Pencil Case project TIPS..

 Pencil Case project TIPS..

After several round of making pencil case project (please refer to past post related to use recycle sealant casing project).

1) One issue with old pencil case project related to use of recycle sealant casing only.  Discovered the plunge ring use glue method did not adhere and work loose over time. Work around is to add three nails embedded to hold it in place. 

2) The end cap or plug for both end have various way to terminate. One way is to use stitching the main body edge with end cap/ plug or use a thicker leather and apply small nail to secure it. 

Insert small nail to hold both ring in position.

Use a small tips soldering iron to make an impression mark.

Next add a small nail and trim to about 4.5 mm length. use a long noise pliers to grip nail.

This is to minimize nail end protrusion after trim it required length.

Use a thickness gage to estimate the length of nail to trim. Estimate it to be about 4.5 mm to 5.0 mm.

Use a cutter to remove excess.

Some tools use to trim small nail (about 8 mm length).

For best result is to apply three nails ans proper spacing.

Use a tweezers to position nail where a small hole is created using a hot soldering iron with sharp fine tips.

Do take care as soldering iron is hot and need to pay close attention not to heat other area of project.

After put nail in place can use a long nose pliers to squeeze.  If the nail is too long it need to file the head and ensure flat.

Some tools use for end cap / plug.

The edge of the top section have pre punch hole or use an awl to punch hole along edge.

The end facing layer sitting along edge need to punch hole at the circumference.

End cap /plug are position properly and marking point to punch hole to ensure proper alignment. Manually use an awl to punch hole.

Do allow sufficient seam allowance from edge for hole.  Hole too close to edge can result in hole breaking off.

Make adjustment to minimize issue related to this step.

It better to make a starting reference point mark to ensure consistent stitching hole alignment

Shown how the needle and thread position when stitching.

In this case have stitch around twice and recommend to start stitching a few hole away from seam joint.

Basic tools to do carving pattern on end cap /plug before punch hole and stitching on project.

Do take note to wet the leather before hand. 

Update 3rd Oct 2020

In this project I assume the process of getting ready the empty sealant casing are available and ready. If you need help on how to start from beginning please read old post. 

This is another pencil case project. It use two different leather material, one is thicker for the bottom section of case. 

As the thicker leather it crave the round shape like fish scale from bottom upward

This way to carve the "fish scale like pattern.

Draw a straight line as a guide, it best to clear the line after is is done. This is prevent the line stay permanent on leather surface.

As some marker ink properties that you have to watch out.

Close up view on how to crave curve line using a circle template.

You can adjust the height base on your design in mind. Play with it to see the effect.

Overall view as the craving progress.

Do note there are punch hole on both side and bottom.

This is done earlier before start this craving.

Some tools to attach another layer on top for it to cover the lower section of pencil case.

Trying new way to have two different leather materials for project .. Skive the thicker layer and glue them.

Tips:- The result is not so encouraging as two thickness of leather pose some challenges when wrap around.

It also make it looks not smooth transition between the edge where they meet

Glue both layer at the edge, use roller to press the joint.

Check project have correct leather length to warp around sealant casing.

Do be aware not all sealant casing are the same diameter.

Temporary to hold the leather in position before start stitching. This way it make easier to focus on stitching both edge.

Note the thread length is about 6 times the project, it include the bottom end cap /plug edge to stitch.

Finish project.

Do take note if use two different leather thickness you might encounter the layer overlapping might take a different shape . Where the two layer meet it might have different effect to the project.

Top section of this project.

Use two different material join them to wrap around the sealant casing.

Punch hole for the edge in preparation for stitching for top section of pencil case.

Both edge are line up and punch hole.

Finish project, notice the craving of Hibiscus flower for the top cover of pencil case..

Update 4th Oct 2020.

Sharing what other expert for Butt Stitch and Box Stitch from You Tube video. These are the url link to share some of the technique for pencil case project. Recommend to read some of the comment/s on each video.. some of the feedback is good and applicable.

1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtS-MtnAxAc

Box stitch and butt stitch, covering a whisky flask : leather craft tutorial

27 Mar 2018  by The Leathercraft Academy

Quest and Answer - 

Q - I have tried box stitch before. And I always run into the same problem my holes do not line up or one side ends up having one too many holes am I doing something wrong?

A1. - Very good point! Yes that's normal. In fact you will always get less stitching holes on one side because the perimeter of the bottom is smaller than the length of the stitching on the body and guess what: it has to be, well, unless you try to compensate the missing stitches on the bottom using a smaller sized pricking iron and do crazy calculation to avoid this issue.

I know it tends to be quite confusing and annoying at first, but no worries, there is a fix and here it is:

To solve this issue you will have to "cheat" by forming a normal stitch on one side (the side with too many holes) and go through the same hole twice on the other side (the side with missing holes) to compensate the missing stitch. The same trick needs to be used each times the issue is met during the course of the stitching.   Hope that helps and that my explanations are not too confusing :)

A2. Notice it happen to pencil case project. Work around in this case . Cut material and position it in place. Use marker pen after lining up both edge. Use one side of edge as a reference point with pre punch hole, mark hole correspondingly to align holes to match. This way there are same number of holes are matching.

2)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThU5UMX_uGA&t=281s

How To Butt Stitch Tutorial + Fun Project! - Leathercraft Masterclass

7 Mar 2019            by   Leathercraft Masterclass

3) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnaLtJS4fVA

Leather Koozie for YETI Tumbler - Baseball Stitching

23 Jan 2019               by Worn Wizard

4) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPuQQq2fzQw

Tutorial : How to do the BOX STITCH, Leather Craft

 14 Dec 2017            by ChloeWorld BN

Please take note at around  3:53 minutes time stamp, how the "corner" part for stitching is done, watch carefully... This is the tricky part to learn from.

5) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3Vux9RY9Vw

Round Leather Box

28 Jan 2013                by Armitage Leather.

Got some idea from this tutorial video, for round leather box.

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Update 22nd Oct 2020, sharing idea and way to cover the end part of pencil case.

Each method have it pro and con to cover the pencil case bottom base and top base.

It is important to punch hole for the bottom before warping and stitch start the bottom section.

All method is to manually trace, position and mark the end cover where the punch is align.

Use two layer leather to cover end, see which method suit your needs and design.

This use the protrusion from the base. 

End cover is flat and same level as the base edge.

Another way to cover the pencil case.

Update on 07th Dec 2020.

Try out using discard jean material as part of pencil case project.

Some challenges on using this material to cover recycle sealant casing.

1. Jean material tend to "pull" along, this pose challenges to wrap jean cloth across surface. It need careful not to have uneven surface to try to join the two edge together.

2. Jean cloth edge trend have fray at the cut edge, hence in this case how to stitch and bring both edge, is use a leather strip stitch close to edge to give support. 

Choose a recycle jean and cut to size to fit the plastic tubing.

Note:- cutting jean materiel need care as cloth material is different when compare to leather.

It is easier to use a sharp scissor to trim jean when try use sharp knife it tend to "run around" due to the thread fabric not in line. 

some tools used in this project, not shown is the scissor, glue tube, needle and thread.

Roller is to attach strip of leather to jean cloth material

Use of sewing machine is to attached a strip of leather about 1 cm width to edge of jean material.

Purpose of the leather strip to support the jean edge and provide a mean to hold the edge together when wrap around.

This how the two leather strip is sew on to the edge of jean material.

Note one side of the strip have a buffer zone of about 1 cm from edge, this is done to allow the seam to overlap when wrap around casing.

Try add pattern on jean material, this some thing new to me to use sewing machine to create pattern on jean cloth.

There some new to learn and try out sewing machine to create pattern.

1. Draw pattern on jean material surface.

2. Use sewing machine to use zip-zap pattern setting and straight pattern.

Both use a lower thread length setting. But encounter initial difficulty to control the jean material as the size is limited and ability to control movement on jean material to the desire pattern.

First step is to sew the outline of pattern. Use what thread colour to make it easier to see and view the overall.

Add a different color thread.

Challenges are follow the outline which not straight line. 

Also the jean cloth is moving constantly to match the pattern line

For the bottom end cap.

1. cut a strip of leather to wrap around the edge of casing. Note to take care to have sufficient gap for tension purpose.

2. punch hole on both side of the strip. The purpose is to stitch the end cap cover and for stitching to jean.

Note the bottom end of casing have a thick layer leather to support the outer round end cap leather.

As mention this leather layer are embedded with three small nail to better support end cap.

Cut the leather layer and use a divider to mark line in preparation for punch hole around end cover piece.

Do take note it is important to mark the edge where the starting point for the circle leather. This will help determine where is the reference point.

Punch hole along the mark line ,same goes for the leather strip to punch hole for both side.

This is one technique to minimize thread to get twisted when doing stitching for long thread.

Some thread have properties to twist and turn when pulling thread during stitching.

Note:- the direction of thread flow is grip the thread one end with two finger and pull thread forward..

This way the thread does not get twisted as you are pulling thread during stitching.

Good luck and be happy. If have any comment or doubt do on project please email.. 

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