leather

The DG LeatherCraft Newsletter and its Future

Posted by Don Gonzales

As we have grown over the last few years we have added the DG LeatherCraft component to the mix. This component basically creates and promotes educational resources for anyone wanting to learn more about the leathercrafting industry. We do this through our expanding brands such as DG LeatherCraft Academy, this Blog, DG LeatherCraft Facebook page, Instagram, Our YouTube Channel and most importantly our DG LeatherCraft Newsletter.

I say “most importantly” because this is our most efficient tool for communicating with you directly. 

Continue reading →

The “Lost Trade” Podcast is Live

Posted by Don Gonzales

We have spent the last 2 years researching, debating, and researching some more.  We finally made a decision and today we officially launched our newest addition to the content services that we offer to the western gear making community.

The “Lost Trade” Podcast is now available on Apple podcast as well as Spotify!

This is an interview style show where we will visit with craftsmen from all different areas of the western lifestyle industry.  Our main focus will be those men and women that work daily to hone their skills for the purpose of creating gear and accessories for cowboys and cowgirls.  We will also mix it up with artists, suppliers and business leaders that help to supply the industry and keep it flourishing.

We settled on the name “Lost Trade” as a hat tip of sorts to the all too common statement made to all of us as craftsmen when someone finds out what we do for a living.  How can something be “lost” if we are doing it everyday to provide for ourselves and our families?

Our hopes with this podcast is that it will do its part to shed light on western lifestyle industries that are thriving and very much in demand… far from being “lost.”  Along with that, it will introduce and promote the men and women who have spent years working to improve their particular skill set and have made a space for themselves to be successful in a niche that is known only to those cowboys and cowgirls who need them.

You can listen now to “Lost Trade” on your phone or using the players below.  We have two episodes up as of now and more episodes with amazing craftsmen coming soon.  Thank you to everyone who supported this decision and lets see where this goes from here.

How to Make Leather Knife Sheaths

Posted by Don Gonzales

This project video is one that I should have made a long time ago.  One of the best selling items we have ever made in the saddle shop has been our fold over knife sheaths.  In this video, I show you how to make these from start to finish.

If you are looking for a project that doesn’t use a lot of leather and goes together quickly then this is it.  This is also a great way to use up the scrap leather that may be accumulating in the corners of your workshop.  Floral tooled, geometric tooled, dyed, painted and even plain leather, these items will become one of your most popular selling items.

I have developed a set of patterns to use when making these that will cut out all the fitting issues for most knives.  My pattern uses the tooling window to size the finished sheath to fit a particular knife.  If you would like to purchase the digital companion pattern pack for this video, then CLICK HERE and you can purchase that from us.  This is a digital PDF file that you will download and print the patterns out on your own printer.  Along with the cut pattern for the shealth and the three different size tooling windows that I use in my shop, you will also get 6 different floral tooling patterns for each of the three different windows.  That is 18 different patterns to choose from.

Looking for a good source for Herman Oak leather?  Visit our friends at Maker’s Leather Supply as they are a Herman Oak dealer and can help you get the leather and any other supplies that you may need.

How to Make a Leather Money Clip Wallet

Posted by Don Gonzales

This Project video shows you how to make a leather money clip wallet.  These have always been one of our most popular items to make and sell in our store.  Everyone loves a cool leather wallet.  

This particular style is compact and designed to be carried in the front pocket.  It features a single pocket on each side inside the wallet for a few cards as well as a wire money clip for cash.  I mention in the video that I prefer to use a spring style money clip that is a little more professional looking.  

Here is the link to the clip that I get from Springfield Leather in Missouri CLICK HERE.

UPDATE:  I recently discovered that Maker’s Leather Supply also carries a very nice money clip that would work great with this wallet.  Check them out by Clicking Here!

We are also now offering a Material Pack for this project!  We have offer a Single or a 3 Pack which includes all the pieces of leather needed to make this and all pieces are out of Herman Oak Leather.  Click Here to check those out.

If you are looking for a great use of scrap leather as well as an item that you can make really quickly, then this is it.  I would recommend making these by the 1/2 to full dozen.  They are great sellers! 

I have a Companion Pattern Pack available if you would like to purchase that.  THE PATTERN PACK IS A PDF FILE THAT YOU DOWNLOAD AND PRINT OUT ON YOU OWN PRINTER.  That means that you will have instant access and can get to making some of these right away!  The pattern includes the cut patterns for the liner, body and pocket as well as an optional pocket if you would rather have the cards come out of the center of the wallet.  There are also 12 different tooling patterns included in the pack as well.  This will give you endless options for any customer wanting one of these from you.    

If you would like to purchase the pattern pack CLICK HERE. 

If you are looking for a knowledgeable group of folks to get Herman Oak Leather from for this project, check out our friends over at Maker’s Leather Supply:   

For all your sewing machine needs and the place where I will be getting my next machine to replace the old Singer Machine in this video,  visit our friends at Leather Machine Co.   

How to Make a Saddle Bag Crossbody Purse

Posted by Don Gonzales

  This video shows how to make a new crossbody purse that I just came up with.  The design is based on a real saddle bag design altered to work as a crossbody purse.  I think the design of this purse is really nice and would be popular with many.   This would be a great project to offer to your customers for gift ideas.  You also may want to make one of these for that special lady in your life.  

This crossbody purse goes together very well and has a lot of room to do floral tooling and personalization.   

If you would like to purchase the pattern pack for this project, then Click Here to get that.   The pattern pack is a DIGITAL DOWNLOAD in a PDF format that you print out on your own printer.  The pack includes all the cut patterns as well as 6 different floral patterns.   

Four Popular Leather Types and Best Uses in LeatherCraft

Posted by Don Gonzales

There are four main types of leather that we use in leathercraft and saddle shops.  These are Veg Tanned Leather, Chap Leather, Harness Leather, and Latigo Leather.  

In this video, I give a quick run down of each as well as the products and applications I use them for in my shop.  There are many more types of leathers on the market and many more uses for them.  This is just a summary of the main four types that I keep in my shop.    

Leather is the most versatile material on the planet.  There are great variances in tannages as well as applications, so experiment with as many as you can and see what types of leather work best for what you are doing.  

If you are looking for a good source for leather here are some links to some of my favorite suppliers: 

 https://makersleathersupply.com 

https://lewisleathersales.com 

https://panhandleleather.com 

http://www.hermannoakleather.com

 

How to Make a Leather Bifold Wallet

Posted by Don Gonzales

This project video is about making a Leather Bifold wallet.  I designed this wallet so that it is fairly easy to assemble with a lot of space to tool.  Leather Wallets are fantastic gifts as well as just items that you can stock up on and sell at anytime.   We sewed one of these and buckstitched one in the video to show a different option of assembly if you don’t have a sewing machine in your shop.  If you have been wanting to make yourself a new wallet for some time, give this video a look and see if this design would work for you. Continue reading →

How to make a Pistol Case with Maker’s Leather Supply

Posted by Don Gonzales

pistol caseThe product line at DG Saddlery over the years has included many types of leather goods.  We have designed and created knife scabbards, pistol holsters, belts, home decor, harness, tack and of course saddles.  One type of item that we attempted many times are zippered type bags.  This item not being my area of expertise, we were able to make something that worked but wasn’t at the level that we wanted to create.  Because of this, we as a company many times would stay away from taking orders on any type of zippered bag.

I have recently decided that I would like to finally gain the skill set needed to be able to create projects with zippers incorporated.  We were in Waco, TX recently to make a video with Aaron at Maker’s Leather supply on Sewing Machine Selection.  While we were there, Aaron and I decided to do a collaboration video together building a project.  He came up with the perfect project for our visit.

This video is our collaboration on the making of a pistol case.  This particular pistol case holds two pistols and zips closed.  This was a great project that allowed me to gain more knowledge about installing zippers in bag design. Continue reading →

Basket Stamp Around an Object or Figure the Easy Way

Posted by Don Gonzales

basket stamp leatherLearning to Basket Stamp leather is relatively straightforward and one of the first decorative skills we learn in leatherwork.  This tool and the design that it creates has been around for well over a century and works great to cover a project quickly and easily.

One of the more challenging tasks that come up in some projects is Basket Stamping around a brand, figure or object that is in the middle of a piece.  Many times this can lead to a pattern that becomes off course and just doesn’t seem to work.  This can lead to a project, or at least a piece of it, having to be remade to correct the mistake in the pattern. Continue reading →