Started a new project today. I am making a little pouch for a pair of thread snips. So far, it has been cut, stamped, punched & dyed. I plan to hand-sew it, so I had to punch holes for that. I have the requisite punches-they look like sharpened forks- but getting a perfectly straight line of stitch holes isn’t easy. This is the first time I have used these tools so the line is a little crooked. Not to worry- I know it will take a little practice and it will still be usable.
I believe there's a tool that you run along the edge (not the edge trimmer) that will impress an even line x distance in from the edge. Then just follow your punch along that line.
I’ve done the stitching. The stitches are fine, but I didn’t do that good a job punching the stitch holes, to make a straight line. It’s the first time I have done this, so I’m not beating myself up over it. The last thing I need to finish, is a button stud. Turns out I don’t have the right size, so I ordered some more. Here it is, so far;
I have a marking wheel. It leaves a line of dots to guide placement of the pricking iron (the hole-punching fork). I used it for this practice piece. (Not perfect, but much better)
The pouch is done now, with a button stud. Not perfect, but nice & a good learning experience. Next project will be a handle grip for the cast-iron pans. I have done a couple of prototypes already. I need to enlarge the pattern another 10%.
Not yet. As a pastor, Sundays are busy. Saturday I'm usually working on my sermon. If not the sermon, always something.
Here is my 2-pound mallet next to my 1-pound mallet for comparison; Here is a pan handle grip I just made. I used 5/6 ounce leather & enlarged the original pattern by 20%;
Starting another pan grip for my Mom. She really needs some better equipment to use with her cast iron skillet. This will be part of her Chanukah gift, along with some oven gloves, a decent pair of tongs and a silicone grease catcher.
I’m starting a new project. This is a kit for a pencil case. It’s not from Tandy, but from Weaver leather. Their kits are a little more challenging, as they do not pre-punch stitch holes. So far, I have punched the stitch holes & button hole (for one button-stud.) I have stamped some images onto it. Once I have dyed it, I will post a pic.
I am working on one last leather project before the surgery. I bought a round knife- sort of half-moon shaped leather knife. It's meant for cutting curves. It's super sharp, but as you can imagine, hard to store safely. So I am making a safety cover for it. Interestingly, I used that very knife to round the corners of the leather. It's been stamped, dyed (turquoise) had snaps installed & glued around the edge. Once the glue set, I stitched & burnished it. Given the safety issues of handling this sort of knife, one would think that companies who sell them would either include, or at least, sell a safety cover for them. Some do, but many do not.