has anybody HAND embroidered leather

[Suze]

I have taken up a challange to create 50 things by 2015 (arts and science challange in the Society for Creative Anacronism)

and was thinking about a leather gameboard for a "something" and instead of carving or stamping the thing I wanted to do some sort of embroidrey on it (I'm thinking blackwork as that is VERY graphable and geometric) I could also punch holes and sort of lace it......tiny holes - teeny tiny holes

and I'm a fiber geek

so I was wondering if anybody has done anything like this and had any tips - hints - or "good god, don't do it this way" stories

thanks

[HorsehairBraider]

I hand-embroidered a pegasus on a leather back pack that I made. I used a glover's needle and regular embroidery thread... it's pretty hammered now, I used that back pack for a purse and hauled it absolutely everywhere for years and years. I don't think it's worth looking at anymore but if you want to see it I guess I could photograph it. The leather is deer skin.

I've also hand-beaded leather. I did a headstall and reins for one of my horses. Again, I used one of those glover's needles that has a tip with three faces sharpened on it. In this case the leather was regular English bridle leather. This is still in excellent shape and I use it when I ride my horse Tito. It's lasted about 15 years so far.

It can be done!

[Suze]

thanks - will have to find needles

I have this coat that I bought at goodwill - brand new leather trench (for 10 dollars - yep it's a GOOD coat, sarcasm on)

that I thought that I could use for "barbie stuff"

and I thought that I could give it a try

[HorsehairBraider]

Oh - and I meant to point out - the two things are not mutually exclusive. You being crazy, and someone embroidering leather.

[ChuckBurrows]

Some simple embroidery I did on a pouch when I was a SCAdian many, many years ago.....

The Mexicans do real fancy leather embroidery using a type of bromelaid thread - IIRC it's called pitiado.....

On most commercail leather you shouldn't get your stitches too close = on alum tawed or brain tanned they can get very close....

[Suze]

Nice sporran Chuck

I was thinking blackwork - so that the stiches are NOT that close together - more like what you did with the sporan - a running stich in a pattern.

Oh and I looked up pitiado -- wowsers, the first link I clicked on was a pair of boots.....purty

Oh and Horsehairbraider - the gang is already convinced I'm crazy so it's not a far strech for this kind of "You're doing WHAT?" project.......

everything has a second use and you just have to "see" it........Most people don't

[ShirleyT]

Atta' Girl! Crazy like a leatherworker! I did a bit of silk ribbon embroidery on a vest. Turned out well.. can't find the photos, sorry, was a long time ago. Lots of tutorials out there and silk ribbons for embroidery at any craft/sewing store. The silk is really tough, comes in beautiful colors, a small awl helps too. (And the right size needles.)

Here's a quick overview: http://www.threadsmagazine.com/item/3725/b...e-easy-stitches

Flowers are most common but a talented leatherworker could interpret the ribbon into really cool ways with the skills you already have. I would love to see it when done.

[Suze]

While I love the silk ribbon embroidery - it is too late for the time frame I "play" in (600 to 1600 AD)

But boy was that vest pretty (and it might be a projet for another day - ribbon - I gots ribbon)

thanks for the link

[Johanna]

You ought to come over and check out my new sewing machine, Susie! Don't worry, I'll bring you food down the stairs!

~J

[Suze]

bee right over -- seriously