The 10 things I learned from my first ever project.

With every new skill, one has to begin somewhere, so before going down the path of more complex items and techniques, I thought I would venture and try a simple card holder that I saw on Pinterest.

It is amazing how much one can learn when you actually start applying the information gained through the videos into actual practice. To qualify this, I’m an absolute beginner, having made a couple of kits (sewing only, no cutting) and have watched all of the technique videos on the site once (starting to work through them a second time as I’ve realized just how much I missed the first time.

While this is the very first item I’ve constructed from scratch, this truly is from scratch as I didn’t even have a pattern, only the picture of a finished item to use as a reference. How hard can that be I thought. A couple of simple cuts, a few stitches and viola, I’m finished with my first leather project. Well, it was wasn’t quite that simple. While I’m reasonably happy with the result for a first attempt, the next one I make will be infinitely better.

So what exactly did I learn in this process. Mostly I’m sharing this to help myself and others, especially in the notion that good judgement comes from bad judgement, so please use my bad judgement for your good judgement. I think in the most recent Q&A video, Phil you mentioned that when learning just finish your item, rather than cutting it in half. So I kept going and kept learning.

1) This is now a change purse that began life as a small card holder. I thought by taking a card, placing on the leather and adding some space along the edges would be sufficient (it wasn’t!) Next time, beginning with a pattern might be a better choice.

2) When marking out the divider line for pricking placement, don’t forget that you are folding it, and therefore don’t need a divider line across the bottom (which becomes the top of the opening when folded. Thankfully the flap folds over and covers the permanent mark.

3) Using French curves to make the curve of the flap, was a great idea, if you can keep them even on both sides. Since the curves are constantly different radius’ it can get slightly lopsided in a hurry, requiring additional cuts to try and even things out.

4) while sewing, be more generous with the length of thread between the needles for your first and second saddle stitching attempts. The first side (left) turned out very well, the right side, not so much. Couldn’t put the needles back in at the bottom of the strap (looks a little messed up) as the thread was too short. Needed to cut the thread and start again. Perhaps there is another way I could have handled it beyond unstitching it all.

5) In the stitching video, where it is suggested that one double locks the thread - good advice, wish I was patient enough to double lock instead of just one and have it come out about 4 or 5 times.

6) This is 4.5 oz leather, so where there are the two sides and strap, quite thick to work through. Depth of pricking marks makes a significant difference in ease of getting the awl through.

7) So does the sharpness of the awl - will be watching the awl sharpening video again!!

8) Allow for a narrower flap, because the opening will be smaller once you stitch the strap in, requiring additional cutting so it somewhat works.

9) Realize that different bevels size are actually meant for different size leathers, or I could have been doing something wrong. The size #1 was a little small to round the edges, so a #2 was better the second time around.

10) Know how to actually use the tool in question. As sad as it is, I kept holding the edge tool upside down when first trying to bevel the edge. Also managed to leave a mark in the leather by pushing too hard down while bevelling. More practice required. Also makes me wonder, how I should actually go about sharpening the edge tool when required. Something else to look up.

To master a new area, there is the concept of 10,000 hours of practice. While there are arguments for and against this research, let’s just say I have a long way to go and this was the first step in a journey of a thousand miles. I’m guessing my second step will be that much better.