Help a Newbie Develop an Eye for Quality

[wizard of tragacanth]

Thought I made a post here a few days ago but perhaps I logged out without sending it. I will try to reconstruct it. 

You will learn to work without making any finger nail marks. Focus on working with the pads of your finger tips, or sometimes a knuckle (for wet molding).

I would not bother to groove this project. It is difficult to grove over holes as a beginner and you have a great chance of spoiling the project. Grooving is normally done prior to punching holes. Besides, this is a thin leather and grooving will only make it thinner and possibly harm the integrity. You could run a creaser because it would glide across the holes but I see no real point to that. Also, you would need to dampen the leather but you have already put a finish on it. Save grooving for a future project.

There is no grain to leather but I do recommend sanding in one direction, e.g. left to right, not scrubbing back and forth. You need a variety of sandpaper grits. Depending on the projects that you do, that could vary from 80 grit to 600. Often, you will start with a lower grit and finish with a finer one.

As a maker, it is your choice to set the style. Styles run from primitive, crude to high-polish dress. You can have unfinished edges or glass-like edges. What is your direction as a maker and who is your customer?

Nick

 

[Hags]

Looks like they donated a piece they couldn't sell.

[OGL]

I'm calling this experiment complete. Ignore the fact I didn't stitch it. Down the road when I get better tools I might revisit punching new holes.  But I mangled this poor thing enough I think.

I'm most pleased with the finish. I glued the pieces together. Slicked and sanded to 400 grit. Final slick with tokonole. 

Remember, this is my first time touching leather with the intent to fashion something out of it.

[Digit]

Looks better than before :-)

I think you shifted the top two card pockets a hole too far down though. And next time I'd finish the top edges of those card pockets too ;-)

[OGL]

2 hours ago, Digit said:

Looks better than before 🙂

I think you shifted the top two card pockets a hole too far down though. And next time I'd finish the top edges of those card pockets too 😉

Yes, Reassembly went off the rails early. But I know more today than yesterday.

The pocket pieces are very thin which made finishing them a challenge. 

I opened up a kit I had been gifted some time ago. Already making improvements there.

Thanks to everyone! This forum and the feedback in this thread have been very helpful!

[wizard of tragacanth]

Yeah, you learned a few things. That's they way it works. Each project builds on skills and knowledge. It's a process.

Nick