Wow! That looks "as good as new," as they say.Installed the cushions.
Funny you should mention that. I have been meaning to ask you if you were working in latex gloves with all that white. I don't have a pristine workshop to begin with and while I was of course aware of inadvertently transferring grease, grime, oil, sweat etc from hands to leather work pieces, one thing I have noticed is how easy it stains even when it's darker.Vinyl is almost too white LOL.
Thanks! No latex gloves lol but I hope it holds up OK. I read a ton of reviews and supposedly this vinyl cleans pretty easily.Wow! That looks "as good as new," as they say.
Funny you should mention that. I have been meaning to ask you if you were working in latex gloves with all that white. I don't have a pristine workshop to begin with and while I was of course aware of inadvertently transferring grease, grime, oil, sweat etc from hands to leather work pieces, one thing I have noticed is how easy it stains even when it's darker.
By no means a pro just learning really. I love those wallets and that you repurposed the old gloves. Ive been holding onto my dad's leather briefcase going on four decades thinking about what I could make it into...I hesitate to provide this Baseball Glove Wallets update on the heels of posts from you and @kerrynzl, who are pros in comparison, engaged in big, real projects, but I never did post the third son's wallet.
Great work.Thanks! No latex gloves lol but I hope it holds up OK. I read a ton of reviews and supposedly this vinyl cleans pretty easily.
I hesitate to provide this Baseball Glove Wallets update on the heels of posts from you and @kerrynzl, who are pros in comparison, engaged in big, real projects, but I never did post the third son's wallet.
Did you get it done in time for his birthday?I hesitate to provide this Baseball Glove Wallets update on the heels of posts from you and @kerrynzl, who are pros in comparison, engaged in big, real projects, but I never did post the third son's wallet.
Yeah, I know, and they make a punch now that looks like a very wide fork, with evenly spaced tines, you strike it and it makes all the evenly spaced holes at once....use a ruler and a pocket calculator to mark and space the stitching evenly.
Yes! I just forgot to post. He just started his first job out of college, living with his brother, our oldest son, and family in Chevy Chase, MD. Of course that son saw it and now knows what is inside the present I wrapped up and left for him when we dropped the younger one off. LOL.Did you get it done in time for his birthday?
Thanks. I can't take credit. I will take a little by saying that neither the source I was tipped off to or the numerous ones I saw on eBay do the lacing. I personally think that makes the whole look.Very cool. Great idea.
Fwiw I'd start slightly oversized maybe 1/4" or so on each face and let foam compress a little so it expands inside cover and completely fills in. You can always cut smaller or contour edges if needed. In my project I'm reusing old foam which seems true to size. I'm also covering foam with a "silk" (really some sort of plastic) cushion film which makes it a bit easier to get cover on and provides some water protection. You can use a vacuum with the film to reduce size of foam to make it even easier to get inside the cover but I haven't actually done that.Asking opinions of you "cushion" guys:
I have that 16" square "pillow cover" and now have the 2" foam to make it a seat pad. While I've stuffed many, many such cushions in my HS upholstery days, those were cut and stitched with some depth and sides, and were setup for deeper foam, 4-5" or more.
And yes, in theory I can make a new back and get that depth, but I'm lazy and cheap don't want to invest more $$ or fabric or time on this.
- For just 2" thick do I cut the foam to 16" square and count on the cover to taper things at the edges?
- Should I cut the foam smaller, say 15"?
- Should I stay at 16" ad "bevel" the foam to make it easier to fit and stitch shut?
- Other?
Fwiw I'd start slightly oversized maybe 1/4" or so on each face and let foam compress a little so it expands inside cover and completely fills in.
I'm also covering foam with a "silk"
The cover is 16X16, and as mentioned no sides,m so "filing" the cover won't be a problem, and at 16" is likely too big as I'l "lose" an inch on each side, top and bottom. thinking about it I'm more concerned with having the foam over compressed in length and with and being wavy/lumpy.
Yeah we used to cover the foam with a thin layer of dacron. I was never told why that I recall, just to do it, but I suspect partly to allow us to get the fabric smooth.
We also steamed the old foam to "fluff" it - It was always amazing how well that worked. I even bought a steamer decades ago they are so handy...
I like this solution! simple and quick. I was thinking remove the back and full remake, - too much hassle, for a camp chair cushion.When you say "no sides" but it is 16 x 16 with 2" thickness the best method is to "box" the corners.
You turn the cover inside out, pull the cover out and sew a 2" dart on the corners.



Finished the cushion, I went all out and installed a zipper too:
Pillow converted to seat cushion, for the folding wood chair I fixed up for camp:
And completed the quick sheath for a new to me hunting knife. - I may redo the strap, it's not exactly what I wanted. The blade section is three layers, the folded top an bottom and I "laminated" in a spacer so the grip doe not cause the belt loop to band back permanently:
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That's awesome I'm sure it means more to him than you realize. Well done.My dad is getting thin in his old age. He bought some dining chair seat cushions but couldn't find anything for the back.
He cut out a template and marked the stiles for me then sent it via USPS.
I picked up some plaid fabric that didn't quite have to match and put together a couple back pads for him. He's more than pleased.






Very nice.I made several bags this summer for motorcyclists who want light, yet strong luggage options. A lot of the motorcycle luggage market geared toward off-road riding pushes overly complicated and overbuilt stuff. Yes, it's very rugged, but the empty luggage can weigh 15+ lbs. When riding a light dirt bike or dual sport on a multi-day trip, camping off the bike, many are craving something that will cut the carried weight. It makes a huge difference on the trails when you can cut packed weight.
I like using Challenge Sailcloth's Ultra800 for saddlebags, and Ultra400 or 200 for tail bags or tank bags. It's a very tough material, with abrasion and cut resistance that is better than equivalent Cordura fabrics, while being slightly lighter. It's also completely waterproof when seam taped properly.
Most of these weigh around 250-350g, a tiny fraction of the commercially available options. I run a pair of Ultra800 saddlebags on my dual-sport rides, and have been down a few times with them. They hold up very well. The most likely damage to occur is from the contents of the bag - hard edged items rubbing on the laminate layer. Careful packing can easily mitigate this issue, but any damage is easily repairable with PET tape that is also used to seam seal the bags.
Here are some that I've made recently:
20L roll-top saddlebags:
18L roll-top saddlebags and Cordura tool pouch:
35L double-ended duffle (tail bag) in Ultra400:
15L roll-top bags in 1000D Multicam Cordura, all USA made components:
Small (~10L) backpack/carry-all in Ultra200. The gentleman I made it for ended up requesting another for his friend because he liked it so much:
Tank panniers in Ultra800 (13"x8"x4"):
I am working on an EDC sling bag for a friend next, then a new backpack for myself.


Fanny pack made entirely from a Springfield Leather “Ugly Bundle”
They still sell it. Roughly 50 Square feet total. Really wild always changing mix. Pieces are all decent size and not "scrap" type cuts. You get one piece of Veg Tan big enough for a wallet, and they throw in a small piece of exotic leather (Mine was a piece of Teal Gator).Before pic?
I can't recall a "Springfield Leather “Ugly Bundle”



















Next up . . making a garment. I've been wanting to make a pair of "puffy pants" for camping etc. But you know what they say - you have to start small.













