New adventure...

Sew I stitched with leather for the first time over the holiday weekend.  I had picked up leather and some tools at Tandy Leather on Friday, and then finally did something with it on Monday.  I was so nervous that I was going to cut something incorrectly and ruin a piece, but I managed to get everything cut out with no major mishaps.

I used the Bonnie Bucket Bag from Swoon Patterns with a few modifications (no bottom strip, no outside zipper pocket).  I doubled up the interfacing on the cotton fabric so that it had a little more body and on more equal with the structure of the leather side (the other side of the bag is the same as this, half leather, half cotton).  Because I was working with white fabric for a bag, I did Scotch Guard all of the cotton before piecing the bag together.  I did interface the leather using the lowest heat setting possible and a pressing cloth.  I had a minor issue getting the rivets set on the strap, didn't account for using larger rivets, so they might be a little crooked on one side.  The top stitching down the center on the other side is also a bit skewed, but nothing that would prevent me from using the bag.  I did quite a bit of reading about sewing with leather the past few weeks, so I felt comfortable doing what I was doing.  With the purse strap, I cut two pieces and stitched them together.  To help stabilize the strap and minimize stretch over time, I put a piece of twill tape in between the two straps and anchored it with some FabriTac. 


So there you go...my first bag made with leather.  Now I just have to work up the courage for another, slightly  more complicated bag.  But first...some glitter vinyl is calling my name!