place really is a great resource. 

    IMG_20230325_144734 Large.jpeg

    IMG_20230325_143949 Large.jpeg

  4. Posted · Report reply

    On 7/27/2022 at 6:00 PM, battlemunky said:

    I just learned this the other day...you want the edge not too slick when using edge paint, for veg tan anyway, so I guess since chrome is hard to slick anyway that the paint probably wants a little bit of fiber to hold on better anyhow. By all means try it and whatever works best, use it!

    ah, so the opposite of what I have been doing- oops! I will try a few tests out and see how they compare 

  5. Posted · Report reply

    1 hour ago, battlemunky said:

    Tokonole works better but I haven't encountered anything that works as well as painting or rolling the edge and stitching. Its better than gum trag but not an elegant solution, especially if you can't get a good bevel on your edge due to it being too floppy/supple.

     

    Ah I thought I would use Tokonole first as a kind of base/to flatten the fibrous nature of the edge, let it dry, then apply edge paint. Like a primer of sorts. 

    That's what I have been doing with the gum trag 

  6. Posted · Edited by GavinO · Report reply

    4 hours ago, chuck123wapati said:

    skive your edges thinner.

    I often find the same issue as with bevelling- the leather is a bit too thin/supple individually and I either rip it or make a messy job of it. Maybe I do need a bit more practice at it though 

    3 hours ago, PastorBob said:

    tokonole works better on chrome tan than gum Trag.  I think the fold over method or overlap method will suffice, but if you find you need to burnish an edge, try the tokonole.

    Yeah that came up in my research. I will definitely try this as I haven't been convinced that the gum trag is really doing much 

  8. Posted · Edited by GavinO · Report reply

    1 hour ago, Hardrada said:

    Folded edge and stitch.

    You mean to just turn in the exposed edges? To be honest I do that most of the time/where possible, but sometimes the build up of layers can become too much and it's better to just have it stitched down flat with an exposed edge. It's for those instances that I want to find an elegant solution. 

  9. Posted · Report reply

    Hi,

    As I use old sofa leathers to make my bags, they are often chrome tanned. I am trying to find the best way to finish the edges. These leathers are mosty too supple for bevelling (will rip/not grip smoothly or properly). So I have just been cutting as clean as I can, sanding, adding gum trag, then edge painting. Burnishing in the veg tan sense doesn't seem to be so much a thing. 

    I have watched a few youtube videos and although the description says it's about chrome tanned leather what the youtuber is using looks like veg tan and there are people calling it out in the comments. Very odd. 

    I have been thinking about getting a handheld auto sander/burnisher,  like this: https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/775700174/leather-edge-slicker-tool-sanding-and?gpla=1&gao=1&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_ca_en_ca_a-craft_supplies_and_tools-other&utm_custom1=_k_Cj0KCQjw_viWBhD8ARIsAH1mCd4xXWJzyg0-uaJAwLGUgZW_diCMgIlh9k5d6BAICF4K3GjC7vmtMmgaAu_LEALw_wcB_k_&utm_content=go_318291525_19444350045_75295133925_aud-967786719280%3Apla-106551294035_c__775700174enca_554439858&utm_custom2=318291525&gclid=Cj0KCQjw_viWBhD8ARIsAH1mCd4xXWJzyg0-uaJAwLGUgZW_diCMgIlh9k5d6BAICF4K3GjC7vmtMmgaAu_LEALw_wcB&variation0=2426933152 

    or a modified dremel. Maybe I could use the burnishing attachments to help with the gum trag adherement. 

    If anybody has any experience in finishing somewhat lighter chrome tanned leathers, I am all ears! 

    Gavin. 

  11. Posted · Report reply

    40 minutes ago, Ferg said:

    If I may make one suggestion. Make an open border around the edge of your product enclosing the stitching then do your basket weave or other inside the bordered area.

    Ferg

    Ah I didn't make the basket weave, the surface has been treated to look like that, I just bought it

    9 hours ago, Handstitched said:

    You may not enjoy making small goods, but I do like the basket weave  .   Great work  :)

    For me, they are fiddly, but , they are the pieces  that a lot of my customers look for when they enter my stall. I use mostly kangaroo hide. 

    HS

    Sadly I can't take credit for the basket weave, I just bought it like that. 

    But yeah, I think I need to get my head aorund the smaller pieces, otherwise I don't have much of a price range 

  12. Posted · Report reply

    3 hours ago, Hardrada said:

    Looks pretty cool.

    As a comment, keep in mind that small goods, by requiring careful attention to detail and being less tolerant of error, give you the base on which to solidly build excellent craftsmanship with large items. Good with the little things, good then with the big things, as was wisely said by Someone.

    Neat use of the lightbox in those last two images. Most people just blast the item with light from all sides and it looks terrible. I see you're using light ratios and raking the light to bring up texture. Good show.

    Re: lightbox, it's kind of luck. I shot it on myltiple backgrounds, with my DSLR and my phone. These are from my phone, I am doing a little course on Udemy in product photography, just downloaded lightroom for mobile and did some editing,  they look a bit more vibrant now. I have a bit of a learning curve ahead of me on photography, but I am enjoying it! 

    3 hours ago, Hardrada said:

    Looks pretty cool.

    As a comment, keep in mind that small goods, by requiring careful attention to detail and being less tolerant of error, give you the base on which to solidly build excellent craftsmanship with large items. Good with the little things, good then with the big things, as was wisely said by Someone.

    Neat use of the lightbox in those last two images. Most people just blast the item with light from all sides and it looks terrible. I see you're using light ratios and raking the light to bring up texture. Good show.

    Yeah I seem to have approached my leather learning journey a bit back to front. 

    Partly it's because I have focused in on using old sofa/upholstery leather to make bags, and that leather isn't right for small goods. 

    Perhaps just for learning I should do some small goods projects, it'll probably upskill me 

  13. Posted · Report reply

    So, I don't really like making small goods. In that, I don't really have the skill set. They are fiddly, use different leather to what I used for bagmaking, and the best ones are hand-stitched which isn't something I (currently) do.

    However, I knocked this little fella out this week and while not perfect, I think he looks pretty smart. 

    Machine stitched on my Durkopp Adler. 

    Also been slowly learning about product photography and bought myself a lightbox, these are the inital results. 

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  17. Posted · Report reply

    Hi

    Not the first backpack I have made but it's the first time I have made padded straps and used sew foam for quilting (on the back panel) - it is so satisfying. 

    I am mostly happy with it but the cord pullstop is annoying me, I don't think it's strong enough. 

    I might space out the distance between the shoulder straps too. 

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  19. Posted · Report reply

    Looks great man! I really like the lining too. 

    I am in the middle of making a backpack with the same kind of cord closure and I didn't think of using the rinser meatal pieces for holes that you have. I have bought some kinda expensive screw-ins but I like how yours has turned out! 

     

     

  21. Posted · Report reply

    5 hours ago, MtlBiker said:

    Cool!  I'm in Montreal also.  Speaking of the world changing, prior to the first forced business closures due to Covid, I couldn't even sew a button on my shirt.  Now I have several sewing machines and have moved through various fabrics to Cordura and waxed canvas to Sunbrella and now to leather.  For me, that's the only good thing that came out of Covid... finding a new hobby that is interesting and keeps me sane.  (Or as sane as possible.)

     

    That's great you got into the craft so deeply. I studied fashion design at university and have a background in buying, but the last few years with the bags and leatherwork is the first time I have gotten really serious about mkaing things myself. I would love to know what your local sources and tips are! 

  22. Posted · Report reply

    3 hours ago, JayEhl said:

    Hey that is some beautiful top notch work.  I think your leaving money on the table for 400 Canadian but that's just me.  

    You said you sourced your leather from furniture upholstery?  I imagine their scraps would be a good source for lining for other smaller project?   (The hamster in my brain is turning the toy wheel).   There are several business of this kind not far from me... may be worth checking into!

     

     

    Thank you! Yeah I source most of my leather from funriture upholstery. It tends to be a bit on the floppy side so it only lends itself to certain more casual styles. For smarter styles I need to back it with something or quilt or manipulate it somehow but I can only really do it to a point. I would love to look into the businesses you mentioned for research, if you don't mind naming names! 

  23. Posted · Edited by GavinO · Report reply

    4 hours ago, MtlBiker said:

    Really gorgeous work!  I too wish you great success and I'm sure you will have it.  But I'm curious about why you said the pricing would be about $400 Canadian, when the person who asked about pricing is in Australia, and most members here are in the US.  And you appear to be in the UK.  I, on the other hand, appreciate the price in Canadian dollars as I'm in Montreal.  :)  How much would it be in pesos?  :)

    Yes I'm kidding around, but your work is really great.

    Ah yes, I need to update my profile. I was in the UK but I am actually in Montréal now, moved here in Feb 2020, got a month of normal before the world changed! 

  24. Posted · Report reply

    7 hours ago, Spyros said:

    They are excellent indeed, I'll be honest I'm not too keen on some of the lining choices but that might just be me, it's always good that you have a colour variety for different people.

    Also the blue one having that seam parallel to the strap, I'd avoid that if possible, but other than that I really like them.  Straps are great too!

    Out of curiosity (if you want to share) what price are you thinking?  And how long does it take you to make one?

    Cheers

    Spyro

     

    Hallo, thanks for the feedback. All the linings and leathers are excess materials sourced from furniture production. So the selection might look a little random but I have tried to pair them to be interesting. I have a background in men's formalwear and found there that men often like some crazy linings while keeping the outher of the garment more plain/simple. 

    Re: the blue- this was actually a sofa in its previous life, that's where the seam comes from so I just tried to line it up to look clean - there is a matching one on the other side of the bag. Most of my leathers are excess from production but I do have a fair amount that have already been used, if I like the leather/colour I will use it. Some people specifically like having the old details as it tells more of a story, others prefer a clean make that looks like new, so I am going to try a bit of both and see how they do in the market. 

    When I made these as one-offs it took me about 12 hours. I have another two to finish in this run (another purple and another red) then I am going to see if I have really managed to save time through making several at once or not (I certainly hope so, and I quite enjoyed batching little parts of the production). Pricing wise I am landing on about $400 canadian, but I still have photography/packaging and delivery logistics to work out properly so that may change. 

    Thanks re: the straps, I sourced them from China and they are woven from 98% recycled post consumer polyester, I designed the puppytooth print. The whole process was a learning curve and took what felt like forever, but I am super happy with them now (I have another three colours in that design to use for other projects) 

     

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