Some Pretty Basic Questions!

[Slicknick]

Hey guys, I've been doing leatherwork for a fair while now, and I've made a few sheaths and right now I'm working on a project for a wrist cuff. One thing that's always bothered me is that the edges of my leather is sharp, rather than rounded, I've tried using light sandpaper, but it doesn't seem to help much. I seem to recall somebody mentioning something about an "edging knife", however I can't seem to find the topic again, and a google search hasn't helped much either. I plan on going to Tandy tomorrow to pick up some leather and a few latches to have around, so I'll be sure to ask there too. So how exactly do I finish off the edges of a piece?

My next question involves stitching - specifcally with a stitching awl. I know how to use it, and I've been finishing off my stiching with it by running the end through the last stitch, then tying it in a knot, like you would a regular needle and thread, on both sides. However this doesn't exactly look... well good. Am I doing this wrong? Is there another method any of y'all out there like to use? Or is that simply how it's done?

In regards to dying a piece of leather ( and yes, I know there's a million and one ways to go about it ), what's the simplist and easiest way? With a brush I'd assume? Also, should I dye it before or after I tool/stamp and or stitch it? I've seen conflicting posts, saying it's a good idea to dye it before I stich it, and punch my holes.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks in advance!

-Nicholas

[DoubleC]

Nicholas, I'll try and answer your questions the best I can. I think a beveler on the edge on your leather would help a lot and are readily available. They make a ton of them but when I need one I tend to use the french beveler or 'edger' as they are sometimes called. It's just a matter of practice and preference.

Usually stitching involves two pieces of leather so if you run out of thread while doing it, you go out a hole and leave the thread in the middle of the two leathers, and when you start back you go in the hole you didn't complete before and leave the end of the thread in the middle. The sewing makes the leathers tight and holds them although you can ad a spot of glue to them too. Then at the end, just poke your thread down between the two leathers with your needle and again use a spot of glue on it if you want to.

I can't say if this is right, left or wrong. I tool, carve, stamps and punch holes before I dye. That way you can get inside the holes with the dye too or if brave do a burnish and a darker dye on the hole edges to give a more finished look to your project. Also score your stitch line before that too. Then dye and then stitch. That's how I do it. And I find a brush the hardest way to put dye on so I use damp sponge. I hope some of this helps. Cheryl

[dirtclod]

For your edges you need a edger. I would get a number 2 and 3. You will need to burnish the edges for it to look right. You do that after you edge. Tob urnish you use a wet sponge and piece of cardboard off of a cereal box or something like that. You just want to wet the edge and rub it pretty hard and fast and you will have a smooth polished edge.

Dyeing i generally use a wool dobber or a piece of sheep skin with the wool trimed pretty close.

The folks at Tandy should show you about sewing it's not hard and i would pick up a copy of the book hand sewing.

[mlapaglia]

When you get to the end of your stitch line back stitch 2 or 3 holes finishing with both ends of the thread on the back side. Cut them off as close to the leather as you can and the wax and tension will hold the thread in place. No need for a knot if you use waxed thread.

[Slicknick]

Hey, thanks guys, the kind folks over at tandy definitely helped me out a lot with my edging and dying questions, and I've worked out most of my stitching problems now!