Banging my head into a wall

[venator]

Am I the only person here with a nemesis?  For me it's wallets.  For the life of me I cannot make a workable bi-fold wallet that I'd be happy to sell and I don't get why i have such issues.  Today I tried again to make one and it wasn't perfect but it was going really well. . .right up until I had to stitch the outside on then the leather slipped (despite glue and basting tape), stuff moved, stitching went to hell and didn't catch all the layers and I'm almost ready to just quit leather working when this happens.

It's killing my business too since I have lots of orders for wallets. . .if I could make one that I'd be willing to sell.  If I make them out of vegetan (5oz outside and 2/3 for pockets) they're way too thick for people to want.  When I try something thin like calf skin this happens (since I have to fold edges etc).

Gah!!!!!

 

Sorry, just venting.  The wallet today was doing super well . . .until the last bloody step and then bam. . .no more wallet.  Sigh.

 

You can see the horrific failure here:  http://vkleathers.com/2017/03/09/project-68-wallet-redux/

[Tugadude]

Can you detail your process a bit more?  Looks like you are leaving excess and folding your edges then trimming.  Is that right?  Tell me more about how you mark your stitch lines, which side you mark and how you are making your stitching holes.  Will try to help!

[cjartist]

Try an extra holder or two in the way of binding clips ... those spring loaded paper clips.  Just be sure to put a small piece of leather between both sides of it and your project so you don't mark it up.

[AussieMade]

Check this video out, Leodis Leather makes some awesome stuff and has great videos on youtube as well: https://youtu.be/4meaY6lWOMw

Here is a great pattern I think I found on this forums patterns page for a very simple bifold. My partner has made two already using this pattern. This is one of the ones she made. The other is stitched only, I will try to find it and post it as well.

4-Slot Bifold Directions.pdf

[bikermutt07]

I'm a novice myself, but I will offer this up.....

Slow it down a little. Take a step back and simplify a bit.

I started with two wuta templates.

The complex stuff will come, but it will take both of us awhile to get there.

[Brianm77]

And possibly longer dry time

[venator]

Well, another drunk monkey attempt at a wallet.  The stitching was perfect on the side I could see and somehow totally missed the interior of the wallet. . .depsite them being perfectly lined up and secured.  hell, they were still perfectly aligned when I finished.

I hate wallets hate hate hate.

 

however if I ever want to make money at this it seems there a great way to go.

 

I appreciate the advice but I've tried every template, watched every video and as soon as it comes to that final assembly it goes completely to hell.

http://vkleathers.com/2017/03/21/project-80-bifold-wallet/

[venator]

On 3/9/2017 at 10:42 PM, bikermutt07 said:

I'm a novice myself, but I will offer this up.....

Slow it down a little. Take a step back and simplify a bit.

I started with two wuta templates.

The complex stuff will come, but it will take both of us awhile to get there.

I've done plenty of these and have zero issues.  Unfortunately they're not saleable.

[bikermutt07]

7 minutes ago, venator said:

I've done plenty of these and have zero issues.  Unfortunately they're not saleable.

Yeah, sorry for that. I carry one and the other was a gift.

I noticed on your problems you are using a machine. Have you tried handsewing a few?

[venator]

1 minute ago, bikermutt07 said:

Yeah, sorry for that. I carry one and the other was a gift.

I noticed on your problems you are using a machine. Have you tried handsewing a few?

No, If I can't run it through the machine it's not worth doing.  Hand sewing takes far too long and would result in me needing to up my prices.  Plus my hands go numb quickly, I'd have to take probably 3 hours to hand sew a wallet if not more.