Pattern Making

[JLSleather]

I don't care for drilled holes, personally.   Or any holes, really, except I can't figure out how to stitch without SOME kind of holes   

Drill press definitely worth having in the shop for a number of reasons.  BUT... if you want to use your drill press for making stitching holes, then I would recommend this simple TIP:

INSTEAD of a twist drill (sometimes called a drill "bit"), chuck a #24 or #25 chisel point sewing machine needle in your drill press.  Pressing holes (drill press OFF) with this will make a hole which closes back up when stitched - the same as an awl - leaving a stronger product and a cleaner look.

[Studio-N]

2 hours ago, JLSleather said:

TIP:

INSTEAD of a twist drill (sometimes called a drill "bit"), chuck a #24 or #25 chisel point sewing machine needle in your drill press.  Pressing holes (drill press OFF) with this will make a hole which closes back up when stitched - the same as an awl - leaving a stronger product and a cleaner look.

excellent tip.  I didn't care for a lockstitch (what a sewing machine makes) but would often use the boss to make/space my holes so that I could come back and do a saddle stitch. 

[Steelhat]

7 hours ago, JLSleather said:

Great tip, I'll definitely give it a try.

 

[JLSleather]

I recommend the needle because: 

• they're both cheap and easy to find.  
• Usually the needle is already sharp when you get it.  You could use an actual awl blade, but with the crap sold these days you'd likely have to sharpen it BEFORE it's worth using.  And of course someone would recommend a video for you to watch about sharpening an awl blade    But, wouldn't shock me to find out there's a video about how to sharpen leather point machine needles!

One more idea.. when you get the drill press, drill about 1/8" or 3/16" hole right through the table (or base, depending on your model).  This will give you a spot where you can have the leather supported underneath, but not worry about hitting the table with the needle (make sure it lines up with the hole).  Yours may come with a hole already in it, if not - put one there.

Oh, one more idea ... cover the press table with some other material, to avoid contact between your "good" leather and the steel.  You could 'git all fancy' and laser cut some clear acrylic sheet, or you could do what I do... throw on a scrap of about 4 oz suede just larger than the table....   If you punch a hole in it about the size of the hole in the drill base, then your "cover" won't stick on the needle.

So there you have it....

• get the drill press (watch craigslist and auctions.. these things are everywhere)
• drill a clearance hole through the table
• chuck machine needle (orient the right way.. as you like)
• verify needle comes down in clearance hole
• cover table with whatever (piece of paper would work, but put the hole in that too so it doesn't stick on the needle)
• poke away ... turning the PIECE, not the table or the spindle

[BruceGibson]

Thanks for posting these, Jeff!  Awesome work on the patterns, and a mighty generous thing to do!

[Wishful]

Thanks for the pattern and discussion.

[Tob]

Thank you for posting those patterns.  I do have a plan for using something like the pancake for a cell phone.  Saw it on some site somewhere and liked the idea.  Might even work on purse straps, backpacks, or a messenger bag shoulder straps.  Might also need modification.  The cool thing is, the Galaxy S5 is the same size as the S7.  I also plan to use cardboard wrapped in plastic or packing tape and make a block for easier wet molding and future attempts.

[Tob]

Most of the larger smart phone holsters I have seen are vertical, and after having put it on paper, I can see why sort of.  

Here is a quick jotting down of the idea.  In the phone shape, the innermost line is the outline of the phone inside the protective cover.  The outer line is a 1/4"ish allowance for wet molding and stitching.  The squares of the paper are 1/4" for size reference. 

Criticisms are welcome, otherwise how do we learn.

[JLSleather]

On 12/14/2016 at 5:39 AM, BruceGibson said:

Thanks for posting these, Jeff!

Welcome (sorry, forgot about this thread and jus' saw this!  )

 

[wayner]

I'm not sure where I found this picture of a cell phone holster