Basic Saddle Stitch Tutorial By Nigel Armitage

[Aurelie]

great videos

[Dangerous Beans]

Really impressed with your Log Stitching Pony...is it your own design? care to show it off a little?

Finally, curiosity forces me to ask where you buy your veg-tan, as its not the easiest stuff to source in the UK?

regards

Adam

Cheers Adam, hers are a couple of snaps of the log, it's not a new idea, I stole if from someone who in turn stole it from someone else, it's just a log with the pony strapped to it, I spend a lot of time at this so I thought I'd make it it's own tool belt, it's just slots and loops so is fully adjustable for all my tools.

As for the Veg-Tan, try these, a few links I think you will find useful, I have used them all and have not had a problem with any of them although i have not had any leather from Tandy.

Metropolitan Leather http://www.metropolitanleather.com/

Abbey England http://www.abbeyengland.com/en-us/home.aspx

J & FJ Baker http://www.jfjbaker.co.uk/

you also have LePrevo http://www.leprevo.co.uk/ and Tandy http://www.tandyleather.eu/en-eur/home/home.aspx

Hope that helps.

Nigel

[Aurelie]

thanks Nigel for the links

i will have a look at it

might be less trouble than ordering from France than the USA

[lightningad]

Thanks Nigel, wasn't aware of the first three suppliers! Typical though, before i ever got into leather (ooh err!) I love less than a mile from Abbey, now they're 30 miles away.

Is the leather strap with the hinge how you achieve the tension on your pony?

Promise i'll stop bugging now!

adam

[Dangerous Beans]

thanks Nigel for the links

i will have a look at it

might be less trouble than ordering from France than the USA

Aurelie, there is a Tandy in Jerez Spain as well as the UK, might be worth checking out which is cheaper on shipping.

Germany do some excellent leather, as do Italy! All cheaper than getting from the US.

I'm sure there will be outlets in France but a bit of time searching might be needed.

If you find an outlet, let me know.

Love your work by the way.

Nigel

[Dangerous Beans]

Thanks Nigel, wasn't aware of the first three suppliers! Typical though, before i ever got into leather (ooh err!) I love less than a mile from Abbey, now they're 30 miles away.

Is the leather strap with the hinge how you achieve the tension on your pony?

Promise i'll stop bugging now!

adam

No problem Adam, yes, the strap holds the pony in place, it's got two swing clips on which have screw tension so when the leather begins to give a little, I can just tighten it up. There is a proper name for them but it escapes me. Clipydoobrywhatsits maybe. Google that!

Nigel.

[Aurelie]

Aurelie, there is a Tandy in Jerez Spain as well as the UK, might be worth checking out which is cheaper on shipping.

Germany do some excellent leather, as do Italy! All cheaper than getting from the US.

I'm sure there will be outlets in France but a bit of time searching might be needed.

If you find an outlet, let me know.

Love your work by the way.

Nigel

Hey Nigel,

Skirting leather for building saddles => i do not have found something that worked as fine as US leather (no matter the price - technically speaking - does not mold well , does not stamp well)

as for "small leather", i have always been said that leather from Tandy are not really good so i kept buying other stuff from them except leather

I tried to get in touch with Italian suppliers (in english 'cause i do not speak italian or french) and either they do not need new customers, or i am too small one or they do not speak english or french 'cause they do not bother to reply)

so i searcher in France : found 2 small suppliers near my home : i find quite nice leather (not terrific though) i can buy in "small amount " ( several hides at a time - 1 to 3 usually) but trouble is : no continuation in the leather : you get what you find and it's not there the next time you come....) but for small project i do with this...

I have BIG troubles to find REALLY GOOD QUALITY LEATHER (even with a high price) , specifically for chaps , here in France so i used to buy goligher leather in California (awesome stuff) but it does cost an eye when you count shipping+ customs .

After searching like crazy , i finally found a guy in Espelette : http://www.carriat.com

they sent me some samples , they seems fine , i can buy not too much hides (1 to 3 at a time versus 10 to 40 with others) and the price is slightly cheaper than if i bought from goligher.....so i have to give it a try....

It is just a really pain in the butt to find things that work + i hate that "french mentality" => girls can't build saddles or work leather or "Dear god above us , i won't tell you where i buy my leather or how to do that because you 're going to rob my customers"........i 'm just fed up with this.....

I am a rookie, i do not do the same things than others in France (and i do not intend to do so) and i think along that way => Anyway, if someone comes along in the business and is better than others => he (or she) will deserve to get the business . That is this simple in my mind

:D

By the way : thanks for your praise, as said above, i am a rookie (except for saddle building for which i learnt from a teacher ) i learn from scratch - and a lot from that super terrific forum-

I am far from perfect but i try and learn.....and for my sake , i think that Rome has not been built overnight

Keep throwing at us some good tips

And last thing : I love you job too = neat and classy!

and i really like you UK system of guilds (i was talking about that with a fellow girl about "saddle-fitting" another poor thing not taken into account - or badly- in France

[Dangerous Beans]

I have just sent you a PM Aurelie, it's http://www.jfjbaker.co.uk/ that do the oak bark leather.

Maybe you could start Guild of Saddlers, Leathersmiths and Cordwainers (Europe) I'd join.

Nigel

[Aurelie]

Maybe you could start Guild of Saddlers, Leathersmiths and Cordwainers (Europe) I'd join.

Nigel

:D that's something we're thinking of with several other people.....but more "global" for the sake of the horse :D

[Dangerous Beans]

:D that's something we're thinking of with several other people.....but more "global" for the sake of the horse :D

The Global Guild of Saddlers. It has a ring to it.