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@Mablung I tried scotch tape but it keeps coming loose. Must try it again. @DJole My aim is not to protect the pattern. It is to protect the outside leather, what will become the scraps. Sticking the pattern all around prevents it from moving as I punch or cut and the paper gets loose. I usually don't use a pattern more than once. If I can add something between the paper and the punch, the paper will not tear and I can stick it down in only a few places. So something like what you describe. Thank you for the idea.

Very magnanimous of you indeed. It's a pleasure to talk to people with such big hearts. Popcorn anyone? Seriously, if anyone does know about the type of tape I am asking about, I would love to know. All others who are feeling combative, go out into your yards and kick a few rocks.

@TonyV Thank you for your help. You have not looked at any of those videos, have you? I create my own patterns too and one certainly can't do so if one does not know how to create the stitching holes for them! And I learn new techniques as well, from those who are experienced enough to make patterns and teach along the way. Great way to learn. I hope I never reach a point where I think I know everything and there is nothing more that I can learn. How horrible that would be for me!

@TonyV have you seen the patterns available online, along with the instructional videos? I suspect, not. Please do look at them - they are on Etsy. Most of the videos are free, You will get an idea of what I am talking about. When I say that the leather is sticky, It does not indicate a 'sticky mess'. it just means that some of the glue remains behind. A bagful of sticky scrap does not mean a sticky lump; it means scraps of leather which have glue somewhere or the other.

See, when I make my own patterns, I usually design it on paper, trace it on cardboard, mark all the stitching holes, cut and then use that as the template on the leather. Sometimes, I do not even make the cardboard template, like for knife sheaths, which are individual for each knife. When using paper, the paper weights work well or taping to the back, as you both suggest, @Littlef and @DJole. And both work well. Since the pattern is my own, I have an idea of where the stitching holes will be and don't need to punch through the paper. I need the transparent tape for when I purchase patterns - I do that to learn different techniques from sellers who have good video guides for the products, like dieselpunk.ro. I end up with a completed project and have learnt something new at each turn. But he, like others, has patterns that need to be stuck onto the leather and the stitching holes punched through. Punching through paper without the sticky tape layer really can cause the paper to tear. So it is needed. That is where it becomes a problem. I have a bag full of leather scrap that are all sticky. Ergo the question here.

Oh. That looks like it could work. Thank you.

I need translucent tape because I cover the stitching holes with it and then punch through it. Directions from all the pattern sellers, at any rate. Prevents the paper from tearing,

I'll do that. thank you. But I need it to be transparent or at least translucent. Isn't green tape opaque? That is why I have been using masking tape but it makes a mess, especially on veg tanned leather. Cleaning requires saddle soap and scrubbing which, of course, ruins the surface. I've tried every other transparent/translucent tape I could find around here but like I said earlier, they either do not stick of leave residue.

I often purchase patterns to make leather items. I need to stick those patterns onto the leather. with sticky tape and then take it off once the pattern is cut. That is when the problem arises. The tape invariably leaves sticky residue behind. I have tried several different types of tape but they either do not stick well or they leave a residue. I have clearly not tried the correct tape. What would be the best brand to use for this?

Yes. That is a good idea.

I am keeping watch and like your leather pieces, @fredk, mine are just going along, being fine, no fungus, no drying, just darkening, the extent depending on the oil used. I am thinking of updating every 6 months now, unless something changes. The ones with mineral oil and vaseline are very much darkened but otherwise fine. Those I will report on more frequently. The 2nd interesting thing is, one of the boxes in which I kept the oiled pieces of leather, got tossed around a bit and the leather pieces overlapped each other and I did not notice. Now I see that some have darkened more where they are not covered by another piece of leather. I will check whether those darkened more or the ones away from light lightened over time. Anyway, regardless of anyone watching this thread, I will continue updating it. It is an experiment, after all. Most people are only interested in the result at the end (whenever it is, for this experiment), while us poor researchers slog on, unnoticed....

In the 2nd photograph, you have a nice contract of a slightly darker shade. It looks good. I hope you get a good shade that works well with the current color. I used Startso brand too.

And that I always need. My edges always need cleaning up and I am in awe of anyone who get clean edges straight away. Since I discovered Vinegaroon, I have never ever used black dye. it is so easy to make and the matte black results are lovely.

@cottontop, I see your point and the Amazon products worked for me for definite color. If you want a variation in a shade though, the dye might be better. But yes, it is a pain, at least to me! Even after you order the product that you want, I suggest that you check the actual color on something else that is disposable. Sometimes the actual color differs just enough to disappoint. The shoes that I dyed were all of a single color but the tan I initially ordered was awful, so I ordered a different brand.

I used those Amazon coloring products before I came into leatherwork. They work surprisingly well. The shoes that I dyed several years ago are still going strong, look as beautiful too. They have not peeled or faded. I check them periodically and have no complaints so far. Those products work for those who don't want to get into leather dyeing. So @Tastech while it is true that it is probably paint, it certainly works well for leather shoes. I do not know about how they work on anything else, as I have only used them on leather.

I know that when I use dyes on leather, it only dyes on the surface. I am making a toolbelt for someone who works with animals and the different pouches are bound to get scratched and even bitten. Any dye will get scratched away and expose the undyed section. I decided to dye with Vinegaroon. Usually, I just dip for a few seconds, rinse and allow to dry. That gives a beautiful black color, but when I cut into it, the leather below is undyed. So I tried soaking the leather in the Vinegaroon for 10 minutes. The dye gets absorbed through and through and cuts and scratches are not so visible. I'm delighted about this, so thought I would mention it here. Of course, I suspect most people already know this, so it is for those who don't. Other dyes, I presume, at least some of them, if you soak for a while, might get absorbed and dye the inner layers as well, but will make the color too dark, especially on the surface. Since this is black anyway, it cannot go any darker.

My transparent leather is exactly the same color. it's beautiful, very soft and easy to cut. After airing it daily for about month, the smell is almost completely gone.

Just an FYI, @Tophee, These are the key chains that I cut with a hand held die I got from Amazon last fall. They are the discards that I have around the house. The leather used is the embossed scraps lot from The leather Guy. Those dies work.

@Aventurine , just a thought... It appears you are so new to leatherwork that you are still learning about the tools. Making buckskin moccasins is very different from making structured shoes. I understand that you want to jump in there but why not try something simpler so that you get the hang of leatherwork itself, get the knowledge and then think of moving to making shoes. You can start with a few simple tools, get an idea of stitching other leather, cutting it, working with it, (so different from buckskin - I know - I went that path too but not to other shoes) and then work your way to shoes. You

I use thick leather splits for punching. I cut them into the required size and when they get out of shape, replace. For punching thicker leather, I use a wax slab too. It waxes the chisel tips each time the chisels go through and make the punching smoother.

@Aventurine, most important... get an anti-tetanus shot!

@dikman Yes i was! but I learnt a lot about what I want to do, and more important, what I am not ready for, at this point. Tomorrow... who knows? Sometimes, my enthusiasm and eagerness to learn runs away from me! Thank you, all of you , who went out of your way to teach me so much and especially to warn me of the dangers.

@Chef niloc, yes electrolysis really cleans rust. I used it for old iron pots and pans a few years ago. i planned to set it up again but don't feel like it for a few tools. So I used lime juice and Evaporust instead. That got the tools clean of rust. Not shining though but I can live with that. Lastly, I used blade wax on them. They are now clean and not getting rusted again.

@Mablung, Found theses as well. A search for "baby moccasins" did not bring them up but a search for "leather moccasin" did. https://www.etsy.com/listing/491333516/instant-download-leather-baby-moccasin?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=leather+moccasins+pattern&ref=sr_gallery-1-11&dd=1&content_source=4fbbc587a369e2197a40883c1b2842e2ab8ea0ef%3A491333516&search_preloaded_img=1&organic_search_click=1 https://www.etsy.com/listing/952382705/baby-moccasin-pattern-baby-shoes-pattern?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=leather+moccasins+pattern&ref=sr_gallery-1-23&pro=1&dd=1&content_source=9929d1c15769d09f53ae7e5ca3b94943f4e9c385%3A952382705&search_preloaded_img=1&organic_search_click=1 https://www.etsy.com/listing/1434141627/simple-leather-baby-shoe-pattern-for?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=leather+moccasins+pattern&ref=sr_gallery-1-33&bes=1&dd=1&content_source=e1dac6f7330c9d5261e96e6653ec45b3a4a42b4f%3A1434141627&search_preloaded_img=1&organic_search_click=1

@Mablung yes, I thought that was bit too much! The 2nd one looks nicer too, a bit different.