Theres supposed to be a pic here but i cant get it working. It can be seen in my album for now. (thatd be the one without a gun on it)
Well i originally made this in the DIY social section but the messages allowed there are too short and since im redoing the whole thing itll be done here and ill just leave a picture and a link in the DIY.
Firstoff youll need some tools.
A pick (i think its called) for punching the holes for stitches.
Some waxed linnen thread (prolly most strong thread will do if you wax it)
A couple of leather needles.
A hobby knife
A cutting board
Some cardboard
And in this case 4mm hard leather.
Pliers for pulling on needles
rough Sandpaper
That solved youll need a template. Take some time getting the shape right for you on cardboard. To make a stuffed handle like i did youll need to cut it slightly wider than how you want the finished result, as the stuffing will make it thicker and more narrow.
I cut two leather paddle shaped pieces making sure not to waste too much leather. And two rectangular stuffing pieces for the handle some 20-25 mm narrower than the handle and with rounded cornors, a wooden dovel cut to shape could do for stuffing but fell free to experiment with that bit its excellent for learning the basics of leatherwork.
Now with the paddle sides cut i put them together on my cutting board blank sides out. Then punched a hole in both pieces right where handle meets head some 4-5 mm from the edges. With the pick or a needle holding the pieces in place i proceeded in marking out the stitching holes 5-6mm apart 4-5mm from the edges all the way round and into that little V shape on the head. For marking i usually use a dull pointed object and light pressure to make little dimples untill i can tell i got it right.
Once the marks were right i punched 6-7 holes from the one i started with and up along the head of the paddle.
With this done i cut off 1½-2m of thread and tied a knot at its center. Then stuck a needle in the first hole from the rough side of each piece leaving the knot in between the layers. From there on i mad 3-4 stitches with one needle then did their counterpart with the other needle leaving the closed seem seen on the picture.
With the stitches holding the pieces in place i tightned them up pulling pretty hard on the threads but not on the needles as thatll wear and break the thread.
Pieces held together and on the cutting board i punched all the remaining holes and stiched up the paddle head and V seem. Ending up right where i started. Then put the handle stuffing in place and stiched up the handle.
Now and then the thread will break or youll need more to get the job done. Thou you should do your best to avoid this. When you got like 15 cm of thread left on a needle, Its time to secure whats done and get new thread.
What you do is stitch halfway true so the trhead comes out between the pieces, this goes for both needles so theyr at the same hole. Then holding the threads together you tie 2-3 knots on them with the first one as close as possible to the leather. Then pull or stuff the thread ends inside the piece your making and get going on the new thread.
I finished stiching on the handle in order to be able to lock the threads by pulling them true the handle using a needle. Same procedure as changing threads.
If im not clear on something. Please feel free to ask, im hoping this guide will have more of you doing leatherwork eventually inspiring me to do new things.
