SUP

@fredk That is something I could do. A single stamp I cannot mess up. A good use of some stamps I picked up for a song this week-end. I'll certainly try that.

@ALZilla, that is so true. The knives are not his. They belong to a person who was a life long collector and passed away some time ago. This person, John, is taking care of disposing of the estate. So even he might not have an idea about the value of the knives. They might all be the J C Penney type, for all I know. Getting a beautiful sheath ready for my husband is a good idea; only I am an absolutely novice at tooling. Everything goes wonky and even stamping is never in a straight line no matter how much care I take, so I need a lot more practice before I can think of making anything usable at all. I am a long way from making a beautiful tooled or carved sheath, unfortunately. All I make are simple sheaths. I can dye, stitch and burnish reasonably well, but that is about it. At this point in time, the more I think about it, the more I think that I am not yet ready to sell anything. I need to learn a lot more and be confident about it to some extent, before I can sell. And anyway, I got into leatherwork as a hobby rather than a possible profession. So that is something to think about as well. People keep talking about opportunity knocking. Hmm. Let's see what happens. It is still a month or two before John gets back to me.

@bruce johnson that is eye-opening, for newbies like me, especially. It is not a rant at all. You are perfectly right that we have paid for every inch of the leather, scrap or otherwise and I admire your late first wife who was so talented and imaginative at using up every last bit, even through the pain of illness. Very inspiring. Thank you for this post.

Yes. That is the sensible thing to do. Regardless of whether I buy a machine or not, a waiting list is needed. I am still reluctant to buy a machine at this point. I hate to spend unless absolutely necessary. Keeping friends and family happy can be done only up to a point. Maybe I should offer to teach them as well!

@ dikman, I agree. I doubt John will pay much for the time taken to hand-stitch. If was a couple of sheaths, I might have agreed to a lower price but so many? It will be maddening and it could end up putting me off leatherwork. I am more and more wondering about the whole thing. And I see your point about pricing - I feel odd too, quoting a fair price. One of the many reasons I have refused to make anything for anyone outside family up to this point. Of course, that I do not have sufficient experience to make more than simple moccasins, bags and knife sheaths is another reason but why say that? LOL

Those are pretty! I know of several young ladies who would wear them. Several not-so-young as well!

@Klara Yes, I am living in a city with everything close available by. I plan to continue hand stitching but may buy a machine in the future. Hearing that I do leatherwork, my daughter wants things made by her mum. I want to make things for my husband and her and her fiance (nothing as satisfying as having loved ones using things that are your labor of love) and family and friends are slowly dropping hints too! So unless I buy a machine to speed up things, I will have to keep turning people down. As for John, who wants inexpensive knife sheaths, I asked him why he did not make them himself. He said he had thought about it but then decided against it. Maybe I could offer to teach him.

Those are beautiful!.

@kgg, yes. I needed that starting point. Now I can keep looking until I am ready to buy. It is better this way. @Baliskner, yes $15 is fine for friends and family. Usually, it is just the cost of the raw material is it not? But for others, maybe leatherworkers should educate the public about the work that goes into making leather items. They seems to think it is of less value than the cheap merchandise from the East.

@fredk, that is a valid point! Sometimes in my enthusiasm, I forget practical aspects like space and weight of the item. I should remember that when considering a machine.

@kgg, Foot wear I only plan to make moccasins and slippers. I do not have the patience or the desire right now to start with making lasts for boots and shoes. Besides, we get plenty of them that are good. It is open toed slippers that I like and want to make specific types. So from what you and AlZilla said, an all-rounder machine might be the way to go. I am still in two minds though. I feel I cannot, in good conscience, spend so much until I actually am in the position to use it. Else it will join my Brother sewing machine and Rocketeer as a curio - all expensive curios - that I plan to use but never get the time.

@AlZilla, thank you for that post. It is just what I need. Will be immersed in that for a while now, I think. I will keep in mind about the cylinder arm machine as well.

That is very true. I have absolutely no idea about the types of knives. I think I will do that.

LOL. @AlZilla, you hit the nail on the head! That is exactly what I was thinking! What do I really need when selecting a machine and what will be 'nice to have' in case I need it in the future. And since I have only just made my first belt today, I have a long way to go and everything is 'in case I need to make..."!

@kgg, I gather the 3 machines you mentioned are manual ones? The motorized ones will be much more expensive. I know I have heard of Consew but there are so many of them. Also I believe Singer has some sturdy ones.. are they sturdy enough for leatherwork? I only plan to make bags, footwear, knife sheaths - simple ones. I know I will not make saddles, chaps etc. I have been looking up Consew to start. On their site, there are so many options, it is bewildering. Are there specific requirements that are a must when selecting a machine? I think I need to investigate the threads here about sewing machines. The thing is, hand stitching leather is, for me, a relaxing activity. The fragrance of the leather, the waxed thread, my large stitching horse, the rhythmic movements of stitching .. I do it when I am tired and it rejuvenates me. So a machine might take away all that. But needs must, I suppose. @Fredk, great idea to use it for holes for stitching. Sometimes that is more time consuming and a bit of a pain.

Those are beautiful. I love recycling. You are doing such a great job of it. I love what you did with the boots. what a great idea. makes me want to look for similar boots as well! I buy old handbags if I like the design and plan to make similar ones, using the hardware in those purses. So I get both the pattern and the hardware. There are so many beautiful handmade things out there that are old and used but can be beautifully repurposed! Recycling is the fashion as well, these days.

@Fredk, why am I not surprised? Come to think of it, I did once receive a pair of socks I did not order and that is the answer I received from Amazon! Not happened again. I guess there are more than sufficient people the world over to not have to repeat us in the con. Thank you @Dwight. I did not know that. I will have to check how it is here in Georgia. About machines, my husband thinks I should investigate getting one, not for a business but for ease of making the things I want - I have arthritis so he worries my hands will ache. My investigations take a couple of months at least, before I finally decide. In this thread itself, I have got some ideas and brand names, including the ones you mentioned above. I will check the prices on eBay and Facebook Marketplace and new as well. Let's see. The fun is in the investigation as well.

@fredk, that is a good idea - using a stop watch to time a process. I am still getting into the groove of it, so probably am slower too. And I am worried about agreeing to do something at a lower price than the price of the leather. When he gets back to me, let me see what he says. Since I have no idea what type of knives they are, I am not going to give a price until I see them. Through this thread, I have some idea of how to price, so if he does not agree to it, I will pass. @Alzilla, that is astonishing! I see the reviews but never thought of checking the percentages and their calculations. They say newer, good reviews get more weightage. So if a seller has 25 bad reviews, and can get 5 friends to give good reviews, the score remains high. It should be like credit scores - bad ones remain for 7 years. That would stop bad sellers in their tracks. Many of the reviews, if you read them carefully, are for other items in the sellers shop. They put all the reviews together for all the items if they have good reviews for one item, so it looks like every item has great reviews. They also allow reviews from people who received items free in return for reviews - very suspect. Now this is another thing to watch out for. Life was simpler when I could just go to a neighbourhood store to get what I need. Did not need to check ratings then. it was either good, or bad.

@AlZilla, yes, unfortunately. Don't people notice the different in quality? If he insists on such a ridiculous price, I am directing him to the cheap items he can get off Etsy or eBay or Temu or wherever.

@Handstitched, your mother sounds delightfully talented! Spinning wool, knitting, making garments, pottery, baking.. so many talents. I am impressed. You must be proud of her.

@Alzilla, You are perfectly right, if I get $20 profit from each sheath. I somehow am not sure. My husband just told me he was talking to my husband about simple sheaths for $10!! People have no idea of the expense and efforts put into hand made leather items! if he agrees to a price where I can make a decent profit, I will probably do it. Otherwise, not worth it. @Handstitched, Yes! It is empowering and feels good. I should see the positive side of it!

@KGG, yes, that makes sense. Hand stitching so many sheaths is just not practical. Leather sewing machines are expensive and it does not make sense to me to buy a machine for just this project - it will certainly not cover the cost of one. I do not know whether I will get other projects or will even want them. So I have to decide whether buying a machine will help me in newer projects and allow me to make more items that I would not attempt to hand sew, even just for a hobby.

@Klara and @Handstitched, I know! it is such a dilemma. I could sell items directly without making it a formal business but these days they are very strict here in the US, I have heard. So if I do decide to do it as a business, it will have to be all the complications of business registration etc. UGH! @jrdunn, you are right about the deadlines and pressure to complete orders versus doing leatherwork for the pleasure of it. I would hate to lose the joy I get from working with leather. And like you said, @Handstitched, buying a machine! I have seen the threads here about buying a machine There are so many things to think about, and since I am such a novice at leatherwork, I am clueless about all of them. I barely even machine-stitch cloth, so that will be a learning curve as well. I have 2 sewing machines, including a vintage one , just sitting pretty as of now! So I wonder if I will use a leather sewing one or it will become another expensive 'curio' in my house. And I hate to spend money unless absolutely necessary. SO much to think about. Thank you for giving me so much food for thought. I need it all to make an informed decision.

@Handstitched that is very true. I could buy a machine and start a business and still enjoy leatherwork - I think I will - but I am so new at leatherwork - just started earlier this year - that I do not yet feel confident. I need to feel that I am getting good at at least some things first. That is my concern.

Thank you for that kgg. That helps! I agree machines will help but I am a hobbyist and have no plans to go into business and therefore have had no plans to buy machines as I enjoy hand stitching. However ,I seem to be getting pushed that way. In the last month or so, this man is the 2nd who asked me to make knife sheaths and another wants moccasins for him and his family. Another woman wants me to make bags for her. Maybe the universe is trying to tell me something! I am a little loathe to turn a hobby into a profession though - worried that leatherwork will lose its charm. But let me see. I will think over it for a few days.