Handicraft Simplified Procedure and Projects in Leather, Celluloid, Metal, Wood, Batik, Rope, Cordage, Yarn, Horsehair, Pottery, Weaving, Stone, Primitive Indian Craft. Lester Griswold
LEATHER PROJECTS—STEERHIDE
The Coin Purse, Card Cases, Envelope Bag and Bill Fold, illustrated are assembled with wide edge lacing following the procedure described on page 37. A fascinating variety of designs may be secured by using the few simple stamped motifs in combination and repetition.
The border and design lines shown in Cuts 78 and 79 are creased first. The stamped background is then applied. Stamping procedure is described on page 57.
LEATHER PROJECTS—COWHIDE AND VEALSKIN
1.Neckerchief Slide—Tube Type. The slide shown in Sketch B is made from a piece of strap leather with stamped decoration applied as indicated. The procedure in laying out two kinds of rosettes with the pine tree stamping tool is shown on page 34. The method of punching and lacing is sketched below. The jeweled ornament may be applied as described on page 62. Other decorations may be painted or tooled, using Camp Emblems, Totems, or Indian designs. The steps in making the neckerchief slide follow.
a.Bevel the edges, dampen and crease.
b.Stamp or tool, apply metal ornament.
c.Lace.
2.Bag Tag. The Bag Tag illustrated may be made from 4 oz. cowhide or tooling veal. It shows a stamped border decoration around the card opening. A stamped motif or a tooled design may be applied to the back. The card and a piece of celluloid is inserted before the strap is attached. See page 82 for strap attachment.
a.Bevel the edges, dampen and crease. (Omit beveling on vealskin.)
b.Stamp or tool.
c.Lace the edges and attach the strap.
3.Knife Sheath. (Cowhide.) Plaiting, stamping and edge lacing are combined in this project which offers excellent opportunity for practice in these forms of leather craft, before more difficult projects are attempted.
a.Bevel, dampen and crease outer edges and belt slits.
b.Punch top and bottom holes in front and back and tie together.
c.Punch the two thicknesses from left to right, starting from the upper corner hole.
d.Untie and lay the front over the fringe as in Sketch A. Mark one row of holes through those already punched and another row on the fringe at the edge of the front and opposite the first row of holes.
e.Punch the fringe holes as marked and tie the three parts together at the corners. Lace the straight edge first, using lay over stitch to the tip. Continue lacing through front, fringe, and back, using whip stitch.
f.Plait keeper thong and tie sliding knot. See pages 89 to 94 for plaiting instruction.
4.Axe Sheath. (Cowhide). This project is similar to the knife sheath, but the fringe is not included in the illustration. It may be inserted if desired and laced as indicated for knife sheath.
a.Bevel the edges. dampen and crease.
b.Stamp the flap and corner of the front.
c.Punch and lace the back edges as shown on page 74.
d.Lay front and back in position and punch end holes. Tie these together and punch remaining holes.
e.Lace, using whip or lay over stitch.
5.Camera Case. (Cowhide, 4 or 6 oz.) Since this project involves the setting in of gussets it is more advanced than the preceding four strap leather projects. However it is readily done if the procedure in lacing is carefully followed. The illustration shows two styles of flaps, also buckle attachment with shoulder strap and two strand Turkshead fastening.
a.Bevel the edges, dampen and crease.
b.Tool, carve or stamp the flap decoration.
c.Follow punching and lacing procedure detailed on page 73.
d.Attach dee loops and straps. Fasten strap ends with knot or buckle as illustrated. See attachments, page 81.
6.First Aid Kits and other cases having square corners are assembled in the order detailed for the Camera Case except that the stitch is doubled or tripled as necessary for the corners.
Belts, Hatbands, Dog Collars
7.A Stamped or Carved Belt of natural cowhide or vealskin (vegetable tanned, unglazed) is readily made after the detail of stamping and carving has been mastered as described on pages 53 to 58.
a.Carefully bevel the edges, dampen and crease as in previous strap leather projects. Omit the beveling for vealskin.
b.Plan a suitable stamped or carved motif for the section which will be the center of the back. A group of belt panels is illustrated above. A carved design requires a tracing which is transferred to the dampened surface of the leather as described on page 53. Stamped designs should be planned on paper so that the space will not be crowded, and the designs balanced for arrangement.
c.Apply the decoration and permit the belt to dry flat.
Polish the surface and edges, using a leather dressing.
d.If a dyed leather has keen used, the final step before polishing is to stain the light edges.
e.Attach the buckle using the three hole fastening described on page 81.
A Dog Collar, several styles of Hatbands and a Three-Strand Endless Braid Strap, are illustrated above.
8.Dog Collars are usually decorated with metal ornaments, with buckle and dee fastening as illustrated. The method of attaching metal ornaments is shown on page 62.
9.Hat