Post Printing Addition to the Gildebrief Century Project – # 1
1) Since going to print, I finally found what I consider the best thread for making the leather bodies, both for machine sewing and hand sewing:
YLI Cotton Quilting Yarn, 40/3, color: natural
This is a wonderful, very strong, pure cotton glazed (waxed) yarn that closely resembles an antique yarn I had used for hand stitching the fingers and toes. You can find this yarn in many colors at any good quilting supplier.
2) If you are the proud owner of a Xyron sticker machine (used for making your own stickers), pass the cardboard gusset shapes through the gluing cassette (marked side up, smooth side to be glued, repositionable cassette) and stick the shapes in place as explained in the project. This is quicker and easier than using spray glue. The Xyron sticker machine and cassettes are available from a number of outlets, including Amazon.
3) Sometimes the leather surface soaks up the shellac for antiquing very fast and the result is patchy. In that case, condition the leather first with normal, neutral shoe polish, let dry and then rub with the shellac. Always test first on a spare piece of leather.