Long Wallet, working with Barenia and Chevre Chagrin

[YinTx]

This is version 2 and 3 of a long wallet a customer ordered in Barenia and Chevre Chagrin.  Only version 3 made the grade.  Version 1 never got finished, not sure what to do with Version 2, not good enough to sell, and with 1/2 a side of Chevre Chagrin and a couple square feet of Barenia, a Riri zipper and hours of edge work I can't bring myself to toss it.  Happy at least Version 3 came out well enough! I have a newfound respect for those that are able to work with this leather.  Stitching is a challenge, and not adding your own "Patina" so the customer can add theirs is also a challenge.  Edge painting is also not easy for me on this type of leather!   Enjoy.

 

 

 

YinTx

[Albob]

That is gorgeous, I love the simplicity and color. Did you come up with the pattern? If not whos pattern did you use?

[YinTx]

24 minutes ago, Albob said:

That is gorgeous, I love the simplicity and color. Did you come up with the pattern? If not whos pattern did you use?

Thank you.  Yes, I did come up with the pattern, nothing complicated, just similar to most long wallets you see out and about.  Took me more than a few tries to get it down.

YinTx

[Sofaspud]

Beutiful work Yin Tex.  That leather is gorgeous, and your stitching looks perfect.

[ScoobyNewbie]

I don’t see any problem with your second version. The stitching looks fine. And your zipper is awesome!

[bikermutt07]

If version 2 is in the top picture, I would try restitching just the outside with a brown thread. The white really pops the few flaws. And by flaws, I mean your standards. They aren't flaws asmuch as slightly tiny inconsistencies to me.

Edited August 28, 2018 by bikermutt07

[YinTx]

47 minutes ago, Sofaspud said:

Beutiful work Yin Tex.  That leather is gorgeous, and your stitching looks perfect.

Thanks much, Sofaspud!  This leather is fantastic, I'm dyin to make something I can use out of it, like a briefcase, but I have to sell more of it before I do that lol.  This stuff is downright 'spensive.  I have one tote and one bucket bag to make out of it for customers, and after having to do 3 wallets to get one I was happy with, I'm a bit gun shy.

30 minutes ago, ScoobyNewbie said:

I don’t see any problem with your second version. The stitching looks fine. And your zipper is awesome!

Zipper on version 2 came out awful, I won't show it.   Thanks for the compliment!

6 minutes ago, bikermutt07 said:

If version 2 is in the top picture, I would try restitching just the outside with a brown thread. The white really pops the few flaws. And by flaws, I mean your standards. They aren't flaws asmuch as slightly tiny inconsistencies to me.

Yeah, version 2 is hiding it's worst flaws under version 1.  And even version 1 you can see where I was struggling a bit keeping everything happy.  So now when I see someone's awesome stitching on Barenia, I .

I've restitched before, never really been happy with it.  If that was the only flaw...and if the interior pockets weren't also stitched in white, I might would do it with a more subtle color thread.  But alas, the zipper design and install was a fail, so I won't spend more time on it.  Thanks for the suggestion!

YinTx

[Lavinia]

Superb!

[thefanninator]

Nice work. Is that a Riri #4? What did you crimp your bottom stopper with? I've tried several different types of pliers and nothing works really well.

[YinTx]

5 hours ago, Lavinia said:

Superb!

Thanks!

2 hours ago, thefanninator said:

Nice work. Is that a Riri #4? What did you crimp your bottom stopper with? I've tried several different types of pliers and nothing works really well.

Yes, thefanninator, that is a Riri #4 if I remember right.  I too tried pliers, even some with plastic jaws, etc. and like you found none really worked well.  Having no desire to spend $60+ for zipper pliers, I discovered the easiest way to set them was simply to whack em flat with a plastic mallet over a marble slab!  Course the bottom stops are pricey too, and not entirely necessary, you could just go with a leather cover over the zip as many do.

YinTx