Rivets and snaps are really tricky to remove once set, so it's better to just do it right the first time. Backstitch at the beginning and end of each flap. Differences Between Leather Stitching Tools. 
Nubuck vs. Suede Leather: Dont Cows Stand in the Rain?
Your aim is to remove about half the thickness of the leather from the last 1/2 of each end of the pen tabs. Line up your holes, and start threading the wax thread through. If this starts to happen, stop and lightly wet the edges with water. This will create a channel for the stitching to rest in, and slow the wear on the thread. And doing so will tear up the finish on the leather. 4 generations of manufacturers, consultants, and distributors to quality conscious clients since 1945, 2022 Buckleguy.com LLC Terms of Use Privacy Policy, Large Journal Cover Leather Pattern, PDF Template, Small Journal Cover Leather Pattern, PDF Template, Mini Tote Bag Leather Pattern, PDF Template, Passport Case Leather Pattern, PDF Template, Money Clip Wallet Leather Pattern, PDF Template. Align your stitching groover to the stitching lines so that when setting the groover on the edge, the hole in the small arm rests on the dotted line. Thanks for all the encouragement. ellen delved into the world of leather after he noticed how boring and uninspiring wallet he carried around was. I chose these mostly because they are cheap. Hand stitch your own Leather Journal Cover! This needs to be left open for the pocket to work. Once the three pieces are all placed together, check the glue. On the backside of that needs to be either the male or female part. Close up your journal and check that the loop is as tight or loose as you want. Rest the chisel in the stitching groove at the edge of the flap where the stitching groove ends (each flap will have two of these spots). Like I mentioned before, you can customize this in any number of ways. boomie matr Most of the same techniques he taught me were taught to him ages ago..and I saw that you used them also. Some leathers tend to snag a bit when you are beveling. If you are having trouble tracing the template because it is sliding around, you can tape it down, just make sure youve given extra time for the dye to dry or the tape will pull some of it up. These marks will be under the journal insert (see the third picture above). As an added optional detail you can cut a small notch out of the long edge of the card pocket. (only Veg Tan or Oil Tan can be stamped). If you didnt, its time to dye. This pack combines this philosophy with good, clean design and instruction from a professional leatherworker. The way the journal cover is designed, you can simple replace a filled journal with an empty one when need be. 3-5 oz Scrap Leather (I used oil-tanned scrap. Orders under $100 flat-rate $7.99 shipping. Before you create your stitching channel, you need to figure out where to start and stop the stitching channel. Quick question, what size do you use for the diamond chisels for this project? If you are finding it difficult for the glue to stick, I will often sand through the top layer of the leather where the glue is going to be applied, this will help the glue sink into the leather and therefore adhere better. If you make it let me know, I'm eager to see how peoples' projects turn out, About: goldbarkleather.com || Gold Bark Leather is all about helping the beginner become a skilled craftsman in the art of leatherworking. With leather it is best to use a non-stick or roller presser foot so that the leather glides smoothly through your machine. Let the glue dry slightly until it is mostly clear so that it is tacky. Place a strip of double sided tape on the back side of each of the short sides of the card pocket, as well as the long side of without the notch. Place your paper journal insert along the spine, and use it to mark your top hole and bottom hole placement for your binding. If you only have 7oz+ leather for whatever reason, this project would still work, but you might need to wet form the leather to make sure it bends in the middle. Let me also assure you that, comparatively, leatherworking is a pretty inexpensive craft to pick up. faux leather journals Once the sponge starts creating streaks instead of blocks of color, fill it back up with dye. When the glue has dried slightly and is clear and tacky, place the flaps onto the cover, wrong sides together, one edge at a time, notches to the outside, being very careful to line up the edges as you go. In total, you will have 5 marks to be punched. Im sure the bottle of dye has a suggestion, but I usually wait about 30 minutes to an hour. Disgusting. In this case, I added the year. Answer Be sure to only make these two holes, stitching holes for the rest of the line will be made later. Place the flaps onto the cover, wrong sides together, with the notches in the flaps towards the outside of the cover. If you need an example, check out the last picture in this step. And, you gave me an idea to make some of these as gifts - but only to those who I know will take care care of it and appreciate it! Repeat this process until the entirety of your leather has been dyed. Now using a snap setter and a rounded anvil (see what it looks like in the picture above) hammer the rivets into place. Now that you have the holes punched, you can start in on the binding!
leather tree celtic journal blank carving bound tooling patterns shadows carved handmade pattern You are funny. leather map journal etched cities international tactile craftworks thegrommet notebook gifts laser sold -Thread-Stitching Needles-Diamond Chisel -Stitching Groover -Burnisher or a Piece of Canvas -Edge Beveler -Gum Tragacanth-Rivet Setter and Anvil-Snaps-Dye and Carnauba Cream (if the leather isn't pre-dyed) -Leather (I used a 4oz leather for this project). Do not press hard when you first put the sponge/rag to the leather. To glue use gluing cement. The strap and rivets need to be stitched/riveted prior to stitching in the flaps that hold the journal in place.
It is awesome to watch the step-by-step of constructing this notebook cover! It's surprisingly easy to mess up rivets or mangle them in the process.
At this point your leather should be looking good and shiny. For projects that use thicker leathers, it is a good to use a beveler to help round out the edges. If you have any questions, just want to say hi, or want to show off your killer new wallet in picture form just drop it in the comments below, or send me an email at justin@goldbarkleather.com. Add fabric lining. If you dont do this, you will have a very hard time creating a nice smooth curve. Then repeat this on the other flap. However, if you newer to the craft but want a bit of a challenge, take this project on. I know, I know, you've had this same problem too. But you did it! Both of these use pretty traditional methods. Now it is time to make the holes in the leather. If you havent done this process before, you may want to try it out on some scraps. Since this is such a tight curve, I suggest only using a two toothed chisel. Which, by the way, is a great project for someone who is first beginning leatherwork. It is up to you! Doing this is surprisingly simple, you just have to create the stitching channel on the flaps first. Then repeat this process until you've created holes all along the stitching channel. Then cut the channel in the other flap. If your machine has a speed setting, slow it down to the lowest setting possible. Now that the piece is glued together, check the edges. Those that have a bit more knowledge of leather working will see a ton of ways to add to this project. So, you need to finish the angled edges of the flaps at this point in the project. This site is amazing. Repeat this process on the other edge where the stitching groove ends. Using your skiver, remove a thin layer from the back side of each end of each pen tab. You may also need to tighten your top tension. For this project, using an A5 journal cover pre-cut, I cut an elastic cord to about 14. When cutting out the curve, lay your template back on top of the leather and trace the curve with your X-acto blade. Glad the website is helping :). If working w/ veg tan, use veg tan scrap), Elastic Cord (jewelry section of your local craft store). And of course, your journal is going to thank you for it.
If any part is already starting to part open, it will really come open when you finish the edges. I suggest cutting out rounded corners square, and then rounding them out afterwards. Cutting in general can be tricky, and mistakes made at this stage are amplified during the edge finishing process. Go ahead and download the template and print it out. You'll want your stitching to go just beyond the flaps. Find the center of your journal cover, along the spine fold.
If you did not make sure your edges were even and flat, these stitching lines wont line up, so make sure you didn't skip the previous step. I made one of these and gifted it to my partner recently, and her weekly bullet journal ritual immediately became a daily habit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iah0rg6gGWs&t=6s, Best Leather Working Tools for Experts and Beginners. Both the strap and the journal cover will have the holes you need to punch out marked on them. Then hammer the chisel through. With this project you will develop some important skills for leathering working like: cutting, stitching, riveting, and edge finishing. If working w/ veg tan, use veg tan scrap). Thank you! notebook lemome Instead use 150 grit sandpaper to level it out. Trim the corners and burnish the edges. Return to your BERNINA. Press down firmly on the strap and quickly clean up any glue that seeps out beyond the edges. All of the links are to items/sites that I personally use or plan to get in the future. When you feel comfortable with the length of the loop, go ahead and start stringing the cord through the top and bottom holes. Apply pressure to make sure the glue adheres. Want to make sure I order the right ones. Note to buyer: Of course you are free to use this template and design to make and sell this product. Use a heavy paper, like card stock, because you'll need to trace it later on just make sure you print it to 100% or actual size,' so it doesnt shrink during the printing process. Doing this will ensure that the corners of the flaps stay flat on the journal cover and don't start curling up over time. When you are happy with that placement, youll need to add two more marks about from the top and bottom marks of your journal insert, going towards the center mark. Make sure to keep the scrap over your cover because the mallet will damage your finished project if you apply it directly to the cover. Learn more about us. On each pen tab, put a small dab of leather glue on the back side of each end. I love everything I've made from leather - each thing involved a long step-by-step process but the end result was worth it- and whatever you make seems to last forever. Also make sure you cut out the template correctly. Make sure all edges are glued all the way to the edge. Allow about fifteen minutes for the glue to dry, if you rush this, the strap may slip as you go to punch the stitching holes. However, I would avoid anything over 6oz. Thank you for solving my journal crisis (I didn't know I had one until now)! The biggest goal he had in the creation of his leather business was to create pieces that could be passed down as an heirloom. Make sure to use a straight edge and a rotary cutter for this part because its much easier to achieve straight lines. I usually just try to find what is the best quality and run with that. Repeat this same process with the bottom part of the rivet and the male piece on the journal cover. Take a look at the template you printed out again. -Leather Glue (I use Seiwa Leather Cement from GoodsJapan, but any glue cement should work.) This serves as a great introduction to some basic hand tools and leather craft skills. This project has a little more wiggle room than most when it comes to the thickness of leather you decide to use. I have the best luck achieving a matte finish using a high density sponge. Today, I am going to show you the easiest way to make a leather journal cover. Make sure to quickly clean up any glue that has seeped out. To do this use a two toothed chisel. Mark where the edge of the flap stops, so you will know how far to glue on the next step. At this point you should have a small channel for the stitching to rest in on either side of the project. moleskine With our lives becoming increasingly digital and our phones being right beside us at all times, we dont have as much need for a paper notebook as we once did. This glue works like contact cement, so you only have one chance to get it right. You can also use your corner rounding toolto round the bottom two corners at this point if desired. This will prevent them from coming out. Hah, you're too kind, thanks so much! You could also use a needle threader to help pull the cord through. If youre new, I suggest using a rotary cutter for the straight parts and an X-acto knife for the corners and curves. If you would prefer to use a sewing machine, or hand stitch detail all the way around, do not worry about punching holes in the corners. Since this is waxed thread, you can press it down with your finger to bond it, or melt it off with a lighter. You can find my past tutorials and all future ones on my blog or here on instructables! Don't worry it can. First, make sure you are working on a steady surface. I did want to add a small detail to the cover. For other gift ideas, check out my gift post! You should be able to clearly see an outline on the leather now, as shown in the second picture. I would like to make a little gallery of builds our visitors have made! I punched out holes in each corner so I could attach it to cover with a bit of thread. Place your scrap leather over the spine of your journal cover. If your outline looks good, go ahead and cut it out. Thank you! In general, glue adheres better to the underside of the leather than the top side. After, place the female side of the snap over both the top part of the rivet and the leather strap and hammer it closed. rinascimento Pull out the template again and place it on the leather. At this point your edges will be ready for the same edge finishing process used earlier in this guide. Lay the two flaps down on your cutting mat, making sure the flap with the card holder has the opening for the card facing to the LEFT (this is the opposite way it will be placed on the cover). If all your cuts prior to this were clean, this wont be a problem, but its easy for this to happen, so dont sweat it if it did. leather custom tooled books journal If you don't your hands are going to look like mine in this picture. Here is a description of these items if you are unsure what they are or what their use is. I use a divider to create my lines, but almost any slightly sharp object will do. Lay the templates on top of the pieces and set the punch over the holes. While its a good skill to develop, no one is going to judge you (well, I wont at least) for buying finished leather (dyed and waxed). If you haven't figured out by this point in the tutorial, I'd love it if you checked out my blog: http://www.goldbarkleather.com It's a great place to learn the basics of leatherworking alongside others and will help you go from beginner to skilled craftsman in the art of leatherwork. I've also learned a ton online, from people like Ian Atkinson and Armitage Leather (both on youtube) and a ton more from the Leathercraft Subreddit. If you need instruction and explanation on each step, please read this more in-depth overview. So, let's first prep the strap for stitching and riveting. quill As an extra detail, you can use metal stamps to emboss initials into the front cover for a special detail. This space is to share tips about making leather items, restoring leather and creating templates. I did two loops before knotting off the thread and cutting the excess. x8 bloggers (this tutorial will work for any size, I cut mine to an A5 size), (I used oil-tanned scrap. Using a paintbrush, apply a thin layer of glue to the edge of the leather. In fact, at this point, you should hit all your edges with 150 grit to make sure they are nice and flat. There are no extra charges when using these links, but they do help out the site and are greatly appreciated! Some restrictions. Once it is dried, apply a leather finishing cream or carbanua cream and rub it in using an old t-shirt or rag (no need to use a sponge here). If they dont line up perfectly, take the time to cut off the excess using a rotary cutter, X-acto, or a round knife. Using a rubber mallet, hammer the punches through each hole. If you're new I suggest taking some of your scrap leather, punching out a few separate lines of stitching, and practicing a few times to get a feel for it. Oh yeah, and follow me on Instagram because I need friends. With the wrong side of the cover up, spread a very thin and narrow layer of glue between each mark that you made in the previous step. And I , another guide to give you confidence when buying your first piece of leather. This way you don't stitch/rivet the flaps closed because then it wouldn't be a journal cover, it would just be a piece of leather. If this continues even after wetting the edges reduce the pressure you are putting on the beveler and reset the beveler on the leather when you see the beginning of a snag. Using the groover to create a stitching channel between the two holes you previously made, drag the groover around the curve, rotating the leather with your left hand, and making sure to pull down and towards yourself with the right. But, the parts with the flaps are two pieces of 4 oz leather sewn together.
Give the dye some time to dry. This leather journal cover is perfect for note taking or sketching on-the-go, or at your favorite coffee shop. You can use BERNINA Roller Foot #51, BERNINA Zigzag foot with non-stick sole #52, BERNINA Straight-stitch foot with non-stick sole #53 or BERNINA Open embroidery foot with non-stick sole #56.
Line up your detail piece up exactly where you would like it on the cover and mark your holes. Thanks, How to Free-motion Quilt Scalloped Hearts, BERNINA Zigzag foot with non-stick sole #52, BERNINA Straight-stitch foot with non-stick sole #53, BERNINA Open embroidery foot with non-stick sole #56, How to Make a Leather-Trimmed Laptop Case, Urban Doodles Steampunk Notebook Cover and Pencil Case by Kerry Finn, Fun Back-to-School Sewing Projects from WeAllSew, How to Sew a Convertible Leather Hip Sack, Celebrate National Craft Month with WeAllSew, CANDY STAR Quilt Along, Part 4: Assemble the Quilt Top, How to Add Free-standing Lace Appliqu to Garments, Utility knife and cutting mat for fixed blades, Non stick or roller presser foot (see below). Lay that strap template over the strap. Well.. maybe you've not had this problem, but you can still make your journal look pretty sharp with this simple leather cover. Do you do any tooling? Then repeat this with the other flap. It has a top and a bottom, and then a female and male part that fit together. You can find lots of friends on here. Yes, my notes are ugly; I'll have to give this a shot someday. Set the first tooth of the chisel in the last hole you previously made and line up the chisel along the groove for the next punch. Spread a very thin and narrow layer of glue on the two short edges and the long side with the notch. Set the first tooth of the chisel in the last hole you previously made and line up the chisel for the next punch. I punched out holes in each corner so I could attach it to cover with a bit of thread. Make sure the loop is lined up well as you stitch. Do your best to only glue the space in-between the edge and the stitching line. Here's a quick tutorial (not done by me) that will walk you through it: https://www.instructables.com/id/how-to-thread-a-l Once your needle and thread are ready, it's finally time to stitch. You can spend a lot on tools, but if you buy the right ones, know where to look, and just get the basic tools as your starting, you can keep costs down. If it is not easy to see or you are unsure where the edges are, retrace using more pressure. Set the template aside for a moment, because now its time to dye the leather. You can use your steel ruler to make sure the cuts are straight. http://www.goldbarkleather.com/sourceblog/2015/12 DIY Wool: Forage, Spin and Dye Your Own Yarns. Looking at the stitching lines on the template again, align your stitching groover to the stitching lines so that when setting the groover on the edge, the hole in the small arm rests on the dotted line. Stitching is probably the most skill intensive part of leatherworking, it takes a bit of practice, but once you've figured it out there's a great sense of accomplishment that follows. If youve done leatherworking for awhile or are certain you will be doing it a lot in the future, use or buy a round knife which can be used for straight lines, sharp edges, and curves. Set the first tooth in the hole you made earlier, keeping the other tooth in the stitching groove. :) Your leather journal - it looks fabulous! Love it! Make sure to hold back the strap you've already sewn on as you sand the edges, it's easy to accidentally hit it with sandpaper if you do not. As you come to the notch, place a pen loop tightly into that space and continue stitching. If youre looking for some tricks to improve your cuts, you can read them on my leatherworking blog. If you flip the project over, you should now see where your stitching channels need to begin and end (the outer most holes). Make sure that the front of the cover is up, as that side of the stitching will look best from that side. Using a paintbrush, apply a thin layer of glue to the back side of the strap, starting at the edge and stopping at the holes you created (see picture). leather diy journal faux Post the finished projected once you get it done, I'm excited to see it.Unfortunately I don't have a good mentor like that (though I'd like to find one). Once you have finished, you will see that you have a nice clean line on the inside of your journal to work off of. If you see this start to happen, only rub in the direction of the grain to mat the fibers down. A snap is made up of four separate pieces. If youre brand new to the craft, take a look at another one of my guides for a simple leather wallet, which is a little bit easier than this one. This will also fit most half-page sized journals, such as a Moleskine. Using your utility knife, cut a 1/4 deep notch on each flap between these two points. Double or triple up on the binding to add more inserts.
For the sake of space I will only list the process below. When the wax has dried, buff the leather by briskly rubbing the t-shirt in circles. Look at the backside of your leather. Refer back to step 7, which is loaded with links to tutorials and guides to help you learn to saddle stitch well. You're ready for a night out on the town, you're dressed up, you look damn good, and then you look over at your journal. 6 years ago. Round Knife if you already have one). Free Shipping on orders over $100.
here's a guide for making sure your stitching holes look perfect, even around corners and bends. You could use any shape earring blank, or cut your own from scrap and add whatever details suit your project. Even though I didnt in these pictures, I suggest using some rubber/latex gloves. Lay your project flat so that the flaps are facing up. Hold the beveler at 45 degrees to the surface of the leather and run it along the edge making sure to start and stop where the flaps begin and end. I am looking forward to using my new-to-me vintage #51 roller foot for my Bernina 1530. Anything bigger than that will be really stiff and hard to close. It costs a bit more, but this small increase is worth the difference in outcome. Place your journal insert, open to its center, down in the leather cover, and tie your cord ends into a knot. To fix this just apply some more glue in that area, press it together with your fingers, and quickly wipe away the excess glue. Also, where did you learn leather-working?
Lay the journal cover flat with the glued on flaps facing up. Here's a quick list of everything you'll need for this project: -Something to cut with (Rotary Cutter/X-acto Knife if you are new. journal leather embossed indigo blisshomeanddesign Normal scissors can be used to cut the rounded parts, just take your time to make the curves as smooth as possible. Question Like most leather projects, you can customize your journal in any way you see fit. carving Using your utility knife and steel ruler on a cutting mat for fixed blades, cut the following pieces of leather: (1) 8.5 x 6 cover piece Reply With a leather needle, upholstery thread, and an appropriate foot loaded onto your BERNINA, edgestitch the pocket down to the flap. If you want to keep up a productive and consistent journaling habit, a journal that looks and feels good is a must. Stitch in the loop for your pen and you're good to go! oak
