Book Satchel

[MonicaJacobson]

I made a bag for myself a few years back when I first started leatherworking. Ever since, I've gotten a flood of compliments on it. However, once I joined Leatherworker, I got enough better that it has been getting downright embarrassing to get compliments. I always felt the need to say how everything I make now is so much better, really. I decided I was doing a pathetic marketing job, and it was a legitimate business expense to make myself a new bag. Besides, I used scrap pieces left over from other bags, so it's almost free.

All hand sewn, 9 oz. Austin leather and stoned oil tanned leather, doubled, for the straps.

My new bag:

Old bag with the new bag.

And then, just for laughs, the sheaths I made for my boys' rubber/plastic practice knives. I've never made a serious sheath before, so these were fun to do. I skimped and made a lot of mistakes, because I'm sure they're going to end up lost or rotting in the rain. Here they are, looking fierce.

[GrampaJoel]

I like your new bag.

Look comfortable and inviting right off the get go.

Three boys! Your a blessed lady.

Joel

[Northmount]

Nice!

The old bag is pretty good, and has developed character.

Tom

[papadanny]

Nice bags and boys. I like the Austin leather.

[electrathon]

Awesome bag.

[MonicaJacobson]

@GrampaJoel, thank you! Yes, this is a testosterone filled household, that's for sure. Lots of guns, knives, and army men. No dolls in sight.

@ Tom, I'm going to try to remake it, rather than throw it away. Cut off the bad stitching and restitch slightly smaller, and get rid of the front tooling and terrible strap. It was supposed to be an art nouveau cicada, and ended up looking like an alien invader face. You just can't unsee that.

@papadanny and @electrathon, thank you! I like it because it looks rough and not at all prissy.

Edited July 28, 2014 by MonicaJacobson

[Jon P]

Great looking bag!

[bethefawn]

Beautiful bag! Also, I agree that the old one is lovely too. I'd really recommend gifting/selling it to someone rather than modifying it. I know tons of gals that would be thrilled to sport it. Your new work is undoubtedly nicer, but don't discount the character of your old one!

[Hi Im Joe]

Very nice work Monica! The only small critique I have is the interior pocket stitching showing through to the back of the bag. And that is a very minor critique. It may have looked just a bit cleaner to catch it up in the stitching attaching the gusset to the bag.

I am always very happy to check out your work!

[Rohn]

Really nice bag. Good looking sheaths for the boys knives too.

[MattTheHat]

Very nice bag, indeed! And I love the expressions on the boy's faces.

-Matt

[MonicaJacobson]

@JonP, thanks!

@Joe - Yes, I see what you mean. I'll keep that in mind for the next one. In the past, I've been leary of adding it to gussets because I thought it made the seam look messy, but I'm open to being told that it looks better than an extra seam. Especially if I skived down the lower edge so that it melted in a bit. However, you're still left with the seam at the bottom of the pocket. So, I dunno.

Thank you, Rohn! Ha, about the sheaths, it was good to figure out what not to do on something that didn't matter.

Thanks Matt! Believe me, it's no joke to get a plastic knife in the gut when you turn a corner.

[Hi Im Joe]

@JonP, thanks!

@Joe - Yes, I see what you mean. I'll keep that in mind for the next one. In the past, I've been leary of adding it to gussets because I thought it made the seam look messy, but I'm open to being told that it looks better than an extra seam. Especially if I skived down the lower edge so that it melted in a bit. However, you're still left with the seam at the bottom of the pocket. So, I dunno.

Thank you, Rohn! Ha, about the sheaths, it was good to figure out what not to do on something that didn't matter.

Thanks Matt! Believe me, it's no joke to get a plastic knife in the gut when you turn a corner.

I just realized you got "U" shaped gussets on the bag...hmmmm that makes my suggestion not so good. LOL.

You could do a hanging pocket on the inside and line up the vertical stitching rows with straps maybe?

[3wunder]

Monica, that's a really great looking bag! And it's good to know there's still boys with decent knives around.

[vicroll91]

I have a nice piece of this same leather, but I am reluctant to make a bag with it. How'd it sew? Did you skive the edges?

[MonicaJacobson]

@Joe - No, you're right, with some more thoughtful planning I could have completely hidden the stitches. Thanks for the suggestions! I'm going to move more towards zippers, so I'll keep that in mind as I change my pockets a bit.

@3wunder Thanks!

@vicroll - I love Austin leather. I do skive the edges where there will be two layers, but it's thick enough that the edges are easy to burnish, and it's fun to work with. It's chrome tanned, but it's easier to cut out than thinner chrome tanned, and it keeps its shape well because of the thickness. I'd be interested to know if anyone has found a non-Tandy equivalent of this leather at Springfield Leather Co. or somewhere else. My sister, with no prior leatherworking experience, made herself a cool backpack out of Austin leather a few months back. You can see it here: http://monicajacobson.com/?p=869 . So much to say, it's not hard to work with. And it's nice to not have to worry about dye.

[Bob Blea]

You old bag looks good but your new one looks awesome! You should show that off with pride!

[MonicaJacobson]

Thank you, Bob!

[rosiart]

Love the new bag. I think the old one was very nice too. I'm thinking some of your problem with it is that your aesthetic has changed over time, as you have learned new things and found your own style . I think it is a process that we all go through learning a new craft/art :-)

[MonicaJacobson]

Thank you, Rosie. I think you're right about one's style changing. But I didn't give you a close up on the drilled holes, frayed edges, insufficiently light dye job, and shiny, crackly, over-thick layer of lacquer. But it's been a good bag, and I've certainly enjoyed it.

[freezerfiller]

Bag looks great and so do the kids!

[MonicaJacobson]

Thank you!

[Wild Bill46]

Ditto, I'm with freezerfiller. old and new look great, but the kids look even greater !

[rawcustom]

I have a suggestion about the bags. You can't post that much hand stitching that looks that good. It gives me no room to complain about the comparable small amount I've had to do. Otherwise, excellent work, and I won't be tricked into trying to match your efforts ever again!

[MonicaJacobson]

Thank you, Bill!

@rawcustom - LOL, that is a spectacularly nice thing to say, thank you. However, you get into the groove, and when you're taking two weeks to make something, an extra evening or two doesn't make much difference. My bags are relatively small and uncomplicated. In a way, they're much easier to make than knive sheaths and wallets.