We made a cardboard pattern.
Now we use that pattern to trace the outline onto our leather.
I normally use 8-9 ounce top grain cowhide for my sheaths.
The rough sheath.
I will now trim the edges a bit but I won't worry with them too much as I will
sand them down evenly later.
For tight inside corners, I use a sharp knife rather than shears because shears will tend to over-cut .
Now I use the knife to mark where my blade and welt will be and to check the fit.
Next, I moisten the leather so I can stamp by mark and a basket weave pattern.
Now I draw a very light pencil line along the right edge of
the sheath front near where it will be folded.
This line will be a guide for by basket weave pattern as you will see in a
minute.
I also use my compass to draw a very light pencil line where the outer edge of my basket weave pattern will be.
Using my pattern stamp, I start working down the center of my guide line.
Then I add more rows until my pattern fills the area I want.
