leathercraft

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 an Easy Leather Cast Iron Pot Handle Cover

Posted by Don Gonzales

I cook with a lot of cast iron in my kitchen.  The handles on these old pots and pans get pretty hot, so I came up with a leather cast iron pot handle cover.  These are really easy to make and of course I couldn’t just make them plain… I added a little tooling to them. 

In this video I show you how simple these are to make.  We go through the entire process of making these and what materials I use.    

There is a companion pack available for this project and this one is FREE!  If you would like to make some of these, click the link below and put your email address in the form to get access to this FREE companion pack!  

Click here to get FREE Pattern Pack:  https://dgsaddlery.com/pothandlepattern/  

The companion pack has the simple cut patterns for this project, as well as 8 different floral patterns that you can use to customize your own set of pot handle covers.  These would also make great gifts.  

Here are some helpful links you may also find useful for this project:  

Slicking edges:  https://dgsaddlery.com/how-to-slick-edges-on-leather/ 

Oiling and Antiquing Leather:  https://dgsaddlery.com/how-to-oil-and-antique-tooled-leather-projects/  

Here is a great source for materials and supplies:  https://makersleathersupply.com  

If you are in the market for a Cobra sewing machine then check out either Maker’s Leather Supply or get in contact with Leather Machine Co directly:  https://leathermachineco.com

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

 

Complete DG LeatherCraft March Tooling Series

Posted by Don Gonzales

Our “Tooling Series” videos are back in March!  In this tooling series video, i go through my entire tooling process.  In each video we will work through a certain number of stamping tools to complete the pattern shown in the video.  In March, we are tooling a much requested skull… with a twist… this one is wear an indian headdress.

This series will show techniques for not only floral tooling, but also detail work of tooling a skull as well as getting realistic feathers.  When this pattern is completed, we will do a video showing the paint and dye work on a piece like this.

Take a moment and click the link below to grab your FREE copy of this pattern in a PDF format.  Just enter your email address and you can download and print your copy of this pattern and then tool along with us through this series.  Here is that link to grab the digital pattern for FREE:   https://dgsaddlery.com/marchtoolingseries/ Continue reading →

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 →

Hand Stitching Leather with an Awl and Two Needles

Posted by Don Gonzales

hand stitchingHand stitching Leather with an awl and two needles is a “must-have” skill set for any aspiring leather craftsman.  This method allows for maximum efficiency when it comes to having to hand stitch any project.

There are many ways to accomplish the same goal, and hand stitching is not any different.  Many people prefer to use a dremel tool with a small drill bit or a set of pricking irons.  These tools work for making the holes when hand stitching, but in my opinion they do not save any time nor create as pretty of a stitch.

In this video, Hand Stitching Leather with and Awl and Two Needles, I show you what I know about hand stitching leather the traditional way.  I prefer this method not for maintaining traditional skill, but more for its efficiency and accuracy when hand stitching leather projects.  This method allows for the best possible stitch and for me I find it to be the quickest method. Continue reading →

Cobra Sewing Machine Options with Maker’s Leather Supply

Posted by Don Gonzales

cobra sewing machineSelecting a Cobra Sewing Machine or any leather sewing machine can be challenging whether you are a first time buyer or have years of experience.  Doing the proper research to insure that you get the best possible machine to do the job you need it to do takes time and patience.

When I was in college doing leather work on the side, I hand stitched everything that I made.  Hand stitching is a valuable and necessary skill that all LeatherHeads should take the time to learn and master.  But there does come a point for most of us where a leather sewing machine becomes a much needed piece of equipment for our business.

There are so many different brands, sizes and styles of machines out there.  Selecting the best machine for your needs can be daunting.  The great news?  There is tons of information on the internet as well as helpful and knowledgeable people waiting to help with any questions or concerns that you may have when making the upgrade from sore fingers and long hours to powered sewing machines. Continue reading →

How to Make a Round Leather Handbag

Posted by Don Gonzales

round leather handbagDeveloping the Round Leather Handbag

About a month ago or so I was in the shop on a Saturday trying to come up with something new and different to make.  My hopes were that I would use this time to be creative and develop a new product that would be like nothing I had ever created.  I cut poster board all afternoon working with all kinds of different shapes, proportions, and layouts.  I came up with many different ideas, but none of them seemed to be “that one” project.

It wasn’t a total loss though, because I learned some valuable things in that creative session as I usually do.

I went home that afternoon feeling a little like I had wasted the afternoon.  I told my wife what I was trying to do that afternoon and that I just didn’t have much luck coming up with a “new” project, much less “that one” project.  She casually mentioned doing a Round Purse.  At first I wasn’t sure that this was the project since it seemed too simple.  After visiting about it more I began to think it might make a neat project.  She pulled up tons of photos of Round Purses on her phone and apparently they are really popular right now.  The next day I went back into the shop and designed patterns for one of the easiest purses that I have ever made.  Is it “that one” project?  Probably not, but it is a good project and I had a ton of fun with it. Continue reading →