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Completed my first halter and would appreciate some advice. I'm having difficulty keeping the stitches uniform next to the hardware, especially when overstitching at the start a stitch line. I am using a double presser foot on a Cobra Class 4 machine with the standard plate and feed dog. The straps are 2 -3 thicknesses of 9 oz veg tan. Adding a welt/wedge to ease the transition helps but I still have trouble maintaining consistent stitch lengths near the ends of the straps. Any tips or tricks? Also, Tan Kote is causing a yellow discoloration of the thread (white 277 bonded nylon). I am using Fiebing's leather stain then oiling with olive oil, and applying Tan Kote after stitching. Does the Fiebing's pro dye eliminate bleeding of pigment? I like the satin finish of Tan Kote but it acts like a solvent and lifts pigment out of the leather. Any ideas?

Hello; Can anyone offer advise on how to sew a raised nose piece for a horse halter using a 441? This is the first one I've made but it required a round about technique. Always looking to improve! Many thanks in advance, Silverd

Hi! I starting a custom horse tack business, foremost making dressage bridals and Halters. I'll be using Biothane. Is there anyone around the Lehigh Valley area (Allentown, Easton, Strodsburg, Phillipsburg in Pennsylvania) that can help me make them? email me at carina at swedishequine dot com Carina Vretman

Good morning. I have bought a building which had up until 3 years ago been operated as a leather shop. It has riveting machines, punch out machines, cutting machines, skiving machines, pretty much everything needed to manufacture horse halters, leashes. leads, etc. It not only has all the machinery, it has 1,000's of pieces of hardware (rivets, caps, o-rings, d-rings, square rings, buckles in numerous sizes (brass and nickel plated), most of the buckles, if not all, are made by a company called North & Judd. There is also 1,000's of pieces of hardward like snaps, latches, swivels, snap bolts, etc. And not to mention the 1,000's of pieces of inventory like chains for leashes, horse halters, dog collars, strips of leather which were never finished...well you get tthe idea. If anyone is interested in some of this, please let me know. We have just begun loading some of this stuff on eBay, but if someone in the business can use it that would be great. I am going to begin a Drop Box page with some of the pictures and will post an update shortly with that link. Thank you.

Hey everyone!! My name is Casey, and am a new registrant to this site. This is certainly not my first visit to the site, I have been perusing all of your fine work for quite some time now.... just got the oomph to register and start participating/trading ideas from people all around the world!! A little background on my horse/leather history... I apprenticed under a saddle maker, who was from a time when horses were for function, not for fun. I learned all of the basics of structure, strength, ingenuity, and got a daily dose of horse history just about everyday. My teacher is a wonderful man...but he was certainly not about all the "fru-fru"...carving, stamping, etc... So, after I apprenticed with him, and learned all I thought he had to teach me, I started doing a carving seminar here and there, and decided that most of it was pretty basic. After I learned the basic tools for carving, and painting, dying, and stamping; I set out on my own. Headstrong girl, working in an industry that had been male dominant for centuries. It has been trying at times... I have definitely had as many good days as bad, and as many mistakes as successes; and has overall been a very rewarding career thus far. I own 9 horses, 2 ponies, and my resident mule (Bartholomule haha). Most of them are saddle horses, meant for ranching/cutting/riding pens, and even the occasional lazy day when we just go out for a trail ride. I own a halfling and a draft horse (a 2 year old Pertrand filly) that has been stealing my heart the last couple of months. I do own a few carts, and a wagon, and have broke 3 of my horses to pull, and both my ponies as well. We participate in the city parade every year, and boy do we get dolled up to go!! My horses are my life, any time not spent working on my leather i spent learning new things with my horses. They are all such adorable characters, and they never cease to surprise me with the willingness they have to put up with my (sometimes annoying) persistence. My life wouldnt be the same without them, and I like to think that they like me as well ) It is nice to meet you all, and look forward to learning along with you!