Needs Some Direction Please

[edge2009]

I'm getting a little aggervated latley... I've been trying to work with leather but have no idea what to do. I need some guidence or direction. I try something get just far enough to ruin some good leather becauseI realize I don't have the tools or skill to move on. When you guys and gals went furthur into your leather crafting hobbies, how did you advance yourself?

THanks

[LoneStar]

Practice, practice, and more practice. Everyone has ruined pieces during the learning process. Don't know about Florida but here Tandy gives free classes. For inspiration I look in the forum at pieces that well experienced artists have made. I will pick something I haven't made yet and make it as many times as it takes for me to be satisfied with it. have you tried a starter kit from Tandy? They come with everything you need to make several projects,(including tools). I just bought three or four tools a month and maybe a letter set a month till now I have enough to make anything. Plenty of instructional videoes on the Tandy website and Youtube also. Also, the good people on this forum are not stingy with information! Keep at it!

[edge2009]

yes lonestar, They give classes which I want to attend, but my schedule does not allow it. I might be moving soon and when I do, I'm thinking of paying to subscribe to the tandy videos and instructional threads.

I've been coming on here and seeing everyones work and it looks amazing, so thats when I try it and learn I'm not ready yet... lol

I've done maybe 2 kits and they were fine... I guess I need to just stick with them. I want to be so creative and get bored with the kits easily.

Is there anything particular you would suggest starting with first?

[Beaverslayer]

edge,

It all really depends on what exactly you want to do with leather as too where you start.

For example: I see amazing saddles posted on this forum, but know I can't just head to Tandy, buy a bunch of expensive stuff and go home and make one myself. I myself didn't start tooling leather until I had been working with leather for about 4 years I think it was. I remember someone commenting on a post I did with tooling in it, and they were amazed I even knew how.

To this day, I still don't do a lot of tooling (other than skulls) as I know I'm not that good at it. The same goes with me and using a sewing machine....can't sew straight...no how...no way... so I lace everything I make.

The best thing for you, is to choose what you would like to accomplish first, then apply yourself to that until you've become comfortable with it and then move on to the next aspect.

[Cyberthrasher]

I guess I can start by asking what you're trying to make. Either way, I usually practice on junk leather quite a bit (still). Since you "have no idea what to do" spend a lot of time researching the tutorials here and on youtube. If tooling is what you're struggling with, there are lots of videos out there. Pay close attention to the way people are moving their hands and the tools etc....

Honestly, I just went and looked at some of your other pictures (knew I saw some before, but couldn't place your name to the work). You're not doing bad AT ALL!!! It looks a lot better than what I did with my first pieces. Just keep practicing away and be honest with yourself on what needs fixing. If you're not sure what needs fixing, just ask and we'll give you pointers.

oh yeah, and I usually say screw the kits. Just get some scrap leather bags and tool away, then when you're done you can use them to practice dying later. I pull out all my old junk all the time to test color combinations or different custom mixes I'm playing with.

[mlapaglia]

Tool a belt, Make a wallet, do a key fob. The concept is all the same on each piece. Practice practice practice. Let us know what you want to do and someone here can point you in the right direction. Heck Ill even give you my phone number if you want to talk about it or get stuck with a problem. Lots of help here.

Edited January 10, 2013 by mlapaglia

[edge2009]

10 4, thanks everybody.

I really don't care what I do, I enjoy it all and reallyappreciate every type of leather work. If I had to pick, I would LOVE to start with knife sheaths and/or rifle slings. I'll just take a little break from it, and hit it hard again soon. I got to keep reminding myself not to freelance, and to just follow the patterns I get and see... What woul be a good Oz leather to do those kind of projects? (slings + sheaths)

Mlapaglia, I my take you up on that offer next time I run into something and can't find it on the internet, thanks for the kind words from everyone!

[TwinOaks]

How to advance oneself? Easy...start making stuff. Anything that doesn't turn out like you expected, or wished...you need to practice more. I know that's kind of blunt, but that's about as simple as I can phrase it. Find what you like to do, and keep doing it until it just can't be done any better.

When you want to move on to something else, follow the same path.

For sheaths and slings, 8 oz would serve you just fine. It's thick enough to handle the use, and take tooling but not too thick to easily sew.

[edge2009]

twin oaks, yes blunt but true...

I understand I need to just keep re-trying and attempting to improve. My problem is, I don't exactly know how to make it better... But this all improves with time. I understand with things as tedious as this, its anything other then a "easy" Hobie to learn, I must pay my dues to get better. One thing pointed out to me here was, I haven't stopped and trued to just improve on one project. I've been bouncing around from 3 or 4 different projects... so I'm defiantly going to focus on one thing for now!

Thanks

[Dwight]

Edge, . . . if you have a Tandy store close by, . . . go buy one good 7/8 oz double shoulder of leather. Don't buy the lower grade, either, . . . buy a good one. You are looking for a double shoulder that doesn't have a bunch of scratches, scars, or bubbly wrinkles.

Turn it over, look on the back, . . . if it has a bunch of stringy trash hanging down from it, . . . put it back and pick another one. The back should be flat and smooth and no boogers hanging down.

You can make belts, fobs, holsters, purses, knife sheaths, slings, pouches, all sorts of stuff from it.

Start out making yourself a single layer belt, . . . there are several stickies on this forum about how to do it, . . . or get Stohlman's book on belts.

Buy just a couple of stamps, . . . and decorate it a bit, . . . don't get too fancy, . . . just something other than a hunk of old dead cow's hide, . . . flowers, horse head, leaves, whatever.

You need a sharp knife, . . . a couple of different punches, . . . an edger, . . . one small bottle of saddle tan oil dye.

Wear that belt, . . . wear it proudly, . . . YOU MADE IT !!!

Then pick something else, . . . maybe make you wife, girl friend, or mother a purse, . . . nothing fancy, . . . just a purse.

You keep making different things, . . . sooner or later something will click, . . . who knows you may be the next "Mr. Saddle".

May God bless,

Dwight

The reason I told you to buy