When Is It Ok To Give Up?

[OurJud]

This might seem like a rather odd question, but at what point is it OK to sit back and say, "OK, this is never going to happen." ?

I've been trying to make a minimalist wallet for months now, had dozens of disasters and spent God only knows how much on leather - most of which has been wasted.

I set out to make a stitchless one because I was afraid leather stitching would be too difficult. When I failed at that I tried using my mum's dress making machine to make one with stitching. That too failed because my mum's machine wasn't up to the task.

So then I accepted the fact that the only way this was going to happen was if I had a go at stitching. To my surprise I've taken to this far better than I thought I would and am not totally unhappy with the results. But I'm still not happy with any of the wallet's I've made.

I ditched the idea of coming up with an original concept, because quite literally every conceivable wallet design has now been done - particularly since the minimalist / slim wallet exploded onto the scene through the Kickstarter funding platform a few years ago, but my efforts so far look tatty and homemade.

Now I accept that many leather enthusiasts aim for the 'homemade' look, but it's not what I'm trying to achieve. I want a clean professional look. I want to make something that looks like it was bought from a shop... something classy rather than the Frankenstein's monsters I've built.

It's now got to the point where my original idea of making half a dozen of these wallets and selling them on Etsy, has now become an obsession that I need to free myself of. I have no desire whatsoever to make any more than one of these damn things now, but I'm now reaching the point where I don't know if I've got it in me to even do that.

[Matt T]

Well, I would say that if it isn't fun for you anymore, then maybe you should find something else that is. It takes a lot of practice and knowledge to perfect your techniques in order to end up with exactly what you want...

[DavidL]

go take a leather working class if u can. If not pick one thing like saddle stitching and stitch 100m worth of thread and compare ur last 1m to ur first 1m to see any progress

[TomG]

Post some pics and ask for critique... Maybe its something as simple as edging that is stopping the finished look

[BigGriff]

I think you can do this. May take a little more practice. Like I mentioned in one of your other threads, I made my own minimalist wallet and it definitely looks homemade. I learned a lot though, took notes, and will do better on the next one. The key for me is that while I am making something, I am enjoying this hobby. If it was causing me too much stress, I would stop. If it has gotten to that level for you, I would suggest you do the same.

I will say that I think you can do this. The journey is half the fun.

[shtoink]

I would say that maybe a temporary shift on projects might be your best bet. Sometimes, when you are having trouble getting just the right look or effect, it's best to shelve the project and work on something else until you've had time to cool off and regroup your efforts.

Another thing that helps is to study items that have the look or effect you are aiming for to see how it is done. If the clean and professional minimalist look is what you are after, the first name that comes to mind is a specific member here by the name hunio.

There are many more, but here are a few that I found with a quick search that are good examples of his work. Maybe you'll find some inspiration.

Small Wallet

Small Leather Tray

Making of a Small Card Case

My New iPhone Case

Edited March 27, 2014 by shtoink

[LTC]

leathercraft isn't for everyone. when it stops being enjoyable and fulfilling, i think it's probably time to move on. there's a ton of different crafts you can do with your hands if you want to try something else. But if it's frustrating it wouldn't hurt and can only help to set it down for a while (or longer) and try something else.

[WScott]

You gotta walk before you run

Takes some time , effort and failures to get better.....at anything

[humperdingle]

Post up a Pic of some of your work AND a Pic from the internet of what you're trying to achieve.

Edited March 27, 2014 by humperdingle

[Hi Im Joe]

You gotta walk before you run

Takes some time , effort and failures to get better.....at anything

This is so true. I tried to make a bifold wallet for my father in law and learned that i bit off more than I could chew. I was too caught up in figuring out how everything was going to go together instead of worrying about technique. I then made a simple card wallet and found it was so much easier to focus on the little details that aren't automatic when you are new to a craft.