Handmade Veg Tan Bifold Wallet

[stinky]

Thought I'd share this with the group.  I made this over Thxgiving weekend.  It's my first attempt at making a leather item involving two needle hand saddle stitching.  It's not perfect, but it should do the job as a virtual currency transport case (seems like I never have actual cash in my wallet, and if I do, my kids somehow find it). 

It's made from 3/4 oz. veg tan leather, and folded it is 6 layers thick.  4 card holders up front plus pockets behind the card slots on both sides.

My design inspiration came from the Mr. Lentz line of wallets.

Still debating whether or not I should stamp "Bad Mother F#cker" on it. 

Inside:


Outside:


With crap inside:


From the top:

[julian]

Looks good from where I'm sitting.

[exophobe]

Dec 3, 2014 11:07:12 GMT -6 stinky said:

Thought I'd share this with the group.  I made this over Thxgiving weekend.  It's my first attempt at making a leather item involving two needle hand saddle stitching.  It's not perfect, but it should do the job as a virtual currency transport case (seems like I never have actual cash in my wallet, and if I do, my kids somehow find it). 

It's made from 3/4 oz. veg tan leather, and folded it is 6 layers thick.  4 card holders up front plus pockets behind the card slots on both sides.

My design inspiration came from the Mr. Lentz line of wallets.

Still debating whether or not I should stamp "Bad Mother F#cker" on it. 

Looks good, only suggestion I would make about the saddle stitch is make sure you pay attention to which needle goes in first, and which side of the thread it comes through on, that's how you get the nice even looking stitch (instead of wavy-line stitch). Nice work, man.

[stinky]

Dec 3, 2014 11:27:13 GMT -6 exophobe said:

Looks good, only suggestion I would make about the saddle stitch is make sure you pay attention to which needle goes in first, and which side of the thread it comes through on, that's how you get the nice even looking stitch (instead of wavy-line stitch). Nice work, man.

Thanks!
Unfortunately, the wavy is a result of some shoddy awl work (I've since marked my awl so the diamond hits the leather at the same angle each time). I was very careful to do the stitches identically.
I did a laptop sleeve for my wife that came out much better.

[exophobe]

Dec 3, 2014 13:22:30 GMT -6 stinky said:

Thanks!
Unfortunately, the wavy is a result of some shoddy awl work (I've since marked my awl so the diamond hits the leather at the same angle each time). I was very careful to do the stitches identically.
I did a laptop sleeve for my wife that came out much better.

I always get wavy-stitch if I don't do my stitching consistently, but over long-ish stretches I tend to line them all up with a five-hole punch and then run back through with the awl, then grab the needles and start to makin' the fingers hurt.

[stinky]

Dec 3, 2014 21:21:52 GMT -6 exophobe said:

I always get wavy-stitch if I don't do my stitching consistently, but over long-ish stretches I tend to line them all up with a five-hole punch and then run back through with the awl, then grab the needles and start to makin' the fingers hurt.

Leatherwork is very hard on the hands--much harder on them than I expected.

[Deleted]

Great wallet Stinky!

I love that you went with diagonal cuts for the card slots (looks much more visually appealing) and the stress relief holes at the end of the cuts are good stuff!