O/ Renoir Here

[Renoir]

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!

[EquusCustomLeathers]

Welcome! Great job on the stitching pony and the watch strap. And yes, be prepared for always having decorated hands

[Renoir]

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/

[LeeTy Leathers]

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.....