I would suggest buying a few of those panels in different weights or find a place that has pieces that are specifically sold as samples. It's one thing to read a number on a website, but it's so much different if you can hold 3 or 4 different weighted leathers in hand and actually feel the difference. The difference 0.5 mm in thickness makes would probably shock most people.
Great video and tips. I’ll double down on the stick with one category advice. Personally I tried to expand my portfolio too fast and that wasn’t the best decision. Master something and then keep learning. Don’t try to diversify too soon as your skills may not be up to it and the marketing aspect of trying to sell many different things is extremely difficult. I would say “don’t buy bad leather”. You don’t need to spend a lot on leather in the beginning buying the fancy stuff. Learn what good and bad leather is and you can buy inexpensive but good leather for your projects. After you’ve brought up you skills you can start to buy the expensive stuff. I heard the advice “don’t try to sell too soon”. I would definitely second that…wait until your product is meeting a pretty high standard before you start selling. I think the pattern idea is good advice. However I started out in the custom world from day one (things people don’t sell patterns for) so I had to learn to make designs from scratch. It took a lot of time but now I can design almost anything pretty quickly and that’s a great skill to have. Thx again!
Holy crap. This is the truth right here. Every single tips you provided I had to learn the hard way and I agree 100% with what you said! I’m about three years in, have the tools I want for the most part, have a bunch of crappy leather, (along with my Shell/Buttero/W&C)..also the only tip I would give would be to learn to sharpen your own sharps!
excellent video and thank you for making the point that pattern making is a different skill set..so true and so different than crafting with materials...great channel and i love the free pattern...ive only tested it in cotton but going to get leather for it🙂...i feel that confident lol
Not a professional here… but what you said about starting with templates or professional design… is 100% THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH! Unless you were sent down from whatever god that you believe in… to specifically do leatherwork or work with leather… you will spend way too much money & time trying to come up with an attractive design to make that eventually wasted money. You may hit a good looking product at first… i did. You may think, "hey… this is alright. It ain't that bad!" You may also have great family & friends, too! The kind that can't see you fail… for having known you all your life & value the person that you are & having many, many talents! (This new craft that you've started… isn't one of them.) Bottom line. USE PROFESSIONAL BUILDS! This good host tried to get this across to you very well. While i am nobody to consider here… all i can do is stress this fact. From using professional builds… you will become craftier. It’s what you want, isn't it? Trying to create your own designs is always the goal here. You wanna sell your sheet! Put your makers mark. You will. IF YOU START WITH PRO BUILDS, good equipment & good material. It will not happen on day one. Unless your god commissioned you?
Oh my God Justin.....that part about having a box full of projects that'll never be seen by anyone?...i honestly thought it just me ! Thanks the assurance !
Story time! My first leather project in October was Makesupply leather card holder. 2 months later, I've made a few wallets and got 3 orders from my friends to make wallets for them. Planning to make the DIY map case satchel next. Thanks a lot Justin!
I didn't realize that Im subscriber to your channel and I realized it while trying to subscribe again lol the only leathercraft channel i subscribe to.. thank you
Hey Justin, Thank you so much for this helpful video! I find your content very engaging and easy to follow. I would love to see a video on the stitching part of the process. Looking forward to seeing more :)
What is your background in leatherwork? I owned five custom leather shops in the Boston area, did all the work for the Lowell chapter of the Hells Angels, and was written up in Boutique Magazine as the best custom Sandel maker alive in the USA, in the early seventies. The Last Craftsman Leather Shops.
Great video sir. At the age of 57 I am new to leather craft and only about 2 months into it. I have already discovered some of the same advice you are giving. But I have also made some mistakes in the absence of some of your other advice. I have already made some crap that I wanted to trash. And I was lost at first regarding leather weights. But I caught on. I really like your tip about buying project panels in order to try different leather. Keep making great videos.
What are YOUR favorite leathercrafting tips for beginners?
I would suggest buying a few of those panels in different weights or find a place that has pieces that are specifically sold as samples. It's one thing to read a number on a website, but it's so much different if you can hold 3 or 4 different weighted leathers in hand and actually feel the difference. The difference 0.5 mm in thickness makes would probably shock most people.
I need to sharpening my tools😅
Thank you.
Absolute newbie so I appreciate your insight and recommendations.
Cheers.
Carolyna
Outstanding advice! Thank you!🙏
General rule of thumb for leather thickness conversion: 1oz = 0.4mm - eg 3-4oz will be 1.2-1.6mm
Great video and tips.
I’ll double down on the stick with one category advice. Personally I tried to expand my portfolio too fast and that wasn’t the best decision. Master something and then keep learning. Don’t try to diversify too soon as your skills may not be up to it and the marketing aspect of trying to sell many different things is extremely difficult.
I would say “don’t buy bad leather”. You don’t need to spend a lot on leather in the beginning buying the fancy stuff. Learn what good and bad leather is and you can buy inexpensive but good leather for your projects. After you’ve brought up you skills you can start to buy the expensive stuff.
I heard the advice “don’t try to sell too soon”. I would definitely second that…wait until your product is meeting a pretty high standard before you start selling.
I think the pattern idea is good advice. However I started out in the custom world from day one (things people don’t sell patterns for) so I had to learn to make designs from scratch. It took a lot of time but now I can design almost anything pretty quickly and that’s a great skill to have.
Thx again!
Thank you. I am gonna try this.
This was very helpful for me because I'm new to this hobby with a few projects under my belt. I will keep practicing.
New sub, my wife and I just recently got into leather working together and your videos have been a godsend! Keep up the great work!
Amazing in detail video 👌🏽 Would be really great , if you could do a video regarding its bussiness side.
Nice man!
I'm new to leather, made a few card holders/wallets, I use your templates, love em.
Thanks for another great video. Always good to see you....
Holy crap. This is the truth right here. Every single tips you provided I had to learn the hard way and I agree 100% with what you said! I’m about three years in, have the tools I want for the most part, have a bunch of crappy leather, (along with my Shell/Buttero/W&C)..also the only tip I would give would be to learn to sharpen your own sharps!
excellent video and thank you for making the point that pattern making is a different skill set..so true and so different than crafting with materials...great channel and i love the free pattern...ive only tested it in cotton but going to get leather for it🙂...i feel that confident lol
very helpful👌🏻 Thanks
Not a professional here… but what you said about starting with templates or professional design… is 100% THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH!
Unless you were sent down from whatever god that you believe in… to specifically do leatherwork or work with leather… you will spend way too much money & time trying to come up with an attractive design to make that eventually wasted money.
You may hit a good looking product at first… i did.
You may think, "hey… this is alright. It ain't that bad!"
You may also have great family & friends, too!
The kind that can't see you fail… for having known you all your life & value the person that you are & having many, many talents!
(This new craft that you've started… isn't one of them.)
Bottom line.
USE PROFESSIONAL BUILDS!
This good host tried to get this across to you very well.
While i am nobody to consider here… all i can do is stress this fact.
From using professional builds… you will become craftier.
It’s what you want, isn't it?
Trying to create your own designs is always the goal here.
You wanna sell your sheet!
Put your makers mark.
You will.
IF YOU START WITH PRO BUILDS, good equipment & good material.
It will not happen on day one.
Unless your god commissioned you?
I just got into the craft and I've bought a press and clicker dies already they make the process so much quicker😂😂😂
Rocky Mountain leather is horrible, don’t buy from them.
Great video. I'm enjoying your content so much.
Can you give me sewing machine link? I need to buy one as like yours.
как илохо что не знаю английский
Thanks bro keep up the badass work
thanks for the free templates bro!
Excellent video!!
Tell that to his Mohel
Great tips! Thx pal!
Thnks
Oh my God Justin.....that part about having a box full of projects that'll never be seen by anyone?...i honestly thought it just me !
Thanks the assurance !
Faydalı bir video
Excellent video and great information, thank you so much for sharing your knowledge, I appreciate it !
Story time!
My first leather project in October was Makesupply leather card holder. 2 months later, I've made a few wallets and got 3 orders from my friends to make wallets for them. Planning to make the DIY map case satchel next.
Thanks a lot Justin!
Get three Japanese-style skiving knives and learn how to use them, which is easy. Americans, especially, learn the value of these knives far too late.
I didn't realize that Im subscriber to your channel and I realized it while trying to subscribe again lol the only leathercraft channel i subscribe to.. thank you
Cool video with some great and useful information. Thank you.
Great video. And I'm in love with your acrylic templates. Plus the custom template you made for me. I'm newer to leather wallets and these help a lot.
Hey Justin, Thank you so much for this helpful video! I find your content very engaging and easy to follow. I would love to see a video on the stitching part of the process. Looking forward to seeing more :)
What is your background in leatherwork? I owned five custom leather shops in the Boston area, did all the work for the Lowell chapter of the Hells Angels, and was written up in Boutique Magazine as the best custom Sandel maker alive in the USA, in the early seventies. The Last Craftsman Leather Shops.
Very good video. Great tips. Original.
this was definitely a smarter way to do a leather tips video. Good job
Bu benim favori videom ☺️☺️
Great tip, Justin, keep up the great videos.
Well said. Thanks for the tips.
Thanks for the advice!!! ✌
Good stuff! Thanks for sharing!
Good information to know.
Thank you Justin!!
Great tips & advice.
Excellent video.
Good stuff.
Great video sir. At the age of 57 I am new to leather craft and only about 2 months into it. I have already discovered some of the same advice you are giving. But I have also made some mistakes in the absence of some of your other advice. I have already made some crap that I wanted to trash. And I was lost at first regarding leather weights. But I caught on. I really like your tip about buying project panels in order to try different leather. Keep making great videos.
Same here
The best way to learn this is to do some time in prison
There has to be an easier way lol
@@josh88113 people that came into to the store that I was at all the time would ask if I had been in jail because of all the carving I used to sell