Leatherworkers, your advice please

[Thunderbolt]

Thanks to all who replied so far for your help and advice.

I'd love to see your instructions, Thunderbolt. If they're too long to post, you can pm them to me.

There not too bad, see below.

And I've got questions about 2 of the items in your materials list.

1. What is leather lacquer? I'm hoping to use pre-dyed leather, so do I still need lacquer?

I use the Tandy spray lacquer. I don't know if it's ant different than regular lacquer, but it smells the same.

No. it isn't required, but it stiffens and protects the leather, and it also serves the very important task of keeping the dyes from wearing off onto your kilt!

2. I'm also planning to cement and stitch a piece of the softer leather over the lid as I've seen done in some photos of this style. If I do that, do I still need an edge finisher?

No, if it wraps around the entire edge. But you'll still use a heavy leather under it, and rounding the edges makes the outer edge a bit more "finished" looking.

That would be great! BTW My wife found rabbit pelts 3 bucks each at craftsetc.com

Thanks

Here ya go!

1) Layout the pattern. Use rules, compasses and a sharp pencil or fine-tipped pen. Be as precise as possible, it makes everything line up better when you assemble. I also layed out and punched out small location holes for the holes in the leather.

2) Cut out pattern. Again, be as precise as possible. Bumbs, wavy lines and mistakes are transferred directly to the leather.

3) Choose the best leather for the project (Not flanky, no scars, etc. if it shows.

4) Trace and cut out leather. (Mark the wrong side only, so it can't be seen when finished.) With the Thompson pattern, you'll have 5 pieces, call them what ever you want, but I called them;
-Pouch ( cut 2)
-Flap
-pouch support
-belt slide (the part the chain or belt goes through on the back)

5) Finish all exposed edged. Now would be the time to dye and tool the leather, if you're doing so.

6) Locate and glue belt slide on the flap back. Stitch in place. ***note*** Only glue the upper and lower portions, do not apply glue to the area the belt goes through!! But if you do, you can work it apart with a butter knife and dump som talcum powder in there to deactivate the glue.

7) Locate and glue flap on the back of one of the pouch half.

8) Punch out lace holes on flap, flap closure holes and pouch drawstring holes. (The closure holes can be punched out later, if desired.) Place the eyelets on the pouch, if you're going to put eyelets in.

9) Locate and glue pouch support to the inside of the second pouch half

10) Punch support lace holes.

11) Stitch pouch halves, with the support and flap in place inside out! So the pouch support should be on the out side and the flap on the inside. I did two rows of stitches for extra safety. A few extra stitches at the ends will add some security. Turn right-side out.

12) Thread lace (I suppose threading the lace holes would be easier before the halves were sewn together, but I thought they'd get in my way during the sewing.)

13)Thread lace on closure and support. I made up a monkeys fist knot. But a nice button, piece of deer antler or anything else that strikes your fancy could be used.

14) Lacquer the leather. Some lacquer before assembly, but it was easier for me to do it this way.


That's about it. Thompson adds some other things in his book, IIRC.

If you have any questions, let me know and I'll try and clear things up!

Thunderbolt