Wet formed bag tutorial

[Harag]

Excellent tutorial, many thanks. I'm looking at getting into leather working and hoping to make things like these, but all the different leathers is confusing at the moment, kips, shoulders, etc. What leather did you use to make this bag?

Edited April 5, 2013 by Harag

[MagiKelly]

The different types confuse me too. Basically I get whatever is veg tanned and the thickness I want. The bag was made from about a 3mm leather but I couldn't tell you what "cut". All I know is it is veg tanned.

[Harag]

Thanks for confirming the thickness of the bag. I'm reading up on carving etc, but from what I've read you can't do it on really wet leather and if I carved before putting it on a mold I might run into a couple of problems. 1. Carving stretches, 2. carving not as crisp due to the wetness of the leather.

Have you done any carving on a mold since doing this tutorial? if so, what method did you use?

Cheers

[MagiKelly]

I've not tried forming a carved leather bag. The closest I have come is a sheath I carved then wet formed. I would think you would need to form the leather on the mould then carve it in situ.

But as I say I have not tried it so you can show us how it is done

[miroovarna]

Super tutorial !!!

[Aaron1971]

MagiKelly,

As the resident newbie I just wanted to say thanks for the tutorial, I love the bag.

[MagiKelly]

Thanks. I am so pleased that people continue to get benefit from this tutorial. I am still very much a beginner, only doing the odd project here and there. I really will need to do the photos for a tutorial on my next project. I feel kind of guilty I have not really done much since this one.

[Rue Fallempin]

Great tutorial, thanks so much!

[Stormkrowe]

HI what kind of leather are you using here? would bridle butt work? does it matter if it is already coloured? cheers

[MagiKelly]

I've made bags out of almost every sort of veg tanned leather so don't think the type matters. Thicker is harder to shape but holds the shape better.

It does need to be veg tanned though and dyed through stuff is unlikely to work. At least the stuff I tried was no good.