Minimalist wallet/card holder

[JDFred]

I was cruising YouTube last night and found a video with Joe Meling put on by Weaver.  It had a free tooling pattern with it, so I printed it off and made one. I added the basket weave to the original pattern.  My scrolls need a little work but my antique and finish is the best I’ve done to date. Let me know what’s right and what’s wrong.  Thanks

[DoubleKCustomLeathercraft]

It looks to me like you didn't case the leather correctly. By the looks of the beveling impression it was either still a little too damp, or dry. I know a lot of people will only dampen the leather with a sponge or spray bottle, then go to work 15 minds later. From my experience, it works and is satisfying but when you case the leather overnight in a plastic bag, then let it dry for (x) amount of time (back to near original shade) then dampen it again, and let it come back to original, the impression from the tool becomes neater, crisp, deep burnish, smooth (like butter) swivel knife cuts and you'll have more time before the leather gets to the too dry point. Don't always case this way, sometimes I'll only leave it in the bag for a couple hours. It just dries a bit faster

A little bit of bevel chatter around the curl. I dunno what the correct term is because I rarely tool floral or scroll work anymore. And on the veiner, give it a bit more tilt so the impression fades a little faster as it goes towards the center. 

The basket weave looks near perfect, the stitching is just as good. Couldn't ask for a better finish. 

Things we've all had to go through. I didn't know about this site when I first started, and it would've been nice to get advise. Could've saved some time and leather. 

[JDFred]

On 4/11/2025 at 11:29 PM, DoubleKCustomLeathercraft said:

It looks to me like you didn't case the leather correctly. By the looks of the beveling impression it was either still a little too damp, or dry. I know a lot of people will only dampen the leather with a sponge or spray bottle, then go to work 15 minds later. From my experience, it works and is satisfying but when you case the leather overnight in a plastic bag, then let it dry for (x) amount of time (back to near original shade) then dampen it again, and let it come back to original, the impression from the tool becomes neater, crisp, deep burnish, smooth (like butter) swivel knife cuts and you'll have more time before the leather gets to the too dry point. Don't always case this way, sometimes I'll only leave it in the bag for a couple hours. It just dries a bit faster

A little bit of bevel chatter around the curl. I dunno what the correct term is because I rarely tool floral or scroll work anymore. And on the veiner, give it a bit more tilt so the impression fades a little faster as it goes towards the center. 

The basket weave looks near perfect, the stitching is just as good. Couldn't ask for a better finish. 

Things we've all had to go through. I didn't know about this site when I first started, and it would've been nice to get advise. Could've saved some time and leather. 

Thank you for the input, you’re probably right about my casing technique.  I’m one of those that wets it with a sponge and goes to work in 15 mins.  The reason for that is I try to fit leather work in the evening if I have some spare time so I don’t get to do it every day.  I have tried to case leather in a bag in the fridge and by time I got back to it a week later it was dry and I had to start over so I kinda abandoned the method.  The time thing is also why my antiquing and finish never turns out great I get in to big a hurry trying to get a project done and don’t let resist dry enough or let the antique set long enough, but that is a me problem I’m trying to get better about.

Thank you for the kind word about the stitching and the basket weave, straight lines and geometrics appeal to my meticulous nature which is one of the reasons I don’t like floral carving as much but I’m trying to expand my abilities.  Thank you again for the help.

[DoubleKCustomLeathercraft]

I'm glad you didn't get offended. I think people are afraid to give out advise these days because people get their feelings hurt. 

I'm impatient myself, but I'm forcing myself to be more patient with the processes, which has benefited me. But it's hard to wait for the finished product to appear. 

Keep practicing and you'll master it all eventually. 

[Nowandagain]

I wish my basket weave came out 1/2 this well. Nicely done and nice even hand stitching. 
 I stopped using a sponge for casing. Using a spray bottle seems to give me better results, even without bagging the leather or leaving it overnight. 

[JDFred]

12 hours ago, Nowandagain said:

I wish my basket weave came out 1/2 this well. Nicely done and nice even hand stitching. 
 I stopped using a sponge for casing. Using a spray bottle seems to give me better results, even without bagging the leather or leaving it overnight. 

Thank you. I may try a spray bottle I can see where it would give a more even coverage than a sponge.