These days I look for opportunities to sew things by hand. Here’s a few nuggets I learned from Jean Luc Parisot in France four years ago…1. Fold your buckle ends around so that the grain side is against the hardware. This provides for a bit of added durability. 2. Hand sewing allows you to get your last stitch much closer than you could with your machine for a snug fit against hardware. This is another durability feature as sloppy fit always makes for more wear on the leather. 3. I extend the bag punch slot by half again as long so that the buckle tongue can travel at least 180 degrees. This helps get a better fit around the buckle with less bulge as the leather wraps around the center bar on the buckle.
‘Anyone who finds this interesting…welcome to my addiction. Some may wonder why the pursuit of refinement? It’s pretty simple…my customers/clients are served by what I can learn and accomplish in my shop. My world would get way too small if this was all for me. (besides I can only use so much of the stuff I make!).
“So why the posts?” 1. Let my customer base know the contrast between what you might get off the shelf in town and what you should expect from a custom shop. 2. Share what I’ve learned over the years with other craftsmen so that their customers will have what they want and need in their equipment. Our trades will survive and thrive when there are more folks with smiles on their faces.