Curved Seam/ Hammering Out

[SonderingSusan]

Hey Everyone,

 

if anyone can help me achieve a better finish than I'm currently getting , i would be so grateful for all/ any advice 

I am making a bag flap, with a curved seam up the centre of it. 

My method is skiving the two seams but not into the seam- skiving about 0.5 mm off each side , so the seam is still in the thicker leather. 

Then i cut sort of long triangle shapes out of the seams as an attempt to remove bulk. 

Then i used rubber cement not he seams, and hammered them out with a cobblers hammer, on a marble surface and on my cobblers last- photographed below. 

My seams are a bit wobbly and not as smooth and flat as i would like. I found i had a better result when didn't glue the seams, but then after a few weeks the seams started to turn in on themselves a bit and didn't look good.

Any / all advice on how i could construct this flap better would be so greatly appreciated. When i didn't skive the seam at all, i found there was just too much bulk in the seams.

Many thanks for all you generosity of sharing your knowledge with me.

 

 

[KingsCountyLeather]

Hi,

I’m having a tough time understanding what part of the bag you’re describing (even with the pictures)

did you sew the seam with a machine or hand sew?

what part of Ireland are you from?

Ger.

[SonderingSusan]

Hey, I hope you don't mind me shouting out a few of you on here that are masters for your help/ advice-

@RockyAussie @Art @Sonydaze

[SonderingSusan]

3 hours ago, KingsCountyLeather said:

Hi,

I’m having a tough time understanding what part of the bag you’re describing (even with the pictures)

did you sew the seam with a machine or hand sew?

what part of Ireland are you from?

Ger.

Hey Ger,

 

I'm based in the west of Ireland. This is the flap of a small bag. It is an unusual shape, but it is kind of like a small saddle bag. It is machine stitched. Also, i was looking at a few of yours posts and commented on oe about a leather you to form a shoe factory. Did you get in Ireland do you mind me asking? As you well know its so hard to get leather in Ireland.....best,

S

[bikermutt07]

I don't understand the object. Is it a motorcycle seat? The seam looks really nice.

I'm also curious about the giant last thingy?

[KingsCountyLeather]

19 minutes ago, bikermutt07 said:

I don't understand the object. Is it a motorcycle seat? The seam looks really nice.

I'm also curious about the giant last thingy?

The Last is a three sided anvil made especially for shoe repair. It is very common in Ireland (Europe). It has two shoe shape sides and the other is a heal shape.

[bikermutt07]

2 minutes ago, KingsCountyLeather said:

The Last is a three sided anvil made especially for shoe repair. It is very common in Ireland (Europe). It has two shoe shape sides and the other is a heal shape.

Would this be similar (in use) to the little flat metal "soles" I see all over eBay? I know they set on a post, but I'm not sure what they are used for in repairing shoes?

[KingsCountyLeather]

27 minutes ago, bikermutt07 said:

Would this be similar (in use) to the little flat metal "soles" I see all over eBay? I know they set on a post, but I'm not sure what they are used for in repairing shoes?

Not sure about the eBay metal soles... 

years ago all shoes soles were made from leather and I suppose the cheaper ones were nailed together instead of being stitched.

at least I remember my father turning his shoe upside down and slipping it over the last and hammering small nails into the soles. He did this fairly often if I remember correctly. I still have about 2 square feet of sole leather that he used to cut New soles from. It must be about 3/8 inch thick.

[bikermutt07]

1 hour ago, KingsCountyLeather said:

Not sure about the eBay metal soles... 

years ago all shoes soles were made from leather and I suppose the cheaper ones were nailed together instead of being stitched.

at least I remember my father turning his shoe upside down and slipping it over the last and hammering small nails into the soles. He did this fairly often if I remember correctly. I still have about 2 square feet of sole leather that he used to cut New soles from. It must be about 3/8 inch thick.

Ok, so those are basically shoe anvils. Got it, and thank you.

[fredk]

Your stitching is showing at the seam. I think its pulling the soft leather. Try sewing it with a thin welt

Aye; those shoe lasts are so common here; antique stores sell them for £1, many homes have three or four, or even more,  and they are commonly used for door stops. I have two of them and have turned away dozens offered for free. They are useful for other things than shoe cobbling in leather work