Things You Never Think Of...

[Sheilajeanne]

...until it's time to actually put something together!  

I am planning to make a tote bag with alternating panels of hair on cowhide, and regular leather. The tote I am using as a guide has the panels overlapping - one on top of the other. I really don't see how this would work with the hair on hide - the hair would be in the way when you are trying to sew the panels together, unless you shaved it off. Then, of course, you'd run the risk of some of the shaved hide showing unless you were very careful with your stitching.

So, I'm thinking I'd have to sew the bag inside out, with the grain sides together, then turn it. 

Advice, please?  I realize furs are sewn this way (fur side to fur side), but cowhide isn't the same as fur.

Edited April 27, 2021 by Sheilajeanne

[fredk]

There is a method of sewing where you can hide one side of the stitch, or not have it go right thru the leather. One piece of leather needs to be quite thick for this, at least 3mm unless you are real good at sewing

Instead of the thread going right thru both leathers, on the thick piece you go thru the middle of the thickness and up and out again. You use a curved awl and a curved needle for this.

Sew the panels together like this then add a gusset sewn on the outside

[Sheilajeanne]

I think sewing the grain and hair sides together sounds a lot easier! If I put the hair on hide in the middle, and veg tan or some other non-hairy leather on the outside, then I can sew the gussets so they show on the outside, and not have to turn the bag after it's finished. 

 

[jimi]

4 hours ago, Sheilajeanne said:

..until it's time to actually put something together!  

I am planning to make a tote bag with alternating panels of hair on cowhide, and regular leather. The tote I am using as a guide has the panels overlapping - one on top of the other. I really don't see how this would work with the hair on hide - the hair would be in the way when you are trying to sew the panels together, unless you shaved it off. Then, of course, you'd run the risk of some of the shaved hide showing unless you were very careful with your stitching.

So, I'm thinking I'd have to sew the bag inside out, with the grain sides together, then turn it. 

Advice, please?  I realize furs are sewn this way (fur side to fur side), but cowhide isn't the same as fur.

I think RockyAussie makes those bags Sheilajeanne?? I haven´t seen him on here for a while now and hope he is OK??? 

[Sheilajeanne]

Jimi, RockyAussie hasn't been here in quite a long time. However, I did look up hair-on cowhide bags online (Etsy, etc.) and some of them are sewn with the stitching showing on the outside of the cowhide.

I was planning to make more than one bag anyway - it's a BIG piece of cowhide - so am gonna try both ways of doing it, and see which I like best. 

And, more importantly, which is less of a headache to sew!  

Edited April 29, 2021 by Sheilajeanne

[tsunkasapa]

Things you never think of......I made myself a new belt a couple weeks ago. Nothing real fancy, a 1 3/4" ranger belt for everyday wear. But I decided to try "gunslinger" stitching on it. Got everything assembled, handstitched 32" of "gunslinger", not even thinking that each stich takes up just a TINY BIT when tightened. Got it all done and the belt was 3/4" too short!  It is stretching back out after wearing it, but I hadn't even considered that tiny bit for each stitch at the time.

[Sheilajeanne]

Live and learn...lol!

Used to have this as my sig line on another website: The ability to make good decisions come with experience. Experience comes through making BAD decisions...