REQUIRED MATERIALS
To follow this tutorial, you will need:
- Vegetable-tanned leather piece - 30 x 40 cm - approx. 3 mm thick
- Gum tragacanth for edge finishing
- Shoulder leather strap - BLACK - 20 mm wide - 120 cm long - 1.9 mm thick
- Soft leather piece 5 x 50 cm (for the protective strap)
- Dye prep - FIEBING'S #5 DYE PREP - 118 ml
- Dye (e.g., Eco-Flo WATERSTAIN)
- 3 snap fasteners
- 17 large rivets (T4/T6)
- Round punch set, 3 mm and 5 mm
- Setting tool kit for rivets (T4/T6) and snap fasteners
- An edge slicker
1. CUT THE PATTERN
Cut out the 3 pattern pieces, then assemble them.
Note: not all the balls have the same diameter. Make a preliminary test with sturdy cardboard. Here, the balls are 76 mm in diameter.
2. CUT THE LEATHER
Using the silver pen and the pattern: mark the cutting lines on the leather.
The pen is erasable on most leathers with a simple eraser (do not use on vegetable-tanned leather). We advise you to test it beforehand to confirm the erasable function on your leather.
Cut the leather: on the cutting mat using a utility knife and a ruler.
3. PREPARE AND DYE THE LEATHER
Using a creaser, make two grooves in the leather to fold the case. Prepare the leather flesh side (inside) with DYE PREP (Fiebing's) - before dyeing. Dye the leather (here Eco-Flo WATERSTAIN BLACK). Then, slick the edges (apply gum tragacanth and burnish the edge with an edge slicker).
GUIDE: HOW TO DYE LEATHER?
4. ATTACH THE LEATHER STRAP
To hold the boules and enhance security, add a wavy leather strap. Cut a simple leather strap 5 x 50 cm. Set the 10 rivets to secure the strap.
5. ATTACH THE TABS
To close the case, you need to attach tabs.
- Cut 3 tabs from the remaining leather piece
- Set the 3 rivets on the tabs and the case
- On the other side, attach the visible part of the snap fastener to the tab
- Place a boule in position and press the snap onto the leather to determine where to place the second part of the snap fastener
6. ATTACH THE CARRYING STRAPS
Punch and attach the two carrying straps: using the pliers, pass through the hole made for the boule to secure the rivets of the straps.
With a 60 cm long strap, you can create two 30 cm straps.
TO LEARN MORE:
| Methods for attaching a snap fastener | Methods for attaching a rivet |
OPTION
The initials were made before dyeing. You need to wet the leather, then, with an inkless ballpoint pen, write the message.
Once the leather is dyed and dry, rewrite with a silver pen.
NOW IT'S YOUR TURN!
