Renoir Report post Posted August 27, 2013 Hi all! Beginner here, three weeks in and having fun. First project : replacement watch strap http://www.flickr.com/photos/56285539@N06/9611413552/ very pleased with how it went - very happy with first-time stitching! (Colour 'dye' from brown shoe scuff - the stuff that comes in a bottle with a sponge on top! staying on so far...) Also made myself a stitching pony http://www.flickr.com/photos/56285539@N06/sets/72157635258004549/ I'm currently making my first wallet - I'll post photos when done . Top things I have learnt so far! * youtube videos are great to learn / demonstrate! Many thanks to all who uploaded leather videos. * Learn to sharpen tools properly. Sandpaper/wet'n'dry is cheap and does a great job, a cheap set of diamond steels work too. * Make a leather strop (glue leather to a bit of scrap wood and rub in some polishing paste). * Your knife must be **sharp** to cut leather well. * A glass 'cutting' board will destroy your sharp edge after 1-2 strokes. plastic is better * I've had reasonable success with the 'snap-off' style blades - stropping a few times seems to put a nice edge on them, and they are cheap to learn with. * Wear disposable gloves when handling dye. * Dye *will* get on your hands. See above. * There is no such thing as a quick 'touch up' of a missed spot. Opening a dye bottle will get it on your hands. * Dye exists in a strange quantum state. Simply observing the bottle will sometimes get it on your hands. * A proper diamond leather sewing awl is essential - and learn how to sharpen it! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EquusCustomLeathers Report post Posted August 28, 2013 Welcome! Great job on the stitching pony and the watch strap. And yes, be prepared for always having decorated hands Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Renoir Report post Posted August 28, 2013 As promised, my second leather project Wallet. Lined with blue satin and pigskin (in places). 4 card slots, two billfold pockets and two 'behind' pockets. Change pouch. http://www.flickr.com/photos/56285539@N06/9617957754/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/56285539@N06/9614717971/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/56285539@N06/9614716033/ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LeeTy Leathers Report post Posted August 28, 2013 Great start man.... I had to store my first couple of projects as I was almost convinced they were ugly enough to scare the pretty off any new projects..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
