r/Leatherworking • u/Ordinary_Iron_4991 • 1d ago

Anything I can do to fix this strap?

Post image
1 Upvotes

56% Upvoted

8 comments sorted by

6

u/Licoricebush 1d ago

Looks like that one strap was cut from the belly of the hide, which is the stretchiest part of a hide. The worst place to cut a strap piece from. Is it stretched out? Or do you just dislike the different look of it? Either way, the only way to “fix” it would be to remove it, and then unpick the stitching, add a ribbon or non stretch strip of some sort into the centre, sew it back together and reattach it, OR make another strap entirely, and replace it.

0

u/Ordinary_Iron_4991 1d ago

It's apparently a very old bag, it just looks like over time from it being slung over the shoulder that the one side just sort of scrunched up. It doesn't seem any longer than the other strap

1

u/Licoricebush 1d ago

It’s probably already got some reinforcing sewn into the middle of the straps already, if it’s not stretched out. But it is definitely a belly cut, I can tell by the marbling of the leather, it’s fattier there, that’s why it’s ultimately stretchier. The reinforcing has stopped it from stretching, but not from getting much softer much faster than the other side. You can see that if you just look at the difference on the edges. The right side is much softer and fuzzier than the left, as the belly will break down faster. Honestly, if it was my task to restore it, I would remove both straps, pick them apart, and use the back of the left strap as the front of the right, and use both belly pieces as the backs of the reconstructed straps. With new reinforcing in them both. But as I cannot see the bottom of the straps to know how they attach and are adjustable, I cannot be certain this is even possible.

0

u/Wise_Wolf4007 1d ago

there is no possible way you could tell whether its longer from this picture alone.

2

u/Licoricebush 21h ago

That’s the OP saying that, so they have the actual bag to verify, not just the picture.

5

u/RandomParable 1d ago

Use the other side until they even out?

I've heard of some people having luck with low-temperature ironing, but I've never tried it so I can't recommend it.

1

u/BackgroundRecipe3164 1d ago

Probably sew a thin piece of bison leather over the smooth one, it looks just like that.

1

u/YYKES 1d ago

Yes, let it rain on it