I Have A Beginner Lacing Question

[dragonspit]

I was asked to make a Bible cover for a friend which I am going to do. everyone understanding im fairly new to the game and well, ya get what I can do. The few things I have done, I sewed, but I want to lace the edges on this, and not just a single loop, maybe like a double loop. So I havve my cute little how-to book I bought when I was recently at Tandy and its got all the info you should need, but there was one thing (other than a bit o practice) I didnt understand.

When you are at the start, the book shows how to begin, am I to understand that as your making your loops and and doing your work, your pulling the entire length of the lace through each of the phases of work? you just leave enough at the beginning to tie into after you come all the way around but if that is so, you would have to pull, the 7-9 time x length, through every single stitch. am I understanding that correctly?

thanks in advance for any help.

Bob

[Trapsdog]

Dragonspit

You can lace that way but it is a pain, I cut 6 ft. off the spool lace that then dry splice should be a section in your book about splicing, also if you have some white saddle soap it helps to rub some on your lace before you start and while lacing. Good luck.

Tdog

[electrathon]

Use only piesce about 6' in length, then splice them. If you try to do it with only one very long strand you will soon notice that your lace has worn out and looks tatered. It will also likely break from the wear before you are done.

aaron

[King's X]

Ditto!

[dragonspit]

Well I guess 6' and dry splice it is. think I will practice that onced or twiced prior to project. btw Aaron, we had lived in Beaverton for almost 20years. just left last summer to return to family and stuff on the east coast. its a beautiful area out there.

Thanks so much for the help folks. now where did I put that practice piece with some holes in it.

Edited March 16, 2011 by dragonspit

[BillB]

When using 1/8" lace I have never had a problem with using full length lace when doing an item. I am currently doing a notebook and I am pulling about 20 yards of lace through. Since I did my own 1/8" slits, I can make sure they are well made. I also pull the lace through the slit at a slow rate to keep the heating down. I wait to pull the top loops tight until I have pulled @90% of the lace through. I also beeswaxed my lace before starting,

I will agree that the 3/32" has been a problem especially with circle punched kits. I have seen a degradation in the quality of the lace material over the years.

It is your choice as to which way you do it. As long as the splice is done correctly, no one should see it. I also consider how much stress is on the lace and where there is a stress point, I will make sure I have enough lace to get past it before having to do a splice.

One thing to look at when you get to the end and want to tie it all together is the lacing at the very beginning, On a Double Loop, the first loop is not a complete double loop so you will have to take it out, you may want to look at going several loops into the begging lace to where you have good consistency on the loops and the slant of the lace going into and out of the leather. I like to end up with lacing where you can not find the beginning or the end.

Good Luck and send us pictures of the completed piece.

BillB

[Somawas]

I use about 12' of calf or roo lace, Less if I'm using a suede lace. I wax the lace with parrafin, much less gummy than beeswax.

[dragonspit]

thanks for the help folks. Im takin it all in then will practice before doing. I just got all my materials so I have some work to do before I get there.

bob

[dragonspit]

well I can definetely see using 6-8 at most at a time. its just way to easy to tangle or get reversed if not careful. I would say my practice/training was a success of sorts. I did about 4", then around a corner, then another 4 or 5 inches. the corner was tough. I struggled with it quite bit but I think I understand. this all doing double loop. Its almost to complicated/busy for my project. I think I will try single loop tomorrow to see if that works al ittle better. but the double loop didnt look horrible, it just didnt look professional either.

[Scary Leatherworks]

try the mexican round braid. it looks more complicated than it is. and it has a nice neat finished look to it

Scott

[leathercrafter]

hello i always use the mexican round braid on all my lacing it is a little harder but has alot cleaner look to it when finished that is only my personal opion and we all know what opions are worth. i have inclosed a picture of one of the belt i made that has the mexican round braid.

[dragonspit]

Thanks for the info guys. after reading my "how-to" book, I thought I would try that next, but probably after this project as I need to get going on it. but I may have time and try it prior and if I like doing it, may switch. its all new to me and looks better than what I could have previously done.

thanks,

Bob