KINGSMERE CRAFTS
HAND-CRAFTED LEATHER GOODS
Hand-crafted, and decorative leatherwork. How is it done? - continued
The third method is the most decorative and perhaps the strongest; leather thonging or lacing. This is done by threading a narrow strip of leather (which can be bought all ready to be used in widths of ¹/8" – ¹/4" and lengths from one yard to 100 yards) through and around holes or slits punched in the leather.
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Running stitch; Backstitch, angled slits; Backstitch, straight slits |
Whipstitch; Single-loop stitch; Double-loop stitch; Double-loop 2-tone |
Primarily this method is used to attach the interior parts to the exterior tooled parts. There are a great many styles of thonging, ranging from the extremely simple to enormously complex. However, whatever method is used the only way a good, hand-made, hand-sewn wallet or purse will come apart at the seams is with a sharp knife.
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Triple-loop stitch; Mexican basketweave; Double-loop applique |
The illustrations above show just a suggestion of some of the methods of thonging (or lacing) for assembling the various parts of a leather article. There are I believe at least fifteen different ways of thonging ranging from the extremely simple to hair-tearingly complex. Books galore are available showing in painstaking detail every move to make, but I thought at least a glimpse of some of them would give an idea of what they will look like.
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Click for Turk's-head knot & monkey's-fist
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