Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Calgary, Alberta, CANADA!!!
Posts: 29

Hello!

My parents and I were at IKEA one day, to look at a table to put our new aquarium on. We passed by the couch section, and near that were a bunch of leather patches [like the ones that you get to see a countertop's pattern].

Recently, I've been doing a lot of case-searching lately, but I found them too expensive for two reasons: 1 .. I, like miradu2000, am a kid. Because of that, I don't have a lot of money. 2 .. I live in Canada. You Americans down there probably don't really realize this, but our dollar is worth zip. It's like a 40..50% exchange rate. So, that furthermore adds to my problem. I tried to make that flip cover out of the slip case, but it didn't stay shut. Plus, it didn't fit in my pocket.

Anyway... since I had direct free access to leather and I was in dire need of a case... well, you can kinda see what happened. It was okay anyway, because the sign up there said 'take as many as you want'.

So now I have these pieces of blue leather and am going to make them into a case. But now I need help. I've got general case-building questions:

1 .. Should I sew or glue the pieces together? I've got a whole bunch of 2.75 by 2.5 pieces of leather, not a big one.

2 .. How should I attach my Visor to my case [I've got a Deluxe]?

TIA.

__________________
icevisor[mastEr]

Poor poor me... wish I had one of these...

Registered: May 2000
Location: St. Paul, MN
Posts: 1429

Sewing is ALWAYS better than glue, when working with any type of fabric. Use a good thread, and make TINY stiches.. (as always ) If you use like a Green thread, It actually might look sorta cool.. but..

Attaching's a bit harder.. A homemade case, probably won't be able to get a good enough fit, to be able to stay in there by friction, and it sounds like you want a flip-top case. SO..

my recommendation, is to take your hard-cover, and using like straps of 1-2 mm thin fabric.. (you want it thin!) sew it in there, but make it so that, with some work, you can get it out, or in. Than make a flip-top thaat comes down overthe visor, and attaches by a little metal snap, or velcro at the bottom. This may sound really complicated, but if you make a 2D plan if it, It will be easier..

(When I was younger.. I sewed a lot.. though don't take this advice like I was an expert!)


-miradu2000
I got name recongtion! YEAHH!

Registered: May 2000
Location: St. Paul, MN
Posts: 1429

nope.. change some things.

Buy some elastic to use it to put the hard cover in place (It's not that expensive)..

Otherwise.. IT sounds cool!

__________________
-miradu

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: New Palestine, Indiana
Posts: 70

Tooo Weird. I was just pondering the same question. I am the owner of a Rhodiana, Vaja, Handspring and Incipio cases. Each one has a strong point yet lacks something that makes me keep looking at cases. I have come to the conclusion to try to design and make my own zipper case. Like the previous post, I too am in possession of several upholstry samples. These are going to make unique and beautiful exeriors. I had planned on sewing the whole case and am now in the process of creating a pattern. I was going to secure my visor to the case via the lid(similar to the incipio design)but use elastic to hole the cover in place. As soon as I have a product, I will gladly share it with all. If you have any suggestions, (ala stylus holder etc(let me know. I know that is like opening up pandoras box but heck I need to make sure I get my bases covered.

__________________
"We are the people are parents warned us about."

<b>Clark Fralick</b>

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: "Children are a gift from God, they are a reward"
Posts: 1049

As someone familiar with working with leather, some tips:

Don't try to use a regular sewing machine, getting the tension right, and not bending/breaking your needles will be hard.

Get a very sharp awl and pre-punch where you want to sew. Sewing leather by hand is hard. If you don't pre-punch the holes you stand to push the needle into you (our skin is usually softer then finished leather is, push hard enough on a needle and you will be sorry!)

It's much easier to cut leather by knife (an exacto type will work in a pinch) than by scissors.

To finish off any bare edges, try to find a similiar color shoe polish. Leather workers use edge dressing, but you can't find it in small amounts.

Have fun!
Michael

__________________
"I am a debtor both to Greeks and to Barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish."