Imagination exceeds my skill

[Ledhep]

I have been working with leather for about 2 years out of desire to come up with another hobby to spend all my money on. (my wife's words not mine).... I am a novice knife maker, blacksmith, descent wood worker, and stone cutter. Unfortunately I didn't come  up in a community of leather workers and I am learning the trade on my own, using youtube and tutorials to increase my skillset. I have a rudimentary understanding of the mechanics and tools but getting my stupid hands to produce what my mind sees is another thing. 

I have tried to join a few groups on Facebook but they always seem to drift into weird fetishes and the darker side of leather. So when I came across this group I thought I would give it a try. I really want to take my skills to the next level so lately all of my other pursuits have been on hiatus to focus on Leather.

My set up is as follows: 

Basic set of stamps and punches from Tandy and Weavers, some nicer stamps from LeatherStampsTools on Etsy (tool builder out of Belgium. 

Scads of buttons, rivets, snaps. Febings dyes and top coats, 

A marble top work bench. Some hand tools that i have developed, (due to arthritics in my right hand)

Basic Mallets, edgers, hand skivers, strap cutters, some cheep Chinese hand tools (edgers, groovers creasers etc) Several hand stitchers

JUKI LU-563 sewing machine

Little about me:

I am a fourth generation German blacksmith and metal worker. (my grandfather would turnover in his grave if he heard me call myself that (blacksmith not German)) I have a very creative mind and don't shy away from trying audacious projects. I like to make all manner of goods in wood metal stone and leather.  I am impatient and often rush my projects thus messing them up. (im working on this) I need some help with organization and project planning. I was a pastor for 10 years but most people are surprised to hear that... Maybe because I am a little bit of a smart ass and have been known to over use sarcastic humor. 

[Mulesaw]

@Ledhep Welcome to the forum.

I can follow you completely in wanting to take your skills to the next level. In your profile information you write that you are interested in learning about hand tooling, sewing and finer work. 

Perhaps set yourself a challenge of making for example: 3 tooled belts this year. It could be a floral design or something completely different, as long as it is something you like. After each belt examine them closely and be honest with yourself in your own critique. Was the stitching consistent, well laid out pattern etc. that'll give you something to work on for the next belt. Afdter that, you again look at it, and compare it to the first one. Did you do better on the focus points etc. 
That way you can monitor your own progress.

The reason I suggested belts is that they allow for a lot of practise with a not too high investment in materials. and you can always give them away as birthday gifts when you don't need anymore yourself. Also if you work really focused, you can see the result in e.g. a weeks work with a couple of hours here and there. 

I think the most important thing is to do something you enjoy from the start, and it needs to be something where you can see a progress. Because there is just something comforting in being able to see that you are actually moving forward.

Brgds Jonas

[jrdunn]

@Ledhep Welcome to the forum from someone that is not too far away(geographically, at least).  Jonas gave you some good, sound advice.  You'll always know exactly where your own flaws are but learn to fix what you can, when you can and accept what you can't.  I too am self taught, which sometimes leaves holes in my skills.  You can get a free video from  Elktracks Studio, here https://elktracksstudio.com/collections/videos?page=8 .  It's just an introductory but had some things I had overlooked or forgotten.  They have sales from time to time.  I bought several for my granddaughter during on sale.  She is interested in learning, although quite busy.  Hope some of this helps.  JM2C, Jim

[chuck123wapati]

you should fit right in, you sound like many of us. There is a ton of stuff you can search on just about any leather topic. on tooling and stamps some styles, for example Sheridan style tooling uses stamps designed for that style; others are similar but not the same. What i did was study one style of tooling at a time, which was Stohlman first. most of the patterns tell you what stamps the pattern takes, so you can buy them one pattern at a time and have some luck in reproducing the intended pattern accurately, as well as learning how they work together and learning the style.

AS for taking your time, that's the hard part to learn lol you just have to quit when you get in a bind and think about it. come back the next day with a new outlook. And tooling always looks better after it's finished, so don't give up until you have it stained, sealed, and buffed out It will surprise you.

My old driller used to say I worked faster than I could think, lol, he would tell me to go get a cup of coffee and think about it, then come back and finish. Worked every time !!

Life is good!!

[Dwight]

6 hours ago, Ledhep said:

I have been working with leather for about 2 years out of desire to come up with another hobby to spend all my money on. (my wife's words not mine).... I am a novice knife maker, blacksmith, descent wood worker, and stone cutter. Unfortunately I didn't come  up in a community of leather workers and I am learning the trade on my own, using youtube and tutorials to increase my skillset. I have a rudimentary understanding of the mechanics and tools but getting my stupid hands to produce what my mind sees is another thing. 

 

You put the whole problem in a nutshell in the bold letters above.

There is a middle step between seeing and producing . . . it is defining "HOW" to produce it.

Take for example . . . sewing a pair of shoes from scratch.  Pick up a shoe of yours . . . preferrably a moccasin.  Turn it around in your non writing hand . . . and use your writing hand to write down where you put the very first stitch. 

What two parts are joined before anything else is done.  

What is the next sewing step . . . the next step . . . the next step . . . etc.

Now put the shoe down . . . go watch an hour of youtubes or TV . . . then come back and without making any changes . . . pull off the sheet and do it again.

Compare the two . . . If you didn't cheat . . . you probably will have two versions . . . because you caught something in one . . . the other missed.

This is how you learn to do the "HOW" . . . make up that written plan . . . cut 1 . . . sew 1 . . . cut 2 . . . cut 3 . . . sew 2 to 3 . . . sew 1 to 2 and 3 . . . etc.

I have to do that or I'm coming back and trying to figure out how I'm going to get that snap put in that I forgot . . . or how will I get that sewing over there that I missed.

That my friend is the key to your problem . . . a plan of action . . . which will always be subject to modification.

Have fun . . . best wishes.

May God bless,

Dwight

[Brokenolmarine]

I started leather work, for the same reason I started making knives.  My daughter asked me to.  She wanted me to make her a knife.  I told her I didn't know how.  "YouTube," she said.    I bought the knife kit from Woodcraft, and watched a few videos and made the first knife, years ago.  She still uses it daily.  A month after I sent the knife she called and wanted a sheath.  I don't do leather work... "Youtube... Duh."  Got the basics from Tandy and got started.... made the sheath.  Later she wanted a tooled sheath.  I didn't even call her, just fired up YouTube and got started.

What I found is that to improve, I saved off cuts and scraps, and practiced tooling, and sewing on scraps.  Youtube has hundreds of videos on tooling techniques and stitching.  Watch a lot, pick out the ones that work for you.  Practice them on scraps.  Toss the bad ones and save the improvements for reference.  I STILL practice when I'm bored, and try new things often.  I have severe arthritis... my Hands tell me when I have had enough time in the shop... sometimes an hour, sometimes Ninety Minutes.  STOP then.  I can do two or three sessions a day, sometimes ONE.  Don't push it.

Trying to work in pain is a call for failure.  I learned the hard way.  It's a hobby, not a job, enjoy it. 

Between practice, and time, you'll see improvement as you move forward.  Everything I have accomplished, I learned from YouTube.

There are some great videos out there, and some patient teachers in the videos.  Others, not that good, you'll find them.

Once you get better and have more confidence, move to better leather.  I finally did, makes a big difference.

Good luck.