 |
|
 | |
Your search included government help for hobbies-crafts 800 306 0873 |
 |
|
| Crafts & Hobbies Government Incentives |
|
|
|
|
Free Government Grants 888 384 9608 Government Jobs
Leather Work Tips
For leather work, consider the basics: an awl and spare point, a retractable X-acto knife and spare blades, a retractable knife with a break-off blade and a rotary punch. In addition, you'll need needles, a lump of beeswax and some waxed linen thread. As well, a pair of pliers to pull the needle through the leather is a must, and scissors you can use for cutting the leather. Then there are edge slickers and bevellers that are used to finish the edges, drive punches for bigger holes and thong cutters for making laces. A T-square, compass and yardstick are essential to ensure that your leather work is measured accurately. If you're just starting out with leather work, you might not want to spend a lot of money on tools. Once you've worked with the basic set and completed a few projects, you'll have a better idea of what tools work best and what you use most. At that point, a little research and some comparative shopping can lead you to acquiring some better quality tools that will enhance your leather work. Of course, even the most expensive tools won't help if you haven't taken the time to develop and perfect your craft. If you do your very best with what you have, it doesn't matter if you can't afford the most expensive awl or the latest knife. Quality will show anyway. Tips and Tricks: * Start with a basic tool set. * Buy better quality tools once you've completed some projects and have a better idea of what will enhance the quality of your leather work. * Study the various types of leather before starting. Tooling Leather There are many different types of leather available, some better than others, depending upon the project you have in mind. Vegetable-tanned leather, also called tooling leather, has been processed using vegetable dyes rather than chemicals. It's usually flesh-colored and is excellent for a variety of projects, especially if the top is to be stamped or tooled. Because it has a relatively rigid structure, this type of leather is ideal for leather work items like book covers and belts. Latigo Oil-tanned leather, also called latigo, unlike other leathers, has a waxy surface and is ideal for leather work projects where durability and flexibility are a must, such as for tack and saddles. Avoid using it though if you don't want the finished product to have stretch and flexibility, such as in dog collars. Bear in mind also that it can't be tooled or stamped. Top Grain Leather Top grain leather has one smooth side, called grain, which is the skin side, and a rough inner side, the flesh side. Either side can be used, rough or smooth. Chrome-Tanned Leather Chrome-tanned leather is dyed with modern chemicals such as chromium and comes in a variety of colors, is often white on one side, though the cut edges can be a different color than the facing. It's relatively inexpensive, but not very breathable, and can't be tooled or stamped because it's too soft for leather work and it's waterproof Weight of Leather Leather thickness is given in ounces. The heavier the weight, the thicker the leather is. Calf or goat skin is generally 2 ounces or 1/32 inch thick. One ounce is 1/64th of an inch thick. On the other end of the scale, 8 ounce leather is usually 1/8 inch thick. Summary: * Tooling leather is the best choice for most leather work projects. * Latigo leather is great for durables like tack and saddles. * Choose suede and garment leather when making clothing. * The heavier the weight of leather, the thicker it is. * When ordering leather through the mail, try some sample swatches first. * Keep your leather soft and supple with the proper oil. Hey! Need To Know More About Leather? Here's How to Get Your Answers Quick and Easy Click Here ==> Leather Work Secrets
|
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Kona Cotton: The Quilters & Embroiderers Dream Fabric What, Exactly, Is Kona Cotton? Kona(R) cotton is a premium, 100% cotton broadcloth from Robert Kaufman Fabrics in Los Angeles. The company introduced the fabric in the 1980's in response to the then rapidly emerging quilting industry, an interest that continues unabated today. It is a soft, light fabric, often called the 'Quilter's Cotton', that is also ideal for fine apparel such as children's clothing; soft, comfortable shirts; dresses; applique and home decorating. It has a 'meaty' hand, which means you can really feel the difference when you touch the fabric and that makes it a joy to work with. Warps. And Wefts, Too Kona cotton has a high 60 by 60 thread count. This means there are 60 warp threads and 60 weft threads per square inch of fabric. Until I did some research, I didn't know what warp and weft threads were. (I had never even heard the word 'weft'.) A warp thread is a support thread in the loom, long and strong and usually tied down onto the loom; a weft thread is passed back and forth between the warp threads to form cloth. It is that high thread count, all those warps and wefts playing together, that make Kona cotton a soft, light, yet very durable material; one of the best woven fabrics available for hand or machine quilting. Pre-use Care It's a good idea to launder the fabric to remove any sizing/finish before using it in your project. Treat it as you would any new 100% cotton fabric: Gentle wash, mild detergent, tumble dry low, remove promptly and iron. Expect about a 1-3% shrinkage. What About Color? Kona is available in plenty of colors, 170 solid colors according to the manufacturer's web site, RobertKaufman.com. And a quick search for 'hand dyed Kona cotton' will pop up vendors offering hundreds of colors and patterns of beautifully dyed Kona cotton fabric. But Aren't You an Embroiderer? Yes, I am a machine embroiderer and those same qualities that make Kona cotton ideal for quilting and sewing apply to machine embroidery, too. That meaty feel I mentioned makes it very easy to hoop and quick to stabilize. The push/pull factor is minimal and, best of all, the stitched out designs are gorgeous on it. Even though there a many cheaper fabrics, I test all my embroidery designs on Kona cotton and turn to it first for any finished embroidery project I have. Floral Arranging as a Hobby Flower arranging has become increasingly popular as a hobby, for people of all ages and backgrounds. Mini Rc Cars Did your heart ever palpitate for fast driving? Did you ever imagine your hands controlling an extremely speedy car? I f so, then you should definitely experience the gravity and true charm of mini RC cars. How To Make Your Own Gift Baskets Haven't you always wanted to give someone a beautiful gift basket, but didn't have a clue how to put one together? Gift baskets are such a wonderful gift and can be given for any occasion. Let me tell you how to make such an amazing gift basket even you won't believe you've made it! World Skills & Learning About Old World Skills There was once a time when almost everyone acquired, or knew how to do a practical skill of some kind, they were special skills, which most people used throughout life. They just became second nature. Collectibles: Searching for those Hard-to-Find Diecast Models For collectors of any kind, there are always those items that are much sought after, but nearly impossible to find. If they're lucky enough to finally locate them, the price is often exorbitant or there are some other restrictions which inhibit their ability to secure them. With a good deal of patience and persistence, however, even the rarest of these collectibles can be found and purchased without as much difficulty as one might imagine. One simply needs to know where to look. Woodworking Tools: Right Selection And Care Will Save You Money, Part 4 Woodworking: Tools Of The Trade, Part 4 - Tools For Shaping The Easy Way to Make a Special Present We all know someone who is difficult to buy a present for. Someone who has everything they need and would not appreciate 'normal' gifts. Often this will be your parent or an older relative or neighbor, and they can be a problem to buy something for. Blown Glass: They Do Still Make It Like They Used To Blown art glass is quickly becoming one of the fastest growing hobbies in North America... and it is about time. Glassblowing has been around since 27 BC in Syria, though the first evidence of manmade glass products occurs in Mesopotamia in the late 3rd century BC. But the advancement of actual "blowing" glass using a tube transformed the materials usefulness. The new technique quickly spread throughout the Roman world. Finding The Best Display Case For Your Treasures Maybe you have a bunch of collectibles sitting in your closet gathering dust. Or perhaps you've been storing your fine China in the kitchen cupboards instead of a hutch. Far too often we sequester our prized possessions rather than place them where they deserve to be... on display. Creating A Family Tradition-Jigsaw Puzzles Do you find it difficult to spend time together as a family? Gemstone Collecting Personally, I have become fascinated with gemstones (precious and semi-precious stones). I am amazed at the array of colors and properties of these little treasures found in the earth. God created something truly amazing for us to look at and to adorn ourselves. Many of these tiny treasures are a fantastic investment. Purchasing a rare and beautiful gemstone that will significantly appreciate is an opportunity for everyone to enjoy and benefit. Making a return or to pass down through the generations, gemstone collecting can be a rewarding and profitable hobby. PE-Design Embroidery Digitizing Software: Getting Started This article is in response to the emails I receive from my website asking for my thoughts on PE-Design. If you are considering purchasing embridery digitizing programs, I hope this information will help your research. Making Beaded Jewelry Is Easy to Do Making beaded jewelry is an inexpensive and fun hobby that nearly anyone can do. The materials needed are readily accessible and cost very little money. Aside from the requisite thread, needle and the beads, there are also some other materials that the hobbyist can use in making beaded jewelry. Hobbyists can also experiment with various beading techniques to make interesting and unique creations. When It Comes To RC Airplanes You Can Choose From Ready to Fly, Almost Ready to Fly or Scratch Built Soaring through the air, watching the clouds and the birds fly by. No, you are not flying your own private plane, but you are doing the next best thing. You are flying an RC airplane through the sky. With a little practice, you can even have your airplane doing acrobatics, and you thought you would never be a pilot! Save on Kids Craft Supplies - Recycle! Here is some information about how to collect and use recycled objects in your crafts! Money Making Hobby - Do You Have One? Everyone has a hobby. We love all kinds of music, sports, movies, books... We have pets, we grow flowers, we build houses, buy cars... Some of us even love our jobs (boy, those are the lucky ones)... The Most Powerful Attribute in Antiques and Collectibles What can increase your sales volume and make you more productive day in and day out? You've probably heard this three word statement that seperates those who wish they could do better,from those who really do. How to Use Feathers and Dried Flowers to Give Your Scrapbooks an Artistic Feel Feathers make exotic and interesting embellishments and borders. Feathers add an air of softness. Feathers may be useful in scrapbooks with a freedom, peace, or quiet theme. However, colored or exotic feathers may add a touch of adventure or a feeling of a far away land to a scrapbook page. Five Ways To Find New Markets for Your Dog and Cat Art As you create your dog and cat art, you will find that you would like to find a market for your many non-commissioned pieces. When it comes to generic dog and cat art, keep the following tips in mind:
|
