Handmade Handbags
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LouiseyPeasey
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Question for Luna or anyone else who has worked with leather: what kind of paint is used for the edge paint on leather? and where do you get it? I want to repair a bag I have, and I'm also thinking of doing something with some gorgeous printed leather I've been hoarding... I've been thinking of trying acrylic paint but not sure how it would hold up. Any thoughts? Thanks.
jun3machina
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i really dont think acrylic paint would hold up...it peels and will crack with wear....im pretty sure the paint they use is a bonder and had a rubber in it too. try tandy leather...they have a catalogue and great prices, luna recomended them to me for hardware...i think if you google them, you can request a fee catalogue too
LouiseyPeasey
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ooh, that's a great source, thanks jun!
jun3machina
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hey, im working on two bags right now, one is a beige woven fabric with hand rolled silk flowers and the other is black lambskin leather (it feels like butter its so soft!) i'll post pics when im finished, which should be in about a week or so 
jun3machina
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here's the bag i had been working on. it's italian tanned black lambskin (which is definately an unforgiving medium), with a faux suede interior and nickle finish hardware. 
spiralsnowman
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Awesome bags!
Jun
That is beautiful! Did you go to school to learn how to construct things, or are you self-taught? Because I really want to learn how to sew, but I'm not sure where to start. *Blush*
Luna
Thanks for the Wal-Mart tip! Dude, they really do sell everything. I know places like them and Costco are elbowing out the mom-and-pops, but I guess I'll have to stop over there and take a look...
Jun
That is beautiful! Did you go to school to learn how to construct things, or are you self-taught? Because I really want to learn how to sew, but I'm not sure where to start. *Blush*
Luna
Thanks for the Wal-Mart tip! Dude, they really do sell everything. I know places like them and Costco are elbowing out the mom-and-pops, but I guess I'll have to stop over there and take a look...
janyoung99
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jun3machina said:here's the bag i had been working on. it's italian tanned black lambskin (which is definately an unforgiving medium), with a faux suede interior and nickle finish hardware.
Oh Jun - I love it!! Truly - it's fabulous!
handbaglover
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Jun --WOW !! That's a nice looking handbag! You & Luna are so talented...
I can't even sew a button on :-) LOL
I can't even sew a button on :-) LOL
jun3machina
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thanks girls!
spiral~ i'm totally self taught. i started with doll clothes when i was younger, and now i do pretty much everything. a couple of years ago, i took a college sewing class, just to see if i could pick up any tips on proper ways of doing things, but thats pretty much it. i've been trying to improve my construction skills with the handbags though, because i think they are a little more difficult to get everything perfectly seamless. and sewing leather is a bit tedius if you dont have an industrial machine. i did that little baby on a basic singer machine. i was going to use leather needles, but because the lambskin is so delicate, i had to use regular sewing needles. (the leather needles were too big for the leather, and so it's always good to do a test stitch with anything). also, i realized it's best to glue all the pieces together first and then sew them, as lambskin strestches quite a bit. i was going for a bit of a chanelish vibe with the strap, i dont know if it came across, but im pretty happy with it
spiral~ i'm totally self taught. i started with doll clothes when i was younger, and now i do pretty much everything. a couple of years ago, i took a college sewing class, just to see if i could pick up any tips on proper ways of doing things, but thats pretty much it. i've been trying to improve my construction skills with the handbags though, because i think they are a little more difficult to get everything perfectly seamless. and sewing leather is a bit tedius if you dont have an industrial machine. i did that little baby on a basic singer machine. i was going to use leather needles, but because the lambskin is so delicate, i had to use regular sewing needles. (the leather needles were too big for the leather, and so it's always good to do a test stitch with anything). also, i realized it's best to glue all the pieces together first and then sew them, as lambskin strestches quite a bit. i was going for a bit of a chanelish vibe with the strap, i dont know if it came across, but im pretty happy with it
jun3machina
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you should make some more luna!
spiralsnowman
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Girls,
You've inspired me to try to learn how to sew! I went out and bought a sewing machine yesterday ... The lady at the store was really nice when I told her I didn't even know how to turn the machine on and showed me how to wind a bobbin, etc.
Here's my first project ever. It's realllllly rough, I know. I'm hoping to take a class this summer though, it's so fun!
You've inspired me to try to learn how to sew! I went out and bought a sewing machine yesterday
... The lady at the store was really nice when I told her I didn't even know how to turn the machine on and showed me how to wind a bobbin, etc. Here's my first project ever. It's realllllly rough, I know. I'm hoping to take a class this summer though, it's so fun!
spiralsnowman
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P.S.
Jun -
You're self-taught? I am in total awe... You're truly talented, for real
Jun -
You're self-taught? I am in total awe... You're truly talented, for real
...But my sewing skills aren't really that good 
.jun3machina
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spiralsnowman! that bag is fantastic for a first timer!!! just keep working on the basics and eventually you'll venture out into more complicated designs and gain tons of knowledge along the way...did you use one of the vogue accessories patterns?
crepebacksatin
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omg jun i LOVE the lambskin bag!! i sew well... i make clothing and have used almost every fabric i can think of, but have never tried leather before... is it difficult? do you use a machine with a leather needle for the finer, thinner leathers? is a teflon foot necessary? last time i went into manhattan i bought the most beautiful piece of purple suede that i've been dying to get into...
jun3machina
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depepnding on the leather.....it does make a difference in the type of needles, feet and thread you should use.
so far i have used suedes, pigskin, pebbled leather, thick goatskin, and thin lambskin .
for suedes, you really can just use a regular sewing machine needle....and regular all purpose thread.
pigskin, depending on the thickness, you may need leather needles.... and sometimes topstitching thread works better than regular if it is really thick or stiff.
pebbled leather, use leather needles, a large stitch and topstitching thread.
goatskin is the same as pebbled leather if it is really thick, and for lambskin i used regular size needles and all purpose thread (not topstitching)
i am not sure about the teflon foot, but it would probably be better than a regular one. especially with the lambskin as it stretches A LOT! i used an all purpose craft glue called Fabri-tac to glue the pieces together about 1/8 in from the edge and then my seams were about 1/4". it's nice because it bonds the pieces together to hold while you sew, but if you mess up, it peels off almost like a rubber cement. it is clear and dries clear and fast like a super glue. this helped me to keep the lambskin from slipping and strestching when i was piecing it all together.
for the most part i would say it is trial and error and always mess around on a scrap first to adjust your tension and see how the thread and needle size affect the stitch and strength of the stitch, since each hide is different and sometimes certain colors affect the maluability of the hide. best of luck!!
so far i have used suedes, pigskin, pebbled leather, thick goatskin, and thin lambskin .
for suedes, you really can just use a regular sewing machine needle....and regular all purpose thread.
pigskin, depending on the thickness, you may need leather needles.... and sometimes topstitching thread works better than regular if it is really thick or stiff.
pebbled leather, use leather needles, a large stitch and topstitching thread.
goatskin is the same as pebbled leather if it is really thick, and for lambskin i used regular size needles and all purpose thread (not topstitching)
i am not sure about the teflon foot, but it would probably be better than a regular one. especially with the lambskin as it stretches A LOT! i used an all purpose craft glue called Fabri-tac to glue the pieces together about 1/8 in from the edge and then my seams were about 1/4". it's nice because it bonds the pieces together to hold while you sew, but if you mess up, it peels off almost like a rubber cement. it is clear and dries clear and fast like a super glue. this helped me to keep the lambskin from slipping and strestching when i was piecing it all together.
for the most part i would say it is trial and error and always mess around on a scrap first to adjust your tension and see how the thread and needle size affect the stitch and strength of the stitch, since each hide is different and sometimes certain colors affect the maluability of the hide. best of luck!!
