First Real Project

[Bryan M]

Here's my first real project. I had some Tandy scraps and I put together a kindle cover for my wife. I'm still working on it. Need to finish stitching, edging, burnishing, and buffing. Seemingly endless list. But I'm new at all this so I tend to go slow with newer stuff. I had some issues with the leather stretching when I tooled it and it didn't line up like it did when I first cut everthing out. But, I went ahead anyway and continued with the work. The tooling needs work I know as does the stitching. In my haste to get something put together I neglected to put in a snap to keep the cover closed. I suppose I still could but I don't want the bottom of the snap to come in contact with screen of the kindle. I am saddle stitching by hand.

Bryan

[EquusCustomLeathers]

Looking good so far Bryan!

[Cogs]

Hey Bryan, you're well on your way. It'll work out just fine. Funny how we choose to do involved projects when we first start. It can get overwhelming at times. This is looking good and she'll like it (or else!). :}

To keep the cover closed... hummm... you could do a strap all the way around it. Like a belt. Not secured to the cover at all. Just slips over tightly and holds it together. I've also see and elastic cord that could do the same thing. Just a thought.

Bill

[lightningad]

Looking good Bryan.

I made a very similar thing last year, and i didn't bother with any kind of permanent closure. I decided that as books don't need a fastener, then why should an electronic book? I just made sure the leather was firm enough to protect yet flexible enough to close or open as required.

I notice you have done almost exactly the same as i did for the retaining straps...with hindsight i wish i had put the corner straps on all four corners, as the longer strap on the top makes it easy for the Kindle to slide out if the cover is held upside down. I got around this be retrofitting a tongue to prevent this. Four corners straps would have been easier and much more elegant! But if we weren't learning it would be boring!

I found that the easiest way for me to stop the leather stretching whilst tooling is simply to cover the flesh side of the leather with packing tape before i start.

Adam

[Bryan M]

Thanks everyone for the kind comments. Packing tape? Like the regular plastic type? I'll give that a try and see how it goes. Thanks for that tip. As for a strap to close it. I did figure out a way to do that, that will look good and still be attatched to it. I just don't know if I have enough leather to do it. LOL.

Cogs, ya, and this isn't the first time either. When I started blacksmithing I went straight to making tongs. Not quite as simple as it sounds at first. Now I can make them no sweat. But thats years and many hundreds of hours later. Last month I was talking to a knife making friend and he had made a small set of tongs he uses to pull his needles through his sheaths. I thought it was a neat project and will be my next blacksmithing job. And will help me merge the two crafts.

As for the strap my idea is to stitch it to the binding in the center. and let it hang free on the ends. But like I said that all depends on if I have a long enough piece.