Peter Nitz Forum

Is there a standard direction for the zip slider on a bag with a side handle? I think I have put it the wrong way around on this one! How long is too long a thread for saddle stitching? I have been practicing a few things on this bag. Rolled edges, piping (I made it by hand skiving a peak down the middle of a longish strip of leather and folding), attaching zips, just using what I have to hand. The handle is too low but it gets a bit too bulky to where I had intended to put it. To get around piping part of this bag in one go it would have taken 4 meters+ of thread. I tend to not go above 2 meters at a time as it seems so much slower to go bigger that an arms span. Is this just me being a newbie? Does it make sense to do it in 1 go?

I have read that some people use nylon ripstop. What are other fabrics you can use for lining wallets - when you want to avoid bulkiness but want to line everything?

Hello Everyone! I am not sure if such discussion is permitted on this Forum or not - but seeing that we have such a high-level global audience here, I'd really love to know your thoughts! I am personally still learning the craft, however I see myself being a leather craftsman, obtaining the required certification and establishing a brand. However at the moment I do not see myself as a "designer" - perhaps it is lack of experience, but I have difficulty coming up with an entirely unique design - instead I like to look at a product, work-out a pattern for it and perhaps change a few things to my taste (ok, mostly my Wife's taste :) ) and create that. I see many craftspeople on Instagram who create gorgeous items - and some of them are basically the same as "name brand" products (most of the time even higher quality than the original!!). So what I'd like to know is as an established brand - what are the ethical/legal views on this? Is, for example, making a Birkin style bag "copycatting"? Or can it be sold under your own name? Of course, my dream - as probably most of yours too - is to create a unique design that when someone sees they immediately know who it is made by - but in the meantime a business needs to grow somehow. Looking forward to hearing from you all on the Forum! :) Thanks!