New guy needs help

[valknutleather]

How's it going everyone I'm new here this is my first post. So far I have created 2 things with leather and I'm hooked. This is my latest project a small wallet. Like a money clip without the clip. It's made from hobby lobby scrap leather. I have a very hard time keeping my stitching lines straight. I'm using a small 3 hole punch. Critique is welcome!

[bikermutt07]

Welcome to the best place for leather learning. It's hard getting started not knowing what's needed or how it's done. 

A few things to pick up.

Wing divider. This will help you make straight lines for your stitching.

A stitching pony will also help free up both hands for stitching.

I'm pretty new to this craft myself, but I made a wallet tutorial last week to help fellow newbies.

If you go to the section "how do I do that", you will find it listed under with wallet. This may be a good starting place. 

Keep having fun.

[leatherwytch]

Hi newbie, as biker mutt said the best place on the internet and we are always willing to help out. If you catch a bunch of us yapping in chat some nights, we will even help you guys there. Yes, in chat we don't always talk about leather,

You need some thonging chisels these have bent ends and they make the holes for you to lace through. You have some excellent hide shops in California and for you it would be way cheaper than for me in Canada. Try the Hide House, you will become an addict.

it takes time to stitch properly and when you do and it is all nice and straight you tap them down with your mallet, then they are not bulging up.

 

Edited August 27, 2016 by leatherwytch
word correct is mental

[valknutleather]

Thanks for the replies. I'm currently working on version 2 right now. I definitely need an edge beveler, slicker, and the wing tool. But I'm just working with what I have for now. Where is the cheapest place to buy tools? I think Zach white leather had the best prices I saw but don't know of any other besides Tandy. 

[leatherwytch]

Sometimes the best price is not the best leather but being able to tell good leather from not so much comes with time and experience. There are other hand made tools that are excellent but yes, they are expensive. I can't afford Barry Kings with the exchange rate and shipping. But yes you can get tools at Tandy's that are fairly decent. Like I said I don't have a choice, all my tools come from Tandy's.

If you are moving into tooling and Herman Oak or other veg tan leather, you will need edge bevels. You will not need for things like the one you did. I only use Herman oak for tooling unless I am doing prototypes. Herman oak cuts like butter and beautiful to work with. I am so glad we have the only distributer in Canada for it in Calgary. Wing divider is tres' important and so are the chisels. for making your holes for sewing. All tools you can get at Tandy. Their pro series is  better and a bit more expensive.

 

 

[Dwight]

The first thing I would suggest, is quit buying leather at Hobby Lobby, . . . it is way too expensive, and the leather you bought is really not conducive to a beginner learning how to make much of anything.

Buy some vegetable tanned leather, . . . cement all your edges together, . . . the first two absolutes.

Next, . . . clean up the edge, . . . bevel, sand, burnish, . . . get it "nice".  Then if you have wing dividers, . . . slightly dampen the leather in the area you want to sew, . . .  make a crease line 1/8 to 3/16 inch in from the edge on both sides.  Use that same set of dividers on the "beauty side" and mark off your stitches about 6 or 8 at a time, . . . set your length at 3/16 of an inch. 

Do not use a multi pronged punch to learn with, . . . that is an advanced tool.  Start with an Awl, . . . slowly push straight down on a table surface with another piece of leather under your project, . . . when you fell your tip has probably gone through, . . . turn it over and make sure it came through on the line on the back side.  Had you done that on the first wallet, . . . your stitches would not have wandered like a drunken sailor.  

Getting the hang of hand stitching is easy as falling off a wagon, . . . getting the hang of it and it looking really good, . . . takes lots of practice.  You might even just make a couple of strips an inch wide, . . . bevel the edges, . . . sand em, . . . burnish em, . . . mark em, . . . and stitch em, . . . maybe 15 or 16 inches long.  

Do 3 or 4 inches, . . . quit, . . . go get a cup of coffee, . . . call a friend, . . . then come back and do another 3 or 4 inches.  Keep stitching, . . . breaking, . . . stitching, . . . breaking until you get it done.  Make some of the breaks a day or two long.

By the time you have gotten to the end, you will easily be able to tell which is the beginning and which is the ending part.

You already have the best talent you could ever get, . . . you want to do it.  Now just make it come to pass.

May God bless,

Dwight

[JLSleather]

DO go to Hobby Lobby.  While I wouldn't buy the leather there, they do have some tools you'll be wanting and some templates and liquds which are useful.. and they're LESS expensive than "leather" stores.

Not sure why they seem to think all leather people are suckers   I've seen a needle nose pliers for sale in Menards (or Home Depot, or Harbor Freight) for $1.   That same pair in teh "leather" store ... $4- $8 a pair (same thing).  So.. hobby lobby DOES work for dividers, compass, circle and oval templates, straight edge, circle cutter, rotary cutter, straight edge, cutting mat, rubber cement, .... etc.

As for the leather, it will depend on what you want to make. If you're planning 37 belts, then Wickett & Craig is a good place to start.  If you're thinking a belt, two small like front pocket wallets and a key chain, then maybe someone on the forum who is geographically close can let you have a bit at their cost.

 

[CaptQuirk]

Hobby Lobby is fine for beginning, that is where I went when I was near one. Problem is, it is almost a 2 hour drive to the closest one. They sell veg bellies for maybe a bit less than Tandy, without the shipping. Another source that nobody mentioned, is right here. There is a for sale section that could get you started with many of the basics, even leather.

[valknutleather]

Well my reason for going to hobby lobby is because I wanted to try it out without spending a lot of money for something I may not like. The tools I've gotten from them have sufficed fine. They just don't have ALL the tools I need. I suck at drawing but still would like to get into tooling because it's beautiful what people can do. When I'm done stitching up version 2 I'll post pictures. I do believe it would have turned out better if I had actually leather instead of the scraps from hobby lobby. Where SHOULD I buy leather from. I'm a disabled veteran and my disability is my only income so money is kind of tight. I'd like to get good leather without selling a kidney to get it 

[bikermutt07]

Springfield leather has good stuff in smaller sizes. Get yourself a square foot  or two of Hermann oak 3 ounce leather (that's a good thickness for wallets).

They are a good resource for hobbyists who don't need a whole side of leather. It costs more per foot, but you can buy smaller pieces.