Newbie starts the first pattern

[coma44]

48 minutes ago, Hildebrand said:

There are a few things that I have found to help get a pattern right the first time, the first holster I made I couldn't even get the gun in after I sewed it up.

First I try to draw up a pattern over a few days.  It always seems like when I walk away for awhile and come back I see something I want to change just a little.  Seems like if I do it in stages the overall finished product comes out better.

Then when I have it where I think it is right, including the stitch lines I make a copy and cut it out and spray glue it to a piece of corrugated cardboard(pretty much mimics the thickness of leather)(I can't take credit for that tip I found it on here).  Now wrap the cardboard with your pattern around your object and see if the stitch lines fall where they should, you can tweak it a little if they are off.  This step can save a lot of leather, especially with holsters.

I am only a little over a year back into this addiction called leather work.  I have learned more on this forum than anywhere else.  All I can say is there are some real masters of the craft here both the carving side and the holster/case side.

Todd

That is exactly why I stopped last night, I could have pushed through and finished but, once i looked at the picture this morning I saw two places I want to make improvements. Also since I did not remember the exact steps i saw in the video last week I figured give it a rest and get the correct information, you end up wasting less time this way in my experience building things.

 

And thanks for the tip on double checking the stitch lines with the pattern I will use that for sure.

 

Dave

Edited January 31, 2019 by coma44

[bermudahwin]

11 hours ago, DJole said:

I always have to remind myself that paper is flat, and leather is not, so you have to take the thickness of the leather into account. If you've done that, you're ahead of the game!

It's not just that, its also that you're laying out on 2 dimensions a final object that is 3 dimensions.

Al Stolman covers this well in his books on making cases.

You need the finished inside to be just big enough to put the flashlight into and more importantly take it out of. I can (but never do) put Pringles in the tube, but I can't get my hand in to get them out . And with the loops it looks belt mounted so you don't want to do a handstand to get the flashlight out.

Its good seeing someone using French Curves for drawing, I still have some, but no idea where. In the us are they Freedom Curves, like the fries?

Best

H

 

[coma44]

24 minutes ago, hwinbermuda said:

It's not just that, its also that you're laying out on 2 dimensions a final object that is 3 dimensions.

Al Stolman covers this well in his books on making cases.

You need the finished inside to be just big enough to put the flashlight into and more importantly take it out of. I can (but never do) put Pringles in the tube, but I can't get my hand in to get them out . And with the loops it looks belt mounted so you don't want to do a handstand to get the flashlight out.

Its good seeing someone using French Curves for drawing, I still have some, but no idea where. In the us are they Freedom Curves, like the fries?

Best

H

 

I have the hand stitching book and the leather tools book from  Stolman still reading the stitching one and only skimmed the tool book so far, the cases book on the list,  but right now I have enough to learn with stitching and pattern making for holsters and all things gun related I will be some time before I make any cases. 

Yea I want the light to be secure but would like it to snick in and out so that was the reason for holding off on the stitch lines, at least until I got my head wrapped around how to get there.

French curves are indeed called Freedom curves here  .....I had given mine away 30 odd years ago when i finished High School drafting class, so i bought a cheap set on amazon. 

[Dun]

I'm going to give those super colorful foam craft sheets a try for pattern making and lining up stitch marks. Folds and creases have been out doing my estimation abilities

[coma44]

13 minutes ago, Dun said:

I'm going to give those super colorful foam craft sheets a try for pattern making and lining up stitch marks. Folds and creases have been out doing my estimation abilities

I like that Idea as well. 

This place is full of people who like to think, and that is rare these days

 

[JLSleather]

Might also check this one.  Takes a few minutes.  Well, 12 and 1/2 actually

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PdKDmcmu8k

 

 

[coma44]

6 hours ago, JLSleather said:

 You have a nice lay-out there - clean, organized setup for designing.  I'm a graph paper guy myself (though I don't often scale in mm). 

The "drafting board" is a 29$ cheap one from amazon it is a "foreign" A3 size board but that means it just fits the 11 x 17 graph paper. The good thing about the metric system is it is whole numbers no fractions to convert so it takes out a step.

https://www.amazon.com/Multifuctional-Ergonomic-Adjustable-Stationary-Architectural/dp/B07H3QFRZ1/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1548970016&sr=8-5&keywords=a3+drawing+board

I am a prototype machinist so converting numbers is something I do everyday all day, it is now automatic for me. But doing this stuff I can see the metric system being faster. Less mental gymnastics on numbers means I can pay attention to the design and procedures better.

[coma44]

8 minutes ago, JLSleather said:

Might also check this one.  Takes a few minutes.  Well, 12 and 1/2 actually

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PdKDmcmu8k

 

 

That is a good one too.  I watched part of it last week and forgot to get back to it.

[coma44]

I did some more work this weekend on the holster for my flashlight. Cut out the pattern for the front and back and then cut some leather. it is going to take some practice with the knife and I think some tweeking on the sharpness of the stock razor knife I have to help me cut smoother lines and curves. I have a good set of wet stones just going to make a guide to hold the razor blade at correct angle so I can Polish the edge to perfection. 

Edited February 11, 2019 by coma44
added information

[coma44]

Then I put some dye on the flesh side or the inside of the holster