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Member since 8/24/02
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Posted on: 8/1/06 2:00 PM ET
Am about to try my first leather purse (actually a packback/purse from the KS pattern) in leather. I know to use my old Kenmore instead of my Viking Lily, but am wondering if I need to interface -- it's a medium thick hide, a fairly normal purse leather.

Any other tips? I tried to find leather purses in reviews, but wasn't doing it correctly and got nothing. Is poly thread OK?

TIA,
Nina
  
Member since 7/11/05
Posts: 3783
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Posted on: 8/1/06 2:05 PM ET
In reply to bunz
Nina,

I love this guy's site:

www.leathergoodsconnection.com

Scroll down --after the purchasing info there are great tutorials on making leather bags, etc.

He also has a Yahoo message board/group you can link to from this site.
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I am going for a level of perfection that is only mine... Most of the pleasure is in getting that last little piece perfect...Inspiration is for amateurs. The rest of us just keep showing up and doing the work.

Chuck Close, painter, printmaker, photographer

Hope has two lovely daughters: Anger and Courage

St. Augustine
  
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Member since 11/28/01
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Posted on: 8/1/06 2:58 PM ET
Hi Nina,

I've made a few leather purses and based on their weight and the style of the purse some I've left uninterfaced. Others I just fuse on low setting the craft weight fusible interfacing. If you dont want to fuse, you can use sew-in craft felt or batting.
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- Deepika
Founder, PatternReview.com
  
Member since 4/4/02
Posts: 7876
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Posted on: 8/1/06 3:11 PM ET
I like to fuse my leather with either fusible tricot or ArmoWeft, depending on the leather. Use synthetic thread.
  
Member since 4/9/06
Posts: 418
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Posted on: 8/1/06 3:38 PM ET
In reply to bunz
Nina,
Just in case your old Kenmore protests, thought you'd like to know that I used my Viking Lily to make 6 upholstered (box style) sofa cushions of medium wt leather, with inserted leather cording, and zippers. No sweat!

Leather needle, industrial synthetic thread, regular feet, (didn't even need to use teflon or roller feet), lengthened stitch length. No other adjustments needed.

Kate
  
Member since 9/12/05
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Posted on: 8/1/06 4:25 PM ET
In reply to bunz
I have made 2 jackets but not a purse. In the second I used fusible armoweft and I like it much better. I am planning to make one to match my second jacket and I got something called purse stiffener at Tandy leather. I can send you a link if you would like.
I sewed 3 oz lambskin just fine on my old Elna, but it did protest over the thick parts. Do get some leather needles, and watch the variances of the thickness of the leather as you cut out the pieces.

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http://beccabeckstuff.blogspot.com/

Damn the muslin, full speed ahead!
  
Member since 9/12/05
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Posted on: 8/1/06 4:38 PM ET
In reply to Deepika
Deepika,
I read your article on making purses and I am wondering what you use for lining that is sturdy enough to last, but doesn't add to the weight of the purse. I also like the fact that the lining of my favorite purse seems to be fused to the bag so it doesn't pull out or get distorted when I rumage around in it.

Thanks for the useful information!
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http://beccabeckstuff.blogspot.com/

Damn the muslin, full speed ahead!
  
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Posted on: 8/1/06 5:36 PM ET
Rebecca, glad you liked the article. For lining again it varies from purse to purse. Truthfully I have a lot of purses because I like to make them so much. I like to rotate my purses depending on my mood

Like you, I do not like flimsy linings so in most of my bags, I've just used a different print of the fashion fabric as lining. Also since I like to add zippered pockets in my bags I prefer my lining fabric to be beefy as well. But in case of pockets I sometimes like to fuse interfacing on just that area of the lining to give it some weight.

I've used :

a. quilting cotton
b. upholstery fabric
c. silk
d. leather

But you know come to think of it, I like using cottons the most.
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- Deepika
Founder, PatternReview.com
  
Member since 9/12/05
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Posted on: 8/1/06 7:21 PM ET
In reply to Deepika
Quilting cotton sounds like it would tear easily. I have enought trouble figuring out where my cats hid my keys without losing them in my purse! Because you know that if there is a tear, that is where whatever you are looking for would be.

I tend to change purses a seldom as possible, and I keep scissors and a threaded needle so it would have to be quite sturdy. Do you think that a cotton twill or like a chino fabric would be too heavy?
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http://beccabeckstuff.blogspot.com/

Damn the muslin, full speed ahead!
  
Member since 8/12/02
Posts: 2939
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Posted on: 8/1/06 7:46 PM ET
I agree that the Viking motor is great with leather. My old 500 used to go right through just about every leather I put in front of it with no problem. I used polyester thread for most of my bags. Nylon thread also works well. For lining in my commercial bags, I use pack cloth, which you can get at most larger fabric stores (including locally, Fabric Place and maybe even JoAnn)

That reminds me - I have to put some stuff up on the classifieds!
Ann
  
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