phlegmaticdog Report post Posted April 27, 2008 (edited) I was a pretty good hand at leatherworking in the distant past and am now starting again. However, I mostly used kits that included patterns. Now I'm looking to be a little more inventive and creative. Where does one go for ideas for new patterns? Or do you just make them yourselves? I saw patterns in the Tandy store but thought the price seemed a little exorbitant. Edited April 27, 2008 by phlegmaticdog Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frayed01 Report post Posted April 27, 2008 I was a pretty good hand at leatherworking in the distant past and am now starting again. However, I mostly used kits that included patterns. Now I'm looking to be a little more inventive and creative. Where does one go for ideas for new patterns? Or do you just make them yourselves? I saw patterns in the Tandy store but thought the price seemed a little exorbitant. If you log on to the Tandy Leather Factory home page,you will find,Free,downloadable patterns for various projects. Dave Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hilly Report post Posted April 27, 2008 (edited) Join the International Internet Leathercrafters' Guild. There's a section for patterns right on their website. Edited April 27, 2008 by Hilly Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TomSwede Report post Posted April 27, 2008 Look for tattoflash magazines at a well sorted magazine seller. They often have a little note to the usual copyright note that says " free to use on skin". That is so generous. Maybe tattoo flash is not your preference but they often contains stuff you would not expect. Sometimes it's possible to pull to stuff out the designs, like a skull with a victorian scroll, pull out the skull and you have a nice scroll for a portrait. Lot's of tattooflash on the web too. Tom Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
David Genadek Report post Posted April 27, 2008 My vote would be for make your own. Patern making is not hard and is really what makes it fun. You just have to trust that you can adn realize that there is some trial and error involved. David Genadek Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Duke Report post Posted April 27, 2008 I just paid for a 2 yr subscroption to the leather crafters and saddlers journal. every issue has a pull out pattern section. very informative. also a good source for finding suppliers for saddle trees, leather, conchos, and other such things. check them out. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PeterD Report post Posted May 14, 2008 I was a pretty good hand at leatherworking in the distant past and am now starting again. However, I mostly used kits that included patterns. Now I'm looking to be a little more inventive and creative. Where does one go for ideas for new patterns? Or do you just make them yourselves? I saw patterns in the Tandy store but thought the price seemed a little exorbitant. I make them myself using posterboard. If you cut something short you can just duct tape some more on and recut it to proper size. After a bit you get a good feel for leather thickness allowances. If you need it flexible then run it over the edge of the table a few times to break it down and make it more pliable. When making things like knife sheaths, holsters or archery equipment you can tape the pattern together and put it one to determine if it really works. Then flatten it out and your back to your pattern. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
calanneh Report post Posted May 14, 2008 I just paid for a 2 yr subscroption to the leather crafters and saddlers journal. every issue has a pull out pattern section. very informative. also a good source for finding suppliers for saddle trees, leather, conchos, and other such things. check them out. What type of patterns do they normally have? Is it mostly 'western' style items? cal Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mulefool Report post Posted May 14, 2008 I got the impression you were asking about patterns that could be adapted to leather so that you could use your own creativity in designing it. There are alot of types of patterns that lend themselves to that. woodcarving, silver engraving, etc. I also like to go to the library and just check out books about different styles of craftmanship or art, Asian, Celtic, Native American, what ever strikes my interest and find inspiration there. also Dover Publishing carries alot of books with uncopyrighted designs of various styles to use for inspiration. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CitizenKate Report post Posted May 14, 2008 Most of what is in LCSJ is more traditional stuff, although they have had a few articles on some of the newer ideas in leather work. Are you mainly talking about patterns for leather parts, or artwork patterns? Kate Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
phlegmaticdog Report post Posted May 14, 2008 (edited) Thanks for all the great ideas! Your posts helped me pinpoint exactly what I was looking for; not just patterns that I could copy wholesale into my own work, but rather inspiration and ideas for things I can carve into leather and for ways to do it. There are lots of sources for that, many of which I found right here on leatherworker.net in the forums by looking at others' work. Also, art and craft books, magazines, artwork. Some websites that have been mentioned here in the forums that are useful to me include: thecoloringspot.com/animals/animals-set-9.html , http://karenswhimsy.com/public-domain-images/ , http://www.harvestfields.ca/clipart/index.htm , Also the International Internet Leathercrafters' Guild website. Thanks, Dave M Edited May 14, 2008 by phlegmaticdog Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
