Questions About Kits Vs Buying Leather

[aguilerag]

I am a 2 week newbie. I try to practise at least a little everyday because I really want to learn how to make things like my grandfather use too when I was a kid.

My question is this. Would buying kits and making them be better than buying leather and cutting everything needed myself to begin with? I have lots of patterns and am in the progress of finishing off my own wallet that I cut out all the peices myself and assembled myself. Which would be the best choice for a beginner? Sorry if this was asked before, I dont mean to put repeat questions up on the board.

Thanks

Gabriel

[Northmount]

I ocassionally buy kits to get a pattern for cutting out more of the same style. Also if the sale price is really good, and sometimes when there is a great interior or one I want to copy. I rarely buy any of the pre-punched kits cause I don't like round holes for my lacing, or big round holes for sewing.

Cost wise, it's usually better to buy some leather and cut and assemble your own stuff. You can decide on the quality of the leather and cut around defects.

Tom

[Cyberthrasher]

cost, quality, learning, ease, profitability - ALL are better if you buy leather, even scraps, then if you buy the kits. Go ahead and use the kits to get a base pattern if you must, but you'll quickly notice the difference in quality and workability if you get a hold of some scraps. If you have all the patterns already, skip the kit and get the leather.

[aguilerag]

Thanks North and Cyber. I am buying some leather today and scraps so I can practice. I will use the kits to get patterns like you all suggested.

[electrathon]

As others have said, the kits are best used as patterns. The leather is usually very bad quality (the worst) and the holes are almost always mispunched, they are always too big.

Buy a kit, save the pieces for a pattern and the instructions till you get it figured out.

Aaron