What were your first leather projects? How do you grow skills efficently?

[mike02130]

Speaking of Hermes, here is an article on the difference of a saddle stich and machine stitching that resembles a saddle stitch.  The picture shows how to tell the difference.

https://www.malle2luxe.fr/expertise-recognize-a-couture-hand-stitch-saddle-and-a-sewing-machine-hermes-mail-bag/

 

[chrisash]

People often forget that old apprentices take between 3-5 years and the First year or so is just practicing the basics every day for the full working day, nothing they did would leave the workshop.

These days we expect to become a crafts person with a few hours a week spend over trying to learn as much as possible without really learning the basics properly

[MsEdna]

YES to everyone above!

My first item was a guitar strap. I just wanted something simple and in good quality leather and could not find anything. After a while, I started to do other things. What inspires me is detail and a new approach to everyday items. As I don't find it easy to come up with new designs, I usually start with something I have seen many times before and then ask myself "what is missing" and "how can I improve the execution"?

I am also very (very) rarely happy with my results and believe this to be a good thing. Keep pushing!

[toxo]

19 hours ago, $$hobby said:

if you have AADD, Adult - Attention Deficit Disorder , not much you can do.

No one comes out of the womb knowing how to do everything.  Everyone starts at 0.

you need to figure out what motivate/works for you.  I found out that im not perfect and dont pick things up on the 1st try.  So what i have learned about myself is that it takes repetition and doing again and again and again.   How long you ask?  Until.    "Until" is up to you or someone judging your work.  But it was just me and my standards.  

I had books to use and look at the pictures to judge/compare my work against such as the saddle stitching.  Easy peasy.  And with other things i have done in the past, over time and repetition, i have found i became better at what i was doing.  Sometimes you have an ah-ha moment or something just clicks to where you know youve done it right. 

I tried the leather carving too.  My leahtercarving sucks.  I tried it several times but im not willing to take more time so i dont.  ALso just an fyi, i was an architecture student and my sketches of people looked the same as my leather carving - sucks.  Stick figure ish.   Buildings and objects were great, but something wrong with my wiring someplace.  So all of my leather projects are plain.  But the are easier to make.  I could do some stamping, but didnt want to get into that either.

I still make mistakes and know i will do so till im burried.  But its life and i know that.  

My 1st projects were in jr highschool where i was introduced into leathercraft.  If you see any of the old? starter leathercraft kits you will note they had various flat leather shapes to make things.  Such as keyfobs.  I think there was a hair barrette and some other things... but for the most part were flat.  not alot of stitching/sewing.  We did make some coin purses and some wallets.  All of them were "kits" so all you needed to do was to follow the path.  

What will happen to you is that if you dont improve your skills now, eventually something or a project will force you to.  

Ive made a SLR camera case with some heavy leather and using sole leather on the top/bottom. Try stitching sole leather with an awl.  I tried, but eventually had to use a dremel and pre-drill the holes.   Then on top of that i lined it with some closed cell phone and cordura.  I made bags that were a mix of leather and cordura and a bookpack with both too.  that pack lasted me through college and then some.  

just remember, many things are a "do over" so keep that in mind when you do something or a hobby.  It may cost you some money and time, but if you are willing to learn/try, then do what you need to do and keep an open mind.

If you want and if you have access to some leather shops in your area, look for some large "scrap" leather to buy and practice on.  If you can, look for pieces you can use to make "prototpyes" and such.  I have used some heavy poster board to make prototpyes and patterns.  Again, thinking outside the box to help in your skills.

If you screw up, evaluate why.  Just dont toss and start over.   Maybe even keep that and finish up the project to verify the end product will work as intended.  

On my 1st holster i made, it was for a friends Browning High power.  So i made a pattern, cut the leather and started stitching.  I wanted to lace it togeather too instead of saddle stitch and it was a PIA.  Ive laced thin leather, but i never laced an edge ~ 1/2 inch wide, so i had to learn on the fly how to to it.   I did use some scrap and build up to the thickness needed to practice on too.    And to top it off i made it a left handed holster.  I forgot to flip the patten over or the leather over.   ever since then, when i make a holster, i will forget to flip the pattern and always end up making a left hand holster.  but in my friends case, he was left handed and it worked out in the end.

imo, i think its more important you keep on doing.  How you will learn and improve your skills is up to you and either you will do it when you want or outside forces will make you do it.  Again, its your choice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This!

[jcuk]

15 hours ago, mike02130 said:

Speaking of Hermes, here is an article on the difference of a saddle stich and machine stitching that resembles a saddle stitch.  The picture shows how to tell the difference.

https://www.malle2luxe.fr/expertise-recognize-a-couture-hand-stitch-saddle-and-a-sewing-machine-hermes-mail-bag/

 

Thats a great link thanks for that, especially the piece on do not confuse lacing with the saddle stitch and the examples of different types of stitches people think will pass as a saddle stitch, i like the poor attempt of the backstitch on the flesh side ( Envers ). It should help clear up exactly what a saddle stitch is for some.

 

Thanks again

JCUK

[Brigg]

On 2/3/2021 at 1:55 AM, mike02130 said:

Speaking of Hermes, here is an article on the difference of a saddle stich and machine stitching that resembles a saddle stitch.  The picture shows how to tell the difference.

https://www.malle2luxe.fr/expertise-recognize-a-couture-hand-stitch-saddle-and-a-sewing-machine-hermes-mail-bag/

 

This is the same link I posted above. Because of this website I started leather crafting. I thought my Hermes wallets were saddle stitched because of the angled stitched...NOPE.

[Brigg]

On 2/3/2021 at 8:23 AM, chrisash said:

People often forget that old apprentices take between 3-5 years and the First year or so is just practicing the basics every day for the full working day, nothing they did would leave the workshop.

These days we expect to become a crafts person with a few hours a week spend over trying to learn as much as possible without really learning the basics properly

I am aware of this. I would love this kind of apprenticeship...I think they are very rare in the USA. I am going to try the Amblard Leather Atelier but this a one day a week for a year sort of course. Not the same as 3-5 years everyday but I am very lucky to have anything at all that is local. I have very nice Germany cabinets in my kitchen and the guy that installed them went to school for 4-5 years to get a Masters in Cabinetry Manufacturing and Management...I wish we had more vocational schools like they do in Germany.

I tried to get an apprenticeship at Arion Press as they are local here in San Francisco but they haven't had an opening in years. How amazing would it be to learn how to make a $10,000 bible?   

[VartLiv]

Hello Everyone,

I have been following leatherworker.net for a couple years.  This is my first time commenting on a thread.

I am new to leather working about 2 yrs now.  I have downloaded several patterns you print and then punch out the holes and cut.  The first few were to say the least worse than BAD!!.  I am a bit better but seem to be making items I really don't like and feel like I am wasting leather. I can't get myself to sell them because I can see the flaws. I have given a few away to family and friends and then I went back to making covers and wraps for tools but you can only do that so many times.  

I would like to start making items to sell to at least try and recoup some money to pay for supplies so I can keep doing leather working and get better and maybe some day actually make a good product I feel is worth selling.  My goal is to make bags, purses wallets and glass cases.  

There are many talented people making PDF patterns, or acrylic templates, no one seems to say how they go about making their own patterns.

 I have been looking online and can not find anything that give me an idea of where to even start without wasting expensive leather. My biggest problem is calculating holes and spacing and then matching up your holes on pieces especially when doing curves.  I usually use round holes when stitching because I like the look and seating of the thread vs the angled stitches. 

I just bit the bullet and purchased a Cobra Class 26 should be delivered in a few weeks. Hoping this will help with alignment of leather pieces when stitching. 

My question is this?  How does one get started in making their own patterns.  I can't draw even a little.  I tried to use a ruler and graph paper but the whole calculating spacing for holes drove me crazy.  I purchased a machine because I figured if I cut out pieces it would be easier to match up the ends by sewing on a machine than by hand.  I am trying to learn Adobe Illustrator, because I think a lot of people use it make their leather patterns.

Any help or suggestions on how I should go about to produce my own stuff or links to where I can learn to produce my own patterns, would be greatly appreciated.  

I apologize for the long winded explanation.  Thanks in advance for your comments.

[battlemunky]

@VartLiv If you search YouTube, you'll find a ton of content on pattern making. I believe there is some pattern making content on here as well. Having made some items from patterns in the past you can "see" in your mind how some things go together. You know more than you think you do. Get some empty cereal boxes and start experimenting!

Mascon Leather on YT has a video where he makes some patterns for wallets. They are rudimentary but so are wallets. But there is a good bit of content on pattern making out there.

[VartLiv]

I will do more searching.  Thanks for the info.