Bamboo, Ipe Laminated ELB.

[bubby]

Nice job, crisp looking tips .
If I'm allowed to criticise, I'd say maybe use a straight edge when you are pricking througfh the holes in the leather, the rest of the work is so nice (folded edges are a nice detail) it just seems a shame to have wobbly stitching.
I push through the holes with an awl every 5mm using a steel rule as a guide before stitching.
5mm works well, not so fine that it takes for ever and not so coarse that it looks rough.
Del

Thanks for the tip.  I wish all that was wobbly about me was my stitching.  I do kinda get into this "get it done" frame of mind.  I was out of real thread . . . so I used b-50 dacron.

Great tip on the ruler.  I started that way but I couldn't figure out how to NOT have some scratch line or ink line visible.  Oh and I dn't have an awl right now.  I just took a heavy duty sewing needle and sharpened the tip to a triangle cross section and shove it through with a thimble.

Thanks

Actually the stitching is often on a bit of a curve so you may need to shuffle the rule slightly as you go, but you get the idea.
I couldn't find an awl anywher, so in the end I made one from a real cheapo electricians screwdriver . I crushed the plastic handle in the vice to get it off and made a chunnky ball handle from a scrap of wood.
http://bowyersdiary.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/leatherwork.html
This blog entry might be useful.
Del
an icepick works real well for an awl, Bub

[Prarie Bowyer]

Thanks guys!