Klara

Could you tell us a bit more of the video so we can look at it?

Are you producing items to sell? For I just make what I need or want: Dog collars, checkbook cover, belt buckles, leashes, bags, watch bracelet - and generally only one, or as many as necessary to get one I want to use. No risk of getting stale, but I admit that it is not as easy to improve as with making a dozen similar items.

You could try Paracord.eu https://www.paracord.eu/leather-cord You could also invest in one of the lace cutters that do cut a spiral (I have one, but never really used it, so I have no idea whether the spiral is a problem).

I have quite a few things from Ivan as well, but bought locally in a brick and mortar shop. After all, unlless you live in the U.S. there is little point in buying from the U.S, unless it's things you can't get elsewhere. And I'd have to look at my globe waterball, but I believe for Australia Taiwan is about as local as it gets...

Not necessarily. You can also punch two holes the strap width apart and cut the straight lines with a knife. More work and doesn't look so good (at first, or ever) but cheaper and, most important, you can start immediately without waiting for delivery of your slot punch.

But where tf are they! I still have that €500-shawl....

The awl is silent and the gentle tap for just marking the stitches shouldn't carry through walls either.

You did not punch all the way through with the French irons, did you? Because they are not meant for that...

A solid base will also increase efficiency. I've given up trying to set rivets on my work table, which started life as a computer desk and is just too flexible for hammering on. Btw, you can do leather work without stamping...

But you get the pen and the notebook with the cover! (actually, that's about $ 13.60, phew...) Personally, I don't mind lack of lining, actually, it never occurred to me to line my checkbook cover etc. But I make them, I don't buy or sell them. Regarding the general situation, I think @mike02130 has nailed it.

That might be because one can work with any type of edger, as long as it's sharp... Mine looks similar to Togadude's.

Thanks for pointing that out! It seems obvious now but I hadn't really seen that this is one of the reasons I like Claude's recent knives so much (they are thin and flexible and don't have a distinct edge bevel). I'll have a look at my less-favourite knives with that in mind.

What surprised me is that I've learned to sharpen a knife by pushing the cutting edge, as if trying to cut a thin slice off the stone. Which is what Denny says not to do, he says to pull the blade in the opposite direction. Stohlman recommends a circular motion... I'm wondering whether maybe it doesn't matter, as long as the angle stays constant and I end up with an edge.

Finally watched the above video - is anybody else surprised that the man sharpens his knife in the opposite direction to the rest of the world? And by rest of the world I not only mean YouTubers but also the author of "An Edge in the Kitchen" and a knife maker friend... Now I'm going to check what Stohlman says...

He sure has a nice trot when free - can you get him to trot under a rider? My favourite way for getting off dried mud is this type of curry comb https://www.amazon.com/Hffheer-Itching-Shedding-Stainless-Grooming/dp/B0825Y37K3 Regarding my dog I am extremely lucky: She actually rolls next to the smelly thing, not exactly in it. It's enough for her nose, but not mine...

The way I see, any pointy thing that does not actually cut the leather will do. I have a round awl from a "automatic leather sewer thingy" (the ones with a spool of thread built in, but removable), and a much more solid one that came with an electric drum carder to take the fleece off the drum. Never seen the need for a "proper" scratch awl. Though with my new bench grinder I could probably make one, just for fun.

True, but I'm pretty sure that a waxed linen thread is easier to hold than smooth polyester... When I use polyester, I don't dare rely on two back stitches.

I am using the same book and have wondered the same thing and come to the conclusion that the wax makes the thread stick where it is. So far all my dog collars are fine...

Very nice!

I have a Marvy Gel pen (silver) and on most finished leathers it wipes off. It's recommended to test on a scrap first.

Ckeck out Nigel Armitage's videos on YouTube.

I once sold my personal shawl because a lady absolutely wanted it. I figured, I can always make another one, so WTF, if she insists, she can have it (it had warmed up enough I no longer needed to wear it).

@Spyros What is souvlaki supposed to be made of? I don't object to biothane and its competitors, or to nylon straps and rope (used it for my horses everyday bridle and reins 25 years ago when vegans were practically unheard of), but I do object to the term "vegan leather". If it's some sort of man-made, petroleum or plant-based material, then I want to know exactly what it is. (On the same lines, I have nothing against veggies. I have everything against vegan burgers, vegan sausages, vegan steaks or whatever else there may be.)

I think I've seen them, but I do make Rika's collars myself, though so far not tooled. But I have very specific requirements for the fastener (I'm using a combination of buckle and martingale) which I'm unlikely to find on a collar to buy. By borzoi-related objects I meant fridge magnets ("Other dogs have masters. Borzoi have staff."), porcelain figures, clothing and accessories. Stuff nobody needs, but which enthusiasts appreciate. Getting to leather, I'd probably be willing to buy a checkbook cover with borzoi, belt buckle with borzoi (if I hadn't made them) etc. Now, borzois are a very narrow niche market. But there's other dog breeds... I also have a friend who buys lots of cat-themed things for another friend. My point is that ideally a craftsperson should make things that can't be bought industrially made.

I am really missing a like button here! Because I completely agree with @toxo "A big one that no one has mentioned yet is we like the idea of other people liking and appreciating what we do. Of course friends and family always "like what we do" but someone liking it enough to buy it is a whole different thing." Buying is the ultimate compliment, and that was one of the main reasons I worked for sale. Whereas I know @ButtonLady's argument "customers really only care about products that represent a specific interest." from the other side: I am regularly trawling Etsy and Ebay for borzoi-related objects, and I buy things I don't need in any way, but I want them (fortunately, the offer is small as it's a rare breed).