Making A Pen Case

November 22, 2013

Michael, I really like watching your threads. Showing your processes and progress is really fascinating to me, and your end products are so very nice. Thank you for posting these.

Thanks for your comments it is nice to know that others enjoy the posts I am enjoying making these cases.

The first two have homes already.

Michael

November 23, 2013

I have mentioned leather dye

I have five colours

Saddle tan

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5529/11017161655_4a4ec1efa8_z.jpg
IMG_5700 by my0771, on Flickr

Deep brown on the left and Mahogany on the right

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3833/11017155565_e3d0bdfcb8_z.jpg
IMG_5698 by my0771, on Flickr

Red on the left and Black on the right

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7431/11017150285_f0638474a4_z.jpg
IMG_5696 by my0771, on Flickr

I applied the dye with a cotton bud rather than a dauber which is why I think it looks a little patchy. it may improve when it has dried out the dye was applied to wet leather.

I have some carnauber crème wax to apply after dying to give a little shine to the leather.

I also remember as I finished the last words the assistant said to me as I left the store "remember to wear gloves as this stuff is designed to dye skin . My hands now have a little extra colour now.

Thanks for looking

Michael

November 24, 2013

I love the mahogany!

I also like the red, the first brown, the dark brown, the black... but the mahogany is just special!

Just my opinion, of course...

November 24, 2013

Ok FPNers I have to decide which dye to use on this case the inside is cognac suede so I have taken a picture of the suede and all of my samples, they have had one coat of dye and one coat of wax.

The black looks odd because I used the wrong side of the leather never mind.

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5492/11023923006_1342e98f66_z.jpg
IMG_5701 by my0771, on Flickr

I only have small pieces of cognac suede left maybe for one more case.

Size wise I am still unsure if I have it right my only oversize pen fits but it would need a slot for the clip ( a piece of 15mm plastic water pipe fits fine) So I think future models would have a slot

Rather than rewrite the whole post I will just add the pictures with an oversize pen

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5515/11024202153_7bbd9e57f9_z.jpg
IMG_5703 by my0771, on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7311/11024211403_ffb0e0a612_z.jpg
IMG_5707 by my0771, on Flickr

Actually it does fit but it is tight A slot will be a good idea.

Thanks for looking

Michael

November 24, 2013

I have been waiting for a while to have a go at dying this veg tanned leather my trials were a little patchy so I was a little nervous.

my friends at Le Prevo (leather shop) suggested I buy some daubers for applying the dye I am really pleased that I did as they made a huge difference, the other instructions were to wet the leather before starting.

Oh and remember to wear gloves.

This is the saddle tan colour

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7368/11032563016_7eef2f3b83_z.jpg
IMG_5737 by my0771, on Flickr

Next was the mahogany

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5476/11032662133_967371ff9d_z.jpg
IMG_5736 by my0771, on Flickr

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5540/11032600744_d878d2a4e2_z.jpg
IMG_5733 by my0771, on Flickr

Followed by the black

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7427/11032533556_49446c6966_z.jpg
IMG_5730 by my0771, on Flickr

I did my own case in the black as I was interested to see if the threads would take up the dye as well as the leather

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7358/11032424735_9d6759efd3_z.jpg
IMG_5729 by my0771, on Flickr

I have learnt that it is best to colour the leather before assembly as it is very difficult to avoid touching the suede so from now on I will dye the leather at the earlier stage.

A second coat will be applied tomorrow.

I even remembered to wear the gloves.

Thanks for looking

Michael

November 24, 2013

As I did not have all of the backs ready I had to cut them before I formed the final two fronts once everything was ready I applied the dye.

Red

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7457/11034662306_7bfa014bce_z.jpg
IMG_5744 by my0771, on Flickr

Dark brown

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3823/11034658406_98039e479e_z.jpg
IMG_5743 by my0771, on Flickr

I also gave the others a second coat I still need to sew all of them together and I think it might take some time.

Thanks for looking

Michael

November 25, 2013

Michael,

I don't know weather to ask for your blessing or d*€+>#~|{! The blessing would be for fulling a need I have. The other for making one more thing I just MUST have! All kidding aside, awesome workmanship! I will be asking for a couple of these at least.

Todd

November 25, 2013

The change in how they look is absolutely amazing!

I'm very curious about the chemistry of the dye. In dying wool, which is a protein fiber, acid dyes are used, and they will also work on a lot of nylon because of the chemical composition of nylon (whatever it is, and I have nooooo idea what it is, having barely scraped by in HS Chem.) Those dyes do not work on polyester or acrylic, nor do they work on cellulose- that is, linen, cotton, and other plant fibers. So my first thought was that perhaps the thread was nylon, and the leather dyes similar - not that it makes the slightest bit of difference, just wondering.

T

November 26, 2013

Michael,

I don't know weather to ask for your blessing or d*€+>#~|{! The blessing would be for fulling a need I have. The other for making one more thing I just MUST have! All kidding aside, awesome workmanship! I will be asking for a couple of these at least.

Todd

Hi Todd

Thanks for the kind words

I have learnt a few things during this process.

The cases took almost twice the materials that I thought they would.

They have also taken three times as long to make and I have not sewn them together yet.

Kydex is very tough and not as difficult to work with as I thought.

Most importantly leather dye is very good at dyeing human skin

The change in how they look is absolutely amazing!

I'm very curious about the chemistry of the dye. In dying wool, which is a protein fiber, acid dyes are used, and they will also work on a lot of nylon because of the chemical composition of nylon (whatever it is, and I have nooooo idea what it is, having barely scraped by in HS Chem.) Those dyes do not work on polyester or acrylic, nor do they work on cellulose- that is, linen, cotton, and other plant fibers. So my first thought was that perhaps the thread was nylon, and the leather dyes similar - not that it makes the slightest bit of difference, just wondering.

T

Thanks T

I bought two different types of dye spirit and oil based I was advised that the application process was the same, Water first as it allows the dye to be carried further into the leather.

The mahogany (spirit) has come out particularly well and so has the black (oil) the red is not so good it has gone very dark on the top so I might have to try and remove some of the dye.

Both dyes have caused the leather to dry out so I have had to apply lots of carnauba wax to soften the leather up again.

The thread is linen (I think) which has been waxed but it still took the dye so I was right to dye before sewing.

Thanks

Michael

November 26, 2013

Sorry did you want to see pictures

I wanted to try and make a hole for the clip but not just a hole.

This is my first effort I made a slot in the kydex and then made a corresponding slot in the leather the inside suede was left intact for the clip to attach to.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3819/11056953616_61990a7bac_z.jpg
IMG_5745 by my0771, on Flickr

This is a mahogany coloured case with grey suede lining

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3811/11056987424_68bd275ff5_z.jpg
IMG_5747 by my0771, on Flickr

I wanted to have a flash of colour either for the clip to slide over or to give a little to allow the clip to be accomodated

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3789/11063612005_17d83d16ab_z.jpg
IMG_5756 by my0771, on Flickr

I am not too sure about this it was very difficult to make it work I might try one on the top.

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2840/11063616595_f859157a49_z.jpg
IMG_5758 by my0771, on Flickr

The other mahogany case

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2807/11063627995_7eb3aca5c5_z.jpg
IMG_5763 by my0771, on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7409/11063738314_44aea17db6_z.jpg
IMG_5761 by my0771, on Flickr

Red case this is strange as in daylight the top of the red case is almost black and in the picture it is red.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3819/11063745184_327556fe37_z.jpg
IMG_5764 by my0771, on Flickr

The dye caused some drying of the leather

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2837/11063816713_cce844fb14_z.jpg
IMG_5776_1 by my0771, on Flickr

Saddle tan

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7344/11063809573_31d1bfdfac_z.jpg
IMG_5773_1 by my0771, on Flickr

Dark brown

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5477/11063767764_c656203d80_z.jpg
IMG_5774 by my0771, on Flickr

My favourite black there is another black case but I am not showing that to anyone yet.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7400/11057049043_ea2493e8c8_z.jpg
IMG_5752 by my0771, on Flickr

Only the last case has been waxed all the others are unfinished.

Thanks for looking

Michael

November 29, 2013

These look excellent! They look like the expensive pen cases that I see people selling at the local market only these look nicer and better constructed. Are these completely hard at the end of the process? It is really interesting to see your profession and steps in the photos. It makes me want to try to make a few. You should be proud of these and show friends and family, I know of I made something this good I would.

November 29, 2013

These look excellent! They look like the expensive pen cases that I see people selling at the local market only these look nicer and better constructed. Are these completely hard at the end of the process? It is really interesting to see your profession and steps in the photos. It makes me want to try to make a few. You should be proud of these and show friends and family, I know of I made something this good I would.

Thanks I have had a rough day today and i appreciate your comments.

The kydex is very hard it is used for making gun holsters in the USA I am pretty sure it would stand some serious abuse.

I have not tested one to destruction as yet but I have a red one that I am not happy with so i may give that one a whack with a large hammer and see what happens. Not with a pen in it though.

This is a dark brown case which has a centre slot for the clip it is ready for sewing when I am able

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2889/11120384364_2676098edf_o.jpg

IMG_5807_1 by my0771, on Flickr

Thanks for looking

Michael

November 30, 2013

Last night I started sewing this case together and was about half way around when I realised that I had forgot to install the loop for the flap so i cut out all of the thread and started again.

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2840/11135172184_0247ec625c_o.jpg

IMG_5814 by my0771, on Flickr

I am pretty happy with this effort

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7443/11135166604_645c7e1504_o.jpg

IMG_5812 by my0771, on Flickr

As you can see here I have inserted a piece of suede into the centre here to allow for a pocket clip

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7333/11135288453_5dbedcccbd_o.jpg

IMG_5816_1 by my0771, on Flickr

I made the flap shorter on this one as I wanted it to just cover the coloured section for the clip.I am going to dye the edges the same colour as the main part of the case it is dark brown.

Thanks for looking

Michael

December 1, 2013

I have now started preparing up the next case for sewing. I have marked the holes with a marking chisel, this gives equal spacing my wooden templates enable me to sew in a straight line.

The first picture shows chisel marks on the left and the awl on the right

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5498/11152468194_90acef5db5_o.jpg

IMG_5827_1 by my0771, on Flickr

This picture shows the flap with its grey suede lining these holes have been marked and the awl has been pushed through to allow the thread to pass through.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3815/11152472174_60811839ac_o.jpg

IMG_5828_1 by my0771, on Flickr

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3834/11152465524_2b8c864bf8_o.jpg

IMG_5826_1 by my0771, on Flickr

These two pictures show the holes in the leather which have had both the chisel and the awl used on them.

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5534/11152401335_e9ca0c4260_o.jpg

IMG_5823 by my0771, on Flickr

The holes opened by the awl are diamond shaped and designed so that they will close up around the thread after a short while.

Thanks for looking

Michael

December 1, 2013

Mahogany case sewn together ready to have the edges finished

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3666/11159008195_40a1fa70c7_o.jpg

IMG_5836_1 by my0771, on Flickr

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5535/11159060224_6168004436_o.jpg

IMG_5832_1 by my0771, on Flickr

Thanks for looking

Michael

December 2, 2013

I have thought about this case overnight and I think I will cut out these stitches and start again i don't think they are neat enough.

December 2, 2013

You are a perfectionist!!

Love these cases.

December 4, 2013

You are a perfectionist!!
Love these cases.

Thanks

I am interested in which colours people prefer I like the black but I always have.

I recently upgraded to one of the new Sony mobile /cell phone as my blackberry expired.

Anyway I wanted a simple black case with a soft lining like suede as i could not find one that I liked I decided to make my own.

I glued a piece of suede to a piece of leather wet the leather/ suede wrapped my phone in a plastic bag put that into the leather wrapped a towel around it and sat a small bag of sand on top.

Then yesterday i marked holes and stitched it together.

.http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5520/11202676404_3c754fe3ae_o.jpg

IMG_5844_1 by my0771, on Flickr

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3691/11202691376_a3d337afaf_o.jpg

IMG_5846_1 by my0771, on Flickr

I needed to learn cross stitch to achieve this so I watched a few videos on youtube and had a go I did not allow much space for sewing so I am trying to stretch it a little.

Thanks for looking

Michael

December 4, 2013

I have removed the packing and the phone fits really well rather than try to make a curve for a finger hold I made the case a little shorter than the phone.

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5549/11203345516_17ae90f454_o.jpg

IMG_5852_1 by my0771, on Flickr

Back to the pen cases

Thanks

Michael