SheltathaLore Report post Posted April 10, 2018 I just picked up Lisa Sorrell's book on leather inlay and overlay, and now I have a burning need to make some bags as a place to showcase the applique I'm going to make of my favorite dumb video game characters. From what I've seen and read, basic messenger bags are basically a couple rectangles with a gusset to bridge between them, which seems like something I shouldn't have trouble making a pattern of; I also have the Stohlman books on leather cases, which have a lot of nice tips for handle attachments etc. even if they're geared toward hand-sewing and veg tan. There are just a couple questions that are keeping me back from getting started: I really, really don't want to hand-sew. I do have a Consew 227 (cylinder bed walking foot) set up for leather, so I should be able to handle most reasonable bag leathers. Keeping that in mind, how does one actually stitch down the gussets? Are there any tricks I should know about? In order to sew down the applique with a roller foot, the bag (or at least the portion I'm sewing the applique to) needs to be of a light enough leather that I can sew it on the roller foot machine (I have a direct-drive, needle feed flatbed garment machine that I plan to put a roller foot on). That limits my leather choices - I don't think making the whole thing out of veg tan is going to work for me. What are my options for stiffeners? Relatedly, what's a reasonable leather choice for a semi-soft messenger bag? I have some leftover bullhide from the Hide House I'd like to use up, but it might be too spongy to work well. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
