Search the Community

Hello Folks, I need a bit of help for my next video. I'm planning on doing a tool review on Pricking Irons available today. I'd like as many irons that I can lay me hands on so I can give as balanced a review as possible. I will cover quality, purpose, availability and suitability of each make of iron. I am not beholden to any company so the review will be honest. I have accumulated a nice range of pricking iron over the years. I tend to use Joseph Dixons as they are the most available here in the UK. I have recently been sent a number of the Japanese and the Chinese irons very popular on eBay. However... I am missing Vergez Blanchard irons. I looked at the site and can buy a set new, but the cost is a bit extreme just for a video. Therefore, I am on the scrounge! Has anyone got a set of 11's for sale or loan? Ideally I'd like a set of 11's to show off the finer stitch. As best as I can work out, the 11's give the closest stitch to 10 stitches per inch. I'd like an 11-2 which is the two prong and an 11-12 or 12+. 12 making the iron 1 inch wide so anything bigger than an inch, preferably 1 1/2 inches. If you have something to suit but in different sizes, let me know anyway, the size will not be a huge issue. I have access to an Osborne iron, with this, the Dixons and the Asian irons I think I will be able to cover what is available pretty much everywhere. If you are aware of a make of pricking irons I haven't mentioned please let me know. If you are in the process of making or know someone who is making pricking irons or are able to do so and can send me prototypes... email me! I am willing to buy the irons but as they are for the video, I'd rather not break the bank. If you have a set you are willing to loan me, I will cover shipping, or if you want something making in trade, let me know. If you have a blunt or damaged iron you want fixing or don't want anymore, send it to me. I intend to include pricking iron sharpening in the video as well. The video will be free, with as much information included as I can get in. Any help or information... or irons you can let me have would be gratefully received and hopefully go towards helping may people in the craft.

Hello Folks, I have also posted this in the wanted section but just incase it doesn't get much coverage down there i've added it here as well. ​I hope that's ok. I need a bit of help for my next video. I'm planning on doing a tool review on Pricking Irons available today. I'd like as many irons that I can lay me hands on so I can give as balanced a review as possible. I will cover quality, purpose, availability and suitability of each make of iron. I am not beholden to any company so the review will be honest. I have accumulated a nice range of pricking iron over the years. I tend to use Joseph Dixons as they are the most available here in the UK. I have recently been sent a number of the Japanese and the Chinese irons very popular on eBay. However... I am missing Vergez Blanchard irons. I looked at the site and can buy a set new, but the cost is a bit extreme just for a video. Therefore, I am on the scrounge! Has anyone got a set of 11's for sale or loan? Ideally I'd like a set of 11's to show off the finer stitch. As best as I can work out, the 11's give the closest stitch to 10 stitches per inch. I'd like an 11-2 which is the two prong and an 11-12 or 12+. 12 making the iron 1 inch wide so anything bigger than an inch, preferably 1 1/2 inches. If you have something to suit but in different sizes, let me know anyway, the size will not be a huge issue. I have access to an Osborne iron, with this, the Dixons and the Asian irons I think I will be able to cover what is available pretty much everywhere. If you are aware of a make of pricking irons I haven't mentioned please let me know. If you are in the process of making or know someone who is making pricking irons or are able to do so and can send me prototypes... email me! I am willing to buy the irons but as they are for the video, I'd rather not break the bank. If you have a set you are willing to loan me, I will cover shipping, or if you want something making in trade, let me know. If you have a blunt or damaged iron you want fixing or don't want anymore, send it to me. I intend to include pricking iron sharpening in the video as well. The video will be free, with as much information included as I can get in. Any help or information... or irons you can let me have would be gratefully received and hopefully go towards helping may people in the craft. Warm regards to you all. Nige

Hi, I've just spent hours reading through old posts. Now I don't have a sad life, as you are thinking, 'cos I am 'foot up' die to a foot operation and cannot get to the bench. So I soon realised that if I could done this when I started leathercrafting (much better description than leatherwork - work is toil and craft is love) I would have shortcutted many mistakes and saved much scrap leather. So, to those reading this who are just starting out in leathercrafting, read as much as you can and copy from those who have gone before. One day you will have an original idea and you will have the skills to allow it to come to fruition. Al Stohlman's books are an excellent place to start. But as this is the modern age, online may be the way to go. (Yes, i am going to get there, eventually) OK, I'm here. The best thing you can do is to go to Youtube and search on IAN ATKINSON and NIGEL ARMITAGE and watch their instructional videos. Free, but donations are welcome, they will give you a firm grounding in basic leathercrafting. Do I get anything for plugging them? No, in fact I have donated to both by buying small items from them in the past (I can't bring myself to 'donate' as I would think I am short changing cancer charities) so I am not beholding. But they deserve my pushing them as i think it is the way to go. So, apart from one or two 'agreements' I would like to see your Youtube 'heroes'. Mainly for the benefit of Newbies, of course, but then again I do have a few more days of viewing time and an unlimited download contract with our beloved BT. Oh, both Ian and Nigel are Brits - so am I, but that was not a factor in my choosing..... Claire If anyone needs to see a photo of my foot as proof of incapacity I will try to post one, otherwise I'll not bother ....

I am new to leather work and i was watching nigel armitage videos. In one video he said depending on how many stitches per inch you do you should have an appropriate thread size so im curious for 7 or 8 stitches per inch on a phone case or wallet do i use the .6 mm thread or .8 or 1. Basically im looking for a general explanation so when i go up to a bag or tablet case i can know what to do. I hope this makes since im not sure im explaining myself right

Hi folks, a few of you have been asking about how I sharpen and polish my awls. This is a very condensed look at the process involved. I'm not a sharpening expert by any stretch, but it gives you a basic idea of how to achieve a good working sharp tool to complement the stitching skills you have. Regards Nige.

Good morning folks, just finished a video to help a few folks who wanted to make a hand made simple wallet. It's a work along with a design pack available with a number of wallets in. Thought some of you may find it usefull. Happy stitching Nige

Morning... I have a nagging feeling at the back of my mind that I've missed a few bods out that have asked me a question recently. If you are one of those... I'm not ignoring you, I'm just gifted with the memory of a goldfish! Nice Castle! Please, if I've missed you, drop me another line. Nige Who put that castle there?

Or if you just wanted an iPad case. This is a bit of Bridle Tanned Shoulder in Hazel in a classic folio to fit an iPad. just thought id share...