Dyeing to know what I'm doing wrong

[MtlBiker]

Yes, I'm dyeing to know what I'm doing wrong.  Using veg tan leather, I first dyed it using Eco-Flo Leather Dye.  (After having learned from experience that the veg tan shrinks when it's dyed or made wet.)  When it was dry, I cut out my pattern and then stitched the front and back pieces together.  Then I made it wet in order to form it around the item and that is when I got covered with the dye.  (Of course that Eco-Flo dye is water based.)

Should I have finished the leather with Satin Sheen (or something else) after dyeing it and before wet forming it?  I'd been afraid that if I applied some finishing coat I wouldn't be able to wet form the leather.  Would that have happened?  Would I still be able to wet form the leather after dyeing and finishing it?

(This is another Apple AirPro Pro case, following a YouTube tutorial by Totuia.  Unfinished... work in  progress drying...)

 

[Hardrada]

You could dip dye and wet mould at the same time.

And I'd be using spirits-based dye.

[MtlBiker]

2 minutes ago, Hardrada said:

You could dip dye and wet mould at the same time.

And I'd be using spirits-based dye.

Are you saying that I should cut out the pattern and sew it together before dyeing and wet molding it?  The last project (I learned from) I cut out my pattern first and then dyed it (this is before stitching) and the leather shrunk by a surprising amount.  Which is why I dyed it first this time.

A spirits based dye would avoid the problem of the dye running all over the place when I wet the leather to form it I guess.  Is there a brand you recommend?  I've been buying my dyes and other stuff from Tandy Leather and they have the Eco-Flo as well as Fiebings Pro, but for some reason shipping the Fiebings is a hassle.  I can't get any dyes locally, nor any leather working tools.

[Samalan]

I've made a lot of things. Wet mold then let it dry, then dye and let that dry, then wipe it real good with a cloth,  then three or four  light  finish coats,  this has never failed me, its all the drying time things must be very dry before the next step so if you have a lot of work you can set things aside while you work on something else.

And all I just said is just my opinion, because it works for me. Hope it helps you.

[MtlBiker]

5 minutes ago, Samalan said:

I've made a lot of things. Wet mold then let it dry, then dye and let that dry, then wipe it real good with a cloth,  then three or four  light  finish coats,  this has never failed me, its all the drying time things must be very dry before the next step so if you have a lot of work you can set things aside while you work on something else.

And all I just said is just my opinion, because it works for me. Hope it helps you.

I can see doing what you suggest when you've molding the pieces individually, prior to stitching them together.  And that's what I've done when possible.  But what if you need to wet mold after stitching?  Like the YouTube video I'm following (linked in my first post).  I'm not sure that would work because of the shrinkage factor.  Do you think it would work to cut the pattern, stitch it together and then wet mold it?  And only after all that dye it and do the surface finishing?

I am a newbie to working with leather and until I saw that video I linked to I didn't even know you could wet mold after the stitching.  Of course it also depends on what you're making and in many cases it wouldn't work.  I have some pre-dyed veg tan leather and I'm sure that would work well, but I didn't have the color I wanted so had to start with un-dyed veg tan and dye it myself.

[Hardrada]

2 hours ago, MtlBiker said:

Are you saying that I should cut out the pattern and sew it together before dyeing and wet molding it?  The last project (I learned from) I cut out my pattern first and then dyed it (this is before stitching) and the leather shrunk by a surprising amount.  Which is why I dyed it first this time.

A spirits based dye would avoid the problem of the dye running all over the place when I wet the leather to form it I guess.  Is there a brand you recommend?  I've been buying my dyes and other stuff from Tandy Leather and they have the Eco-Flo as well as Fiebings Pro, but for some reason shipping the Fiebings is a hassle.  I can't get any dyes locally, nor any leather working tools.

 

[tsunkasapa]

I'm old school, and as such, I don't use ANY of the new water based ANYTHING. That being said, I have never had any of my parts 'shrink' from dying with spirit dyes. I understand that there are issues ordering these, but I think I'd put up with that rather than use a product that is giving unsatisfactory results. I'll save the water for making coffee and beer. 

[Dwight]

I cut out . . . usually oversized . . . wet mold as needed

Glue pieces together where needed . . . trim off excess  . . .  and sew

Give a light coat of neatsfoot oil on the hair side only

Dye and polish . . . polish . . .  polish . . . and did I mention polish

Add final finish

May not work for everyone . . . but it does for me

May God bless,

Dwight

[Bert03241]

I dye before I cut out then sew then wet mould. Works for me

[Samalan]

10 hours ago, MtlBiker said:

.  Do you think it would work to cut the pattern, stitch it together and then wet mold it?  And only after all that dye it and do the surface finishing?

 Yes that's exactly what I'm saying to do. let it dry somewhat on the mold with air movement like a fan you don't need heat just the fan then remove the mold let it dry some more then revisit the mold once more make sure it's good don't wet again just put the mold in dry.