Best Use For This Leather?

[Ian1783]

This is perhaps a backwards approach to matching leather with its best use, but it's what I've got.

I'm hoping those of you with experience might direct me toward the best use of a lot of leather I have.

I'm just beginning to get into working with leather, as something of a natural next step from my hobby of working on sewing machine (now industrial machines, and specifically walking-foot machines).

A backwards approach, perhaps, in that my wife and I have been gifted quite a bit of leather from someone working in a high-end furniture company - mostly (all?) upholstery-grade leather in about 3 oz.

What products is leather of this type best used for? We're thinking: bags, pouches, purses, etc., but haven't exhausted the possibilities, I'm sure.

Chrome-tanned, I think; supple, smooth and in a limited variety of colors: dark, med, light brown; tan, buff, fawn, white; grey, muted blues. We just got a roll of what appears to be stingray, though my wife thought she heard something else when she picked it up.

None of this is of the type useful for "stand-up" bags - no stiff leather here - no veg-tan, or bridle (as far as I know).

Does what I describe have a most appropriate use? Again, though our imaginations may be limiting our range of projects, we're thinking handbags, totes, clutches, etc., with - possibly - belts, straps, buckles, clasps. You get the idea.

I'm posting here, as I'm sure I'll be back for info on patterns and templates.

Thanks all,

Ian

SF Bay Area

http://imcinnis.blogspot.com/

[DoubleC]

Ian you could make stand up purses with this leather too if you buy the bag stiffeners or combine veg tanned with it on the outside if the shape of yokes or something similar. The possibilities are really endless. Plus with the colors you mentioned you could make some really cool messenger bags. Mine is chrome tanned and I just used veg tanned embossed leather on the inside as file folder holders or pockets for whatever I wanted to carry to give it more form although it's still 'squishy' because I wanted it to be. I recently made a cross body purse and an under the shirt money belt out of italian soft leather about the same oz. These are some of my pictures. If I can help please let me know.

http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?app=galleryℑ=17298

http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?app=galleryℑ=21872

Cheryl

[electrathon]

Definatly purses and bags. There are so many styles and designs, Depending on the sizes of the scraps, patchworks bags look nice.

[Ian1783]

Thanks you both! I don't know that I'd be particularly interested in stiffening "floppy" bags, but thanks for the suggestion. It's good to know I have options.

And it does look like the leather we have is suitable for the bags, etc, we want to sew. I'll definitely be back here for ideas and suggestions.

I took a closer look at the "stingray" leather, and it looks like an embossed pattern on cowhide; very interesting.

Ian

SF Bay Area

http://imcinnis.blogspot.com/