spring flowers and good food

[Darren8306]

Thanks guys. The stitches are layed out in the die, and the stamp couldn't have been stamped any harder (short of breaking my hardwood stamp).

One of the other problems, pointed out by a stranger who didn't see it, is the quality of leather. Bought some cheap from Tandy, to try as liner. It dyes weird, is strange to handle and probably has problems I am unfit to describe well.

The 'stranger' was 'Armitage Leather' on youtube. He has a 2h sewing presentation, and early on, he told me something I've known a long time, and keep having to be told. 

Buy quality.

Leather of high quality, he says, works consistently and that limits the errors to the worker, simplifying troubleshooting. This leather, as I said, is the opposite.

I think it will be worth going back to Hermann Oaks, or whatever other quality stuff I can find in Canada. It's better, and the errors are more often 'mine'. 

I will try to make tension consistent, and avoid the backstitch, so thanks for that. I'll be banging out a few of these crappy ones, while meditating on some of these issues. The quality stuff will be after I've got a better result, as I do still have some HO scraps around somewhere.

As a side note, it seems to be too slow to include sealhide in this fashion. Also, the hairs look too long for this size of project, I think. Anyhow, onward and thank you guys.

[chuck123wapati]

7 hours ago, Darren8306 said:

Thanks guys. The stitches are layed out in the die, and the stamp couldn't have been stamped any harder (short of breaking my hardwood stamp).

One of the other problems, pointed out by a stranger who didn't see it, is the quality of leather. Bought some cheap from Tandy, to try as liner. It dyes weird, is strange to handle and probably has problems I am unfit to describe well.

The 'stranger' was 'Armitage Leather' on youtube. He has a 2h sewing presentation, and early on, he told me something I've known a long time, and keep having to be told. 

Buy quality.

Leather of high quality, he says, works consistently and that limits the errors to the worker, simplifying troubleshooting. This leather, as I said, is the opposite.

I think it will be worth going back to Hermann Oaks, or whatever other quality stuff I can find in Canada. It's better, and the errors are more often 'mine'. 

I will try to make tension consistent, and avoid the backstitch, so thanks for that. I'll be banging out a few of these crappy ones, while meditating on some of these issues. The quality stuff will be after I've got a better result, as I do still have some HO scraps around somewhere.

As a side note, it seems to be too slow to include sealhide in this fashion. Also, the hairs look too long for this size of project, I think. Anyhow, onward and thank you guys.

Maybe a circle instead of a diamond with the same-sized edge on both sides of the stitches.

[Darren8306]

2 hours ago, chuck123wapati said:

Maybe a circle instead of a diamond with the same-sized edge on both sides of the stitches.

That sounds worth trying. Thanks a lot, @chuck123wapati

[Darren8306]

7 hours ago, chuck123wapati said:

a circle

Gave it a go. It's a much better result, even if my circle IS off a bit. Thanks again.

Also, I didn't see the hairs sticking out until I was processing the photos. Guess I need improved lighting on my work.

[chuck123wapati]

4 hours ago, Darren8306 said:

Gave it a go. It's a much better result, even if my circle IS off a bit. Thanks again.

Also, I didn't see the hairs sticking out until I was processing the photos. Guess I need improved lighting on my work.

oh yeah, much better, and a seal skin key chain is pretty cool IMOl!!!  you can put anything in that though a coin, token or maybe a cabochan or even a small picture. And your stitching is much more even looking.