Leather tote bag

[RockyAussie]

9 hours ago, Chux said:

I bought a bell skiver off Amazon and let me tell you, I can DESTROY a lot of leather REALLY FAST with that thing!! The edges look like a heart monitor...

This video I did is a bit painful to watch but if you have not seen it already it will help you with getting it set up right - https://youtu.be/SjYI5DIzKBs

With the top edge of your lining fabric I would suggest that you either cut the fabric to line up at the top with an allowance (3/8"?) for the leather outer to fold down over or fold the lining out the other way and attach it just a smigeon lower to the outer leather folded top line Like here shown below -

You will find it easier to get a nice even top line fold if you use a heavy fabric stiffener as shown here attached before folding the top line

Magnets attached in the middle with tabs is often used

The base would be better with a stiffener in it like 3mm Texon board between the lining and outer.

 

Edited May 20, 2022 by RockyAussie

[Chux]

On 5/19/2022 at 8:15 PM, RockyAussie said:

This video I did is a bit painful to watch but if you have not seen it already it will help you with getting it set up right - https://youtu.be/SjYI5DIzKBs

With the top edge of your lining fabric I would suggest that you either cut the fabric to line up at the top with an allowance (3/8"?) for the leather outer to fold down over or fold the lining out the other way and attach it just a smigeon lower to the outer leather folded top line Like here shown below -

You will find it easier to get a nice even top line fold if you use a heavy fabric stiffener as shown here attached before folding the top line

Magnets attached in the middle with tabs is often used

The base would be better with a stiffener in it like 3mm Texon board between the lining and outer.

 

That is a really nice looking bag!!

I'll have to post a pic of the skiver I bought, because it doesn't look anything like yours, like I said previously, it was something I ordered off Amazon. Hindsight being what it is, I should have saved myself the money. I'm going to have to look into that texon. I did a quick Google and it seems like its a UK product and I have to figure out what it's called in the US and see if I can source it locally, finances being what they are right now, shall we say "hinder" being able to order things online at the moment. 

Thanks for commenting 

[MtlBiker]

On 5/19/2022 at 8:15 PM, RockyAussie said:

This video I did is a bit painful to watch but if you have not seen it already it will help you with getting it set up right - https://youtu.be/SjYI5DIzKBs

With the top edge of your lining fabric I would suggest that you either cut the fabric to line up at the top with an allowance (3/8"?) for the leather outer to fold down over or fold the lining out the other way and attach it just a smigeon lower to the outer leather folded top line Like here shown below -

You will find it easier to get a nice even top line fold if you use a heavy fabric stiffener as shown here attached before folding the top line

Magnets attached in the middle with tabs is often used

The base would be better with a stiffener in it like 3mm Texon board between the lining and outer.

 

@RockyAussie - You do really fabulous work!  A real craftsman!

May I ask a couple of questions about your post?  About the heavy fabric stiffener you say will help get a nice even top line fold... Is that stiffener permanently glued in place?  Or is it used just to help make the fold?  (Sorry, I'm still pretty much a newbie.)  And what is the stiffener you use... the Texon you've mentioned?

Then the tabs you used with the magnetic closure... are they just a single layer stitched onto the inner lining, or do they (don't know how to call it) wrap around the inner and outer part of the inner bag?  (I see they don't show on the outer bag.)

Finally, on the photo that shows the magnetic closure, it looks like there's a strip of blue (leather?) at the top and then brown further down?  Would it be possible for you to show a little more detail of the inner construction of the bag?  (Not looking to steal your design... only to learn techniques.)

You've mentioned Texon before for use as a bag bottom, etc.... is there some other product that is similar?  I haven't had any luck finding a source in Canada, other than through Etsy, where one 9" x 14" piece of 2mm (couldn't find 3mm) costs $10, PLUS $20 shipping!  $30 for one small piece is not something I want to put my money on.  I've actually fused some Decovil Light on the inside of a couple of my leather bags and (as a novice) I think it's not bad, but I don't really have anything to compare it to.

And thank you again for your willingness to share your experience and help others.  It's very much appreciated.

[MtlBiker]

2 hours ago, Chux said:

That is a really nice looking bag!!

I'll have to post a pic of the skiver I bought, because it doesn't look anything like yours, like I said previously, it was something I ordered off Amazon. Hindsight being what it is, I should have saved myself the money. I'm going to have to look into that texon. I did a quick Google and it seems like its a UK product and I have to figure out what it's called in the US and see if I can source it locally, finances being what they are right now, shall we say "hinder" being able to order things online at the moment. 

Thanks for commenting 

Chux, earlier on you mentioned that you'd bought a "bell skiver" through Amazon.  Is it really a bell skiver, or just something called a skiver?  Is it completely manual, using sharp blades that you pull the leather against?  Or is it a machine, with motor, etc.?

Skiving (successfully) is something that I'm having a really tough time with.  SIGH

 

[Chux]

2 minutes ago, MtlBiker said:

Chux, earlier on you mentioned that you'd bought a "bell skiver" through Amazon.  Is it really a bell skiver, or just something called a skiver?  Is it completely manual, using sharp blades that you pull the leather against?  Or is it a machine, with motor, etc.?

Skiving (successfully) is something that I'm having a really tough time with.  SIGH

 

On 5/19/2022 at 8:15 PM, RockyAussie said:

This video I did is a bit painful to watch but if you have not seen it already it will help you with getting it set up right - https://youtu.be/SjYI5DIzKBs

With the top edge of your lining fabric I would suggest that you either cut the fabric to line up at the top with an allowance (3/8"?) for the leather outer to fold down over or fold the lining out the other way and attach it just a smigeon lower to the outer leather folded top line Like here shown below -

You will find it easier to get a nice even top line fold if you use a heavy fabric stiffener as shown here attached before folding the top line

Magnets attached in the middle with tabs is often used

The base would be better with a stiffener in it like 3mm Texon board between the lining and outer.

 

That is a really nice looking bag!!

I'll have to post a pic of the skiver I bought, because it doesn't look anything like yours, like I said previously, it was something I ordered off Amazon. Hindsight being what it is, I should have saved myself the money. I'm going to have to look into that texon. I did a quick Google and it seems like its a UK product and I have to figure out what it's called in the US and see if I can source it locally, finances being what they are right now, shall we say "hinder" being able to order things online at the moment. 

Thanks for commenting 

[Chux]

Can you say, POS?? LOL

There is a couple of "adjustment" knobs for depth and angles as well as a few different rollers. But I can't for the life of me get anything skived worth a crap. So for now I took it off the bench...

[MtlBiker]

@Chux - Thanks for posting that.  It's what I was pretty sure you had bought.  It's not a "bell skiver" at all.  I've seen those devices for sale online and at Tandy Leather and from what I've seen, some folks are really quite happy with them.  So it is doable, but certainly challenging.  And even a real bell skiver is pretty darn challenging, let me tell you!  Very steep learning curve, at least for me.

Cheers!
 

 

[blue duck]

@Chux you might try looking for 'bontex'. They are the same. It is a special paper /cardboard made for bags and shoes. It comes in many thicknesses, depending on what you want it to do.

[Chux]

2 hours ago, blue duck said:

@Chux you might try looking for 'bontex'. They are the same. It is a special paper /cardboard made for bags and shoes. It comes in many thicknesses, depending on what you want it to do.

I'll definitely look into that, thanks for the suggestion!

[Chux]

I didnt think this deserves a separate post so I'm just throwing in with my other bag. I tried taking some suggestions of folding my edges and making it look more "finished". That being said, it's still practice, teaching myself how to machine sew. Lots of room for improvement, but this was pretty much a snip and stich as I went project.