Suscipe Domine Traditional Catholic Forum

The Parish Hall => Arts and Leisure => Arts and Crafts => Topic started by: Bernadette on March 20, 2017, 07:52:46 PM

Title: Leather Satchel is FINISHED! :D
Post by: Bernadette on March 20, 2017, 07:52:46 PM
Front:
(https://www.suscipedomine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1078.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fw488%2Fmaezli%2FLeather%2520Satchel%2FIMG_1340_zpsgcbe2je4.jpg&hash=af3b4531631d5b0ed1e7ef7c76fda357b0678ee3) (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/maezli/media/Leather%20Satchel/IMG_1340_zpsgcbe2je4.jpg.html)

Back:
(https://www.suscipedomine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1078.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fw488%2Fmaezli%2FLeather%2520Satchel%2FIMG_1341_zpsso7jfvqa.jpg&hash=5ebe950efb0c61e3a59ca0b39201c668851b4592) (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/maezli/media/Leather%20Satchel/IMG_1341_zpsso7jfvqa.jpg.html)

Inside:
(https://www.suscipedomine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1078.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fw488%2Fmaezli%2FLeather%2520Satchel%2FIMG_1342_zpsepl0rxak.jpg&hash=743e2824423a3db780a5df2aef8e1ff8b387c105) (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/maezli/media/Leather%20Satchel/IMG_1342_zpsepl0rxak.jpg.html)

The oil soaked into it so evenly; I was pretty worried there for a day or so after I'd applied it! The webbing turned out to be too thin and...slippery to "catch" in the metal slides the way I'd planned, so I went back to the original plan of leather straps. Eventually I'll add D-rings and make an over-the-shoulder strap, too, but the backpack straps are definitely more important for my uses. Hopefully, this thing will only get better (softer "hand" and darker in color) with age, if pictures of antique ones are anything to go by.  :grin:

Heinrich! Es ist eine aktentasche!  :grin:
Title: Re: Leather Satchel is FINISHED! :D
Post by: Kaesekopf on March 20, 2017, 08:14:35 PM
Neat!
Title: Re: Leather Satchel is FINISHED! :D
Post by: kayla_veronica on March 20, 2017, 08:24:25 PM
Awesome, well done!
Title: Re: Leather Satchel is FINISHED! :D
Post by: Bernadette on March 20, 2017, 08:48:15 PM
I punched holes for stitched trim along the edges of the backpack straps, but I haven't decided whether to actually add it or not. It'll look nice, but it'll get so much wear that it'll end up looking pretty shabby eventually, and need to be replaced...(https://www.suscipedomine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fisheaters.com%2Fforums%2FSmileys%2Ffishy%2Fhmmm.gif&hash=f07327b9c0ea4a962acdf7369ce0505ecabceb6c)
Title: Re: Leather Satchel is FINISHED! :D
Post by: dymphna17 on March 20, 2017, 08:53:59 PM
Oh Bernadette!!  It's beautiful!  I can't get over how perfectly every stitch is put in and how well the colors go together in it.  You certainly knew what you were doing.  Were you able to picture it in your mind all together, or did you just "know" how well it was going to go together?
Title: Re: Leather Satchel is FINISHED! :D
Post by: MilesChristi on March 20, 2017, 09:08:04 PM
Crafty
Title: Re: Leather Satchel is FINISHED! :D
Post by: Chestertonian on March 20, 2017, 09:20:44 PM
Wow, you made that??
Title: Re: Leather Satchel is FINISHED! :D
Post by: Bernadette on March 20, 2017, 09:28:33 PM
Quote from: dymphna17 on March 20, 2017, 08:53:59 PM
Oh Bernadette!!  It's beautiful!  I can't get over how perfectly every stitch is put in and how well the colors go together in it.  You certainly knew what you were doing.  Were you able to picture it in your mind all together, or did you just "know" how well it was going to go together?

Well, I had the basic design worked out before I cut into the leather: I'd planned the dimensions to the quarter of an inch, using graph paper templates, and worked from the picture that I'd posted before. I ran into some "glitches" in the actual execution (trying to figure out how to go about getting the results that I wanted, particularly with the curved edges), and had to work those out through trial and error. I took notes of all mishaps, and of their eventual resolution, to put toward my next endeavor in this department. ;) The stitching is even because of the "stitching chisel" (which, as you'll remember, I actually broke while making this bag. It sacrificed itself to a good cause, by way of my zeal. :lol:). As for the colors: I've never understood why people want stitching to be so unobtrusive in most things. I saw this as a good opportunity to make use of bright, vibrant stitching, as a sort of ornamentation.

Quote from: Chestertonian on March 20, 2017, 09:20:44 PM
Wow, you made that??
Yes. :) I love working with leather: I find it immensely satisfying.
Title: Re: Leather Satchel is FINISHED! :D
Post by: Akavit on March 20, 2017, 10:40:20 PM
That's a lot of hole punching.  I've done a tad of leather work in making bits of hardware for some boxes and know well how tough it is to pierce it.  Nicely done.  Have you done many projects in the past or is this the first major one?
Title: Re: Leather Satchel is FINISHED! :D
Post by: Greg on March 21, 2017, 03:07:23 AM
Overlap on the straps doesn't look big enough.  Commercial satchel makers overlap at least 1" and a quarter to 1" and a half and then sew a double stitched square.  Your one looks susceptible to breaking there.

How do I know?

I have fixed 25 handbag handles for my wife and now my daughter.  They buy bags on the looks but I always look at the handles.
Title: Re: Leather Satchel is FINISHED! :D
Post by: Bernadette on March 21, 2017, 05:52:35 AM
Quote from: Greg on March 21, 2017, 03:07:23 AM
Overlap on the straps doesn't look big enough.  Commercial satchel makers overlap at least 1" and a quarter to 1" and a half and then sew a double stitched square.  Your one looks susceptible to breaking there.

Do you mean the top handle, or the backpack straps? Or the front straps? Or all of them?
Title: Re: Leather Satchel is FINISHED! :D
Post by: Bernadette on March 21, 2017, 05:55:21 AM
Quote from: Akavit on March 20, 2017, 10:40:20 PM
That's a lot of hole punching.  I've done a tad of leather work in making bits of hardware for some boxes and know well how tough it is to pierce it.  Nicely done.  Have you done many projects in the past or is this the first major one?
I've made two other bags, and used an old pair of moccasins as a a pattern to make a new pair. I think the most intimidating part of leather projects is getting the tools together, and I've had the good luck of having a lot of my uncle's tools to work with.
Title: Re: Leather Satchel is FINISHED! :D
Post by: OCLittleFlower on March 21, 2017, 06:02:02 AM
Nice work!  Have you ever thought about making them for sale?  :)
Title: Re: Leather Satchel is FINISHED! :D
Post by: Bernadette on March 21, 2017, 06:31:23 AM
Quote from: OCLittleFlower on March 21, 2017, 06:02:02 AM
Nice work!  Have you ever thought about making them for sale?  :)
I've got a friend who wants to buy one, and people have expressed interest in my other bag when I carried it; but I expect a lot of them would get "sticker shock," if they don't have an idea of the the cost of materials, let alone labor. (https://www.suscipedomine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fisheaters.com%2Fforums%2FSmileys%2Ffishy%2Funsure.gif&hash=a5325c3e9d119271b8e760a8f7803880395632b2)
Title: Re: Leather Satchel is FINISHED! :D
Post by: Greg on March 21, 2017, 09:26:13 AM
Quote from: Bernadette on March 21, 2017, 05:52:35 AM
Quote from: Greg on March 21, 2017, 03:07:23 AM
Overlap on the straps doesn't look big enough.  Commercial satchel makers overlap at least 1" and a quarter to 1" and a half and then sew a double stitched square.  Your one looks susceptible to breaking there.

Do you mean the top handle, or the backpack straps? Or the front straps? Or all of them?

All of them look weak to me.
Title: Re: Leather Satchel is FINISHED! :D
Post by: Greg on March 21, 2017, 09:28:05 AM
My kids bought me some carpet slippers in Almaty, in Central Russia.

No idea what sort of leather they are made from but they are extremely hard wearing on the soles.
Title: Re: Leather Satchel is FINISHED! :D
Post by: Bernadette on March 21, 2017, 09:30:03 AM
Quote from: Greg on March 21, 2017, 09:26:13 AM
Quote from: Bernadette on March 21, 2017, 05:52:35 AM
Quote from: Greg on March 21, 2017, 03:07:23 AM
Overlap on the straps doesn't look big enough.  Commercial satchel makers overlap at least 1" and a quarter to 1" and a half and then sew a double stitched square.  Your one looks susceptible to breaking there.

Do you mean the top handle, or the backpack straps? Or the front straps? Or all of them?

All of them look weak to me.
I see. Well, I'll give them a trial run for a few months, and then re-assess. I had toyed with the idea of rivets at first, but held off figuring I'd use this one as a "test run," and either add rivets later if it became necessary, or just use the bag until it gasped its last breath and then make an "upgraded model" based on how this one did (hopefully with nicer leather- this stuff's economy grade and it shows it).

Quote from: Greg on March 21, 2017, 09:28:05 AM
My kids bought me some carpet slippers in Almaty, in Central Russia.

No idea what sort of leather they are made from but they are extremely hard wearing on the soles.
Nice.  :thumbsup: I might have to branch out in my projects: sturdy carpet slippers sound appealing.