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Post by mumbleswan on Feb 12, 2014 21:16:06 GMT
Sandy has never had her own tack set so I decided to rectify that with a havana set. She's kinda girly so pink reins seemed to work. Unfortunately the leather lace is two different shades of brown and I only realised afterwards in daylight - derp! First saddle in a long while. It took a while to get to grips with all the fiddly bits again such as sewing and pulling the skiver around the panels but it turned out ok. Last weekend it was Bertie's turn! He had a bridle but needed a GP saddle to go with it. For this one I attempted some knee rolls. Wish I had used suede now but meh. Maybe next time! Just needs a stirrup keeper and er… stirrups! I need to find a way to make really skinny leathers because they always ends up adding too much bulk under the stirrup flap.
Next on my list of things to buy is gum tragananth (sp?) to get my leather pieces looking and acting more like proper saddle leather. I thought about edgekote but wondering if some diluted black paint would do an equally good job of darkening the edges?
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Post by Josie on Feb 12, 2014 22:05:13 GMT
Those are great! I am currently struggling through my first ever tack making session, it's nowhere near as smart as yours and I am COVERED in superglue!
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Post by george on Feb 12, 2014 22:08:48 GMT
lovely looking saddles, such neat work and just the right shapes. Diluted paint does work well for darkening the edges, I either water it down a bit by licking the brush, or don't shake up the paint first so I dip into the watery layer which is just black/brown colour with none of whatever the thickening stuff in paint is made of, heh
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Post by Beth on Feb 12, 2014 22:26:11 GMT
I cant help but feel we need a saddle tutorial for your method, those saddles are incredible!
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Post by EG on Feb 12, 2014 22:40:47 GMT
Oh that's fantastic! Such gorgeous looking saddles! (and yes, I demand a tutorial too!) All my saddles always end up looking completely different which, while good in some respects as it lets me differentiate between each one, I'd really like them to look a bit more consistent! lol I'd really recommend Jennifer Buxton's method for simpler and bulk reducing stirrup leather adjustments - I've been using it on all my recent saddles and it makes SUCH a difference! braymere.blogspot.co.uk/2009/11/tack-tips-adjustable-stirrup-leathers.htmlIf you look under her 'tack tips' tag you'll find loads of really useful tutorials, including one for laced reins!
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Post by Tashie on Feb 12, 2014 23:27:00 GMT
The saddle in that tutorial looks so professional! All this tack making is almost inspiring me to do my own making.
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Post by EG on Feb 13, 2014 0:33:12 GMT
The saddle in that tutorial looks so professional! All this tack making is almost inspiring me to do my own making. Do it, do it, do it!
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Post by castlerigg on Feb 13, 2014 18:57:14 GMT
Lovely work! Very impressed.
You can darken leather by applying a smear of wax shoe polish of the appropriate colour, on a cotton bud, then polishing it off gently - try using a piece of soft white cotton (cut a strip off an old handkerchief) wrapped around the end of a cotton bud and changed a few times when it gets dirty.
Look forward to seeing more from you.
Sue castlerigg
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Post by Tashie on Feb 14, 2014 5:17:26 GMT
The saddle in that tutorial looks so professional! All this tack making is almost inspiring me to do my own making. Do it, do it, do it! *Runs off to find appropriate leather and glue*
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Post by zirliz on Feb 14, 2014 8:42:20 GMT
What do people use to make the tact out of ? Looks tricky to do!
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Post by EG on Feb 14, 2014 10:14:32 GMT
I get good quality fine leather from old purses and wallets out of the charity shop.
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Post by mumbleswan on Feb 14, 2014 10:25:42 GMT
Thanks guys! Useful tips there. For the saddles I used an old tutorial/pattern by 'horsienut' that I have just searched for but it seems to have disappeared from the intertubes?! I can put something together loosely based on that and add stuff I have picked up through trial and error. It'll be handy for me too if I ever have a break from tack making again and forget everything! The Braymere blog is a goldmine EG - I am still working my way through it. Jennifer seems like such a cool lady and the saddle tutorial on there is awesome (although that one's not by her). It shows what a difference it makes treating the leather beforehand. braymere.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/saddles-with-sophie-part-one.htmlThis weekend I am going to attempt a two tone saddle and possibly even take on my nemesis … the tongued buckle. *runsawaytorockinthecorner*
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Post by EG on Feb 14, 2014 10:47:21 GMT
Oooooh, I'm looking forward to it!
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Post by thelonehick on Feb 14, 2014 21:26:20 GMT
Lovely tack! I particularly like the knee rolls. Do most people do huntseat tack? I'm dreaming of a Western parade set on a Quarter Horse mold...
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Post by elli on Feb 16, 2014 21:49:46 GMT
Lovely tack! I particularly like the knee rolls. Do most people do huntseat tack? I'm dreaming of a Western parade set on a Quarter Horse mold... Most Julip people tend to, partly because they're easier to construct, but also we don't really have western saddles in the UK - not in a widespread way, only really at specialised sorts of places (think 'learn to ride western style' type experience days) or for a few people who are into western riding, it's not really something people do over here. There are some collectors who have made western saddles for their Julips though - Julip themselves used to do one years ago too
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Post by elli on Feb 16, 2014 21:50:46 GMT
Fantastic saddles! So neat, I'm envious of your tack-making talent
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Post by julipfarm on Feb 16, 2014 22:37:03 GMT
So pretty, very realistic!
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Post by thelonehick on Feb 18, 2014 3:50:11 GMT
Hunt bridles look like they have way too many straps after riding in Western bridles. I can't even imagine making the little buckles--well done!
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Post by Jan on Feb 18, 2014 10:04:38 GMT
Stunning tack, love the detailing. Before I got hold of Edgekote, a permanent marker did the job of colouring the cut edges pretty well on black leather. (A dark brown felt tip would work on brown leather) I'm always a bit wary of staining any of the edges that will sit next to the horse, just in case any of it comes off. (Not a problem with a numnah, though).
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Post by pip on Feb 18, 2014 13:17:57 GMT
when jan's impressed with your tack you know it's got to be good, haha! they're so lovely, the saddle in particular is very realistic.
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