Noob question

[XGrunt6]

So first time poster and new to the forums.  I'm wanting to make a pocket organizer for my personal edc items, flashlight, lighter, knife, pen etc.  I'm wondering if there is a guide, method or general rule of thumb on measuring so as to provide enough material to cover the thicker items?  Sorry if this is answered somewhere but I'm not familiar enough with this forum to make an educated search just yet.  Thanks in advance for any help.

[zuludog]

YouTube is your friend!

Have a look at this video - 'Designing and making leather slip cases'   by Ian Atkinson. The same technique can be used for any similar items

Search YT for 'How to make a pocket organiser'. There are several videos. Or - 'how to make a case or organiser for .......  'a lighter,' 'a flashlight'  or whatever item you're interested in. Just play around with the Search box & links

If you're just starting I suggest you just make a case/organiser for one or two items at first, and see how you get on with that

[Tugadude]

I agree with zuludog.  Get some veg tan leather, probably 3-4 oz. and experiment a little.  For some items you may wish to do some wet forming so that the organizer molds to the shape of the item.  Not necessary, but beneficial.

If I were you I would do an internet search and find an example of the type you are trying to make.  Post a photo and we can make specific recommendations on how to best configure it.

Know that some leathers don't play nice with certain metals.  It is because of the type of tanning.  I believe vegetable tanned leathers are going to be safest.  They also can be molded, stamped, carved, etc.

Welcome to the forum and good luck.

[LiftPig]

7 hours ago, XGrunt6 said:

So first time poster and new to the forums.  I'm wanting to make a pocket organizer for my personal edc items, flashlight, lighter, knife, pen etc.  I'm wondering if there is a guide, method or general rule of thumb on measuring so as to provide enough material to cover the thicker items?  Sorry if this is answered somewhere but I'm not familiar enough with this forum to make an educated search just yet.  Thanks in advance for any help.

There's two ways to do this.  One is practical, one is math.

Math way

Measure the width and height of the object you're making a sheath for. Add 1/4" to every dimension except the top where the object will leave the sheath, you can make that wherever you want.  That's 1/4" stitch line on all sides.  Write those dimensions down.  This is the bottom piece of leather, the side that will touch your body.

Lie your object on something so it rests naturally.  Measure the depth of your object and multiply by two.  Measure the width of your object.  Measure the depth of the leather you're using and multiply by two.  Add your 1/4 stitch lines again.  Add all that together. Add that to your previous figure. That's the top piece of leather. It's bigger than the bottom piece to accommodate the object.  Again, don't stitch too tightly or you might not be able to get your object in - or worse can't get it out.  If it's snug wet the leather well and snug the object down in there and leave it alone until it drys.  The leather will stretch a little.  This makes a sheath that's flat on one side and curved on the outside. 

It's worth noting that this will not allow for any leather to extend above the object for a sweat guard or belt loop.  You'll have to add that dimension yourself.  The good news is you can do that however your artistic heart desires.  If you're going to do a fold over belt loop just do the same thing you just did for the object with your belt.  Width of the belt x2, plus depth of the belt, plus depth of leather x2.  You don't need stitch line allowances on the side, obviously, but you will need one for the very end of that strap to sew it to the main sheath.  1/4" is my go-to but I stitch two stitch lines on loops for extra strength because I'm anal like that.  Make sure you sew down the belt loop before you sew the two sides of the sheath together or you'll be unhappy....ask me how I know.

 

Practical way

Take a strip of the piece of leather you intend to use.  It can be any width but needs to be long enough to go around whatever you're doing.  I make holsters so in my case it would be a gun.  Lie the strip down and center the object on it facing up.  Again, in my case it would be the gun resting on the slide or sight guide with the magazine hole facing the ceiling.  Make a mark on the leather in the center of the object.  Now wrap the leather around the object  and make a mark where the two pieces of leather meet.  Don't make it too snug.  This is your stitch line.  If you have an irregularly shaped object, like a gun, make marks at each increment of increasing size.  So for my gun it might be the barrel, the slide spring well, and then the trigger guard.  These will be your stitch lines.  This makes a "pancake" style sheath/holster that shares the same dimensions on either side of the object.  Note, I didn't come up with this method, I learned it here.

 

 

 

[XGrunt6]

Guys, thanks so much for your quick responses and information.  Gives me my starting point and once I have watched some of the tutorials I will see which route I get up the nerve to attempt.  I will post my progress along the way because I'm sure I will run into speed bumps along the way and will have to get more help ha ha.