Making A Pen Case

[my63]

I have decided to take the three piece route here is the spine piece which still needs to be shaped.

 

DSC_0328[1] by my0771, on Flickr

 

In order to add something to the black exterior I decided to add some yellow piping it also hides the edges

 

DSC_0331[1] by my0771, on Flickr

 

DSC_0334[1] by my0771, on Flickr

 

Here are the three pieces together I need to work out exactly how they are going to fit together and then cut the spine piece out.

 

DSC_0338[1] by my0771, on Flickr

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

[davegt]

Nice cover, Michael!

 

I can see a matching notebook cover with my pen case! :-))

[davegt]

The pen case and the Harley.

[my63]

Thanks Davegt

It has made my day to see the picture of your pen case next to your Harley we might need to upgrade your notebook though

 

Back to the current pen case I used some clips to hold the pieces together while I marked and measured where the pieces would overlap.

I then clamped a piece of card in place to act as a stop to help position the pieces quickly once the adhesive was applied.

 

I have missed out some steps but they are on the blog.

 

DSC_0349[1] by my0771, on Flickr

 

Once the glue had set I was able to test fit the inner and outer pieces together

 

DSC_0356[1] by my0771, on Flickr

 

DSC_0363[1] by my0771, on Flickr

 

All of the pieces fit together well

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

[my63]

I have made the internal flap the main reason for this flap is to prevent the pens coming into contact with the metal zipper teeth.

 

DSC_0364[1] by my0771, on Flickr

[davegt]

Thanks Davegt

It has made my day to see the picture of your pen case next to your Harley we might need to upgrade your notebook though

 

Back to the current pen case I used some clips to hold the pieces together while I marked and measured where the pieces would overlap.

I then clamped a piece of card in place to act as a stop to help position the pieces quickly once the adhesive was applied.

 

I have missed out some steps but they are on the blog.

 

DSC_0349[1] by my0771, on Flickr

 

Once the glue had set I was able to test fit the inner and outer pieces together

 

DSC_0356[1] by my0771, on Flickr

 

DSC_0363[1] by my0771, on Flickr

 

All of the pieces fit together well

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

Michael, you are so right... I think I will try a Rhodia notebook about the same size as my moleskine but I will need a case to keep everything together and convenient in the saddlebag. As much as I love my pen case, the paper needs its own case too. I like what you are doing with the biker case and I can only imagine how nice it would be with Ox-blood, skull embossing and studs!

[my63]

That sounds like an interesting project Dave

 

The flap has been glued in place the idea being that when I stitch the front piece in place I will sew the flap in place at the same time. well that is the idea whether or not it works is another thing.

 

DSC_0368[1] by my0771, on Flickr

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

[davegt]

Michael, that case looks really good! Same colors as my university.

 

I wasn't sure about the yellow at first but I find it quite nice! I am still thinking about your making an Ox-blood case to fit Rhodia notebooks. It just seems too cool!

[ScienceChick]

I love the yellow piping, it really pops! It also adds a unique finished aspect. Excellent choice, imo.

 

I truly admire your work.

[Anne-Sophie]

The first post I read to catch up was the first one with the yellow pipping, I thought the decorative touch was really inventive.

 

Because it is yellow, I thought what a great way to make omelet with broken eggs (the measurement slight challenge).

 

I have followed Mike creations since the beginning of the thread and this is the first time I have seen a measurement challenge, that zippered case is a prototype. But, every single time, weather restoring or creating a piece from imagination, Mike is always extremely inventive at finding new techniques to add mind boggling good looking details and/or new techniques.

 

As usual, congrats Mike!

[my63]

Hi Dave I would be happy to discuss notebook covers with you.

ScienceChick and Anne-Sophie Thanks for the compliments unfortunately I do make mistakes and I usually share them to help others learn from them.

 

I was going to add a line of stitching parallel to the piping it would only be for show as the glue is more than enough to secure it. My concern is it might be too much. It has to be done before I join the two pieces together.

 

I think the outer stitching should be yellow I could use black but it would untidy inside so yellow it is.

 

Thanks

 

Michael

[my63]

I decided to add some decorative stitching to the front and back panels like this

 

DSC_0006[1] by my0771, on Flickr

 

DSC_0009[1] by my0771, on Flickr

 

The main stitching will be 5 mm in from the edge so I have stopped the detail stitching 5 mm from the edge to allow the outer stitching to pass.

[my63]

I have started to prepare for the joining of the inner and outer sections of this case together here you can see where I have cut the shape to allow the zipper to work.

 

DSC_0015[1] by my0771, on Flickr

 

DSC_0016[1] by my0771, on Flickr

 

I have also started to finish the edges rounding and smoothing them in preparation for dying them black.

 

I still have a concern about the way the leather will behave when the case is opened I think this may be solved by leaving the spine free to move as the case opens.

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

[my63]

I have been thinking about this case a lot and decided the only way to work out the issues was to get on with it and deal with any problems as they arise.

 

Rather than gluing the whole thing and then sewing it together I started by gluing the front panel in place. I asked a question about the cover fitting on leatherworker.net and was advised not to glue the spine which was what I had thought.

 

DSC_0023[1] by my0771, on Flickr

 

It has taken over three hours to get this far I had marked the holes with a pricking iron on the outer cover and then made the final hole with a super sharp awl which has also been polished by hand to allow it to push through the many layers easily. unfortunately this means it will also pass through fingers just as easily

 

DSC_0029[1] by my0771, on Flickr

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

[stonezebra]

Love it! Very jazzy.

[my63]

Thanks Stonezebra.

 

I finished sewing the front this morning and this afternoon and this evening I finished the rest of the case

 

DSC_0057[1] by my0771, on Flickr

 

DSC_0058[1] by my0771, on Flickr

 

DSC_0056[1] by my0771, on Flickr

 

DSC_0053[1] by my0771, on Flickr

 

Inside pictures tomorrow

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

[my63]

Inside picture complete with notebook

 

DSC_0062[1] by my0771, on Flickr

 

Spine view

 

DSC_0070[1] by my0771, on Flickr

 

I just need to add a few more coats to the edges

 

DSC_0073[1] by my0771, on Flickr

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

[rickygene]

Michael. That's lovely work. Who'd have thought that a measurement error could have produced something so beautiful. If you are ever interested in selling it I'd love to own it for a travel journal.

Rick

Edited March 16, 2016 by rickygene

[my63]

Thanks Rickygene

 

I would love to be able to say I did it all intentionally but it was a genuine error and to be honest I think it makes the case even more special.

 

In answer to your question yes I will be selling it please feel free to send me a pm if you are interested.

 

Michael

[rickygene]

Thanks Michael. I have just sent you a PM.

Regards

Rick