I’ve told that story of NomadeCrafts few times on my socials and about me page so I won’t go into too much details but the TLDR is this: I’ve started this project following the dream of being able to finance my bicycle travels around the world. After cycling through North and South America, Asia and Europe I am now headed to Africa in a couple of month. So of course these days I find myself day dreaming about hippos and giraffes, elephants and…lions!
When I’m on the road I mostly spend the night wild camping. Dealing with the bears in Canada or the boars of Europe is one thing. But the possibility of a lion roaming by my camp is a whole other level of scary! There’s a piece of wisdom circulating in the cycle-touring community: as long as you NEVER leave your tent during the night, the lions won’t bother you. Is it the truth? Well, I’ve never heard of anyone being attacked by a lion in their tent. But it may be that those that did get attacked are no longer with us to tell the tale….
I’ve designed this lion bag charm to tame my fears – and the lions that I might come across. It is also a celebration of that new chapter of my journey that is about to start! By making this charm, you’ll be joining me in this adventure. Because each pattern purchase helps make that dream a reality.
Print it on US letter or A4 paper depending on the version you downloaded.
Make sure that the pattern is not resized by checking your print settings. You can check if it was printed properly by measuring the reference found at the bottom of each page.
Keep the assembly diagram to help you position the pieces later on during the stitching process.
Securing the pieces of the pattern on the leather
Roughly cut out the pattern pieces and secure them to your leather using masking tape.
.
Keep the stencil. It will be useful during the dyeing stage.
Punching the holes
Using 1mm stitching prongs or a 1mm hole punch, pierce the stitching holes directly through the paper pattern.
Use a 3mm hole punch for the rivet holes on the hanging loop (element labelled P on the pattern) and a 4mm for the eye sockets on the cheeks (L).
Cutting out the pieces of the project
Using a pair of scissors or an X-Acto knife, cut out all the pieces of the bag charm.
Dyeing the leather
I used water-based dyes for all pieces of the bag charm.
The color scheme features a gradient ranging from a warm earthy yellow, used for the main body and appendages, to a dark orange for the mane. I achieved these tones by mixing yellow, orange, and brown in varying proportions.
The cheeks, belly, and inner ears are dyed brown, while the snout is white.
Finally, I used black for the mouth and the six claws.
To paint the white accents around the eyes, I used a Posca marker. I first used the stencil to lightly mark the designated areas, then carefully filled them in with the paint.
Form a loop at the end of the O-ring strap (P) and secure it with a rivet.
Use a rivet setter to permanently fix the hardware in place.
Gluing the eyes
Place the plastic eyes into their sockets on the cheeks (L).
Add a generous amount of glue to the back to hold them in place, and let it dry fully.
Stitching it all together
Begin by stitching the claws (A) to the front and hind paws (B1, B2 & C1, C2). For each claw, start from the back and use a single needle to loop through the two holes twice.
Next stitch the two front paws (B1, B2) to the legs (D1, D2).
From this point forward, use two needles and a saddle stitch.
Stitch the belly (E) to the front body (F).
Next, stitch both legs (D1, D2) to the body (F). The first hole of each leg aligns with the corresponding hole on the body edge. After passing through the three holes of the leg, the final stitch is made into the hole on the body located just beyond the edge of the leg. This serves to secure each leg firmly in position.
To assemble the face, begin by stitching the chin (G), mouth (H), forehead (I) and snout (J) together.
Next, stitch the nose (K) on top of the snout (J) and forehead (I).
Connect the cheeks (L) to the forehead (I). The first stitching hole is located directly beneath the nose. Stop the seam at the last two holes located above the eye.
Next, incorporate the two parts of the mane (M & N) and the back of the body (O). Continue the same seam, but now stitch through the forehead (I), the cheeks (L), both mane pieces (M & N), and the back body (O) simultaneously.
After one hole, insert the (Q1) ear and inner ear (R1) between the forehead (I) and the mane (M). As the ears are folded, the second stitch should pass through both layers of the folded ear.
Attach the hanging loop (P) between the back of the body (O) and the mane (N) across the next three holes.
Next, add the left ear (Q2 & R2) using the same technique as the right ear.
Finally, stitch the other side of the forehead (I) to the cheeks (L).
Stitch the outer edges of the cheeks (L) to the manes (M & N) and the back of the body (O).
To ensure continuity of the seam at the back, begin the stitch through the back body (O) and both manes (M & N), using the hole located just beyond the edge of the cheeks (L).
Complete the seam by ending in the hole at the corner of the forehead (I).
Before stitching the left side of the cheeks (L) in the same manner, you may insert polyester stuffing beneath the face to add volume and thickness.
Continue stitching the body by passing through all layers, beginning at the edge located beneath the snout (J). The snout (J) must be lifted slightly to allow the needle to be threaded underneath it. Execute a back-stitch at this point before progressing further down the body.
This is where the continuity that was mentioned previously comes into play. While these sections could have been joined using the same thread used for the cheeks (L) and forehead (I), they were separated here to allow the thread colour to match the cheeks (L). However, you may choose to create a single, continuous seam around the face and body to simplify the assembly process.
After the initial back-stitch, continue under the mane (N). Lift the mane to stitch the back of the body (O) to the front of the body (F).
Lift the leg (D2) to thread your needle beneath it once you reach that section of the assembly.
Four holes down from the top of the leg, insert the left hind leg (S2) and the tail (T) between the back of the body (O) and the front of the body (F).
When you reach the last hole of the hind leg (S2), add the hind paw (C2) in front of it.
Repeat this process with the hind paw (C1) and hind leg (S1) on the right side of the body.
Before closing the body completely, you may insert polyester stuffing to achieve the desired thickness.
End the assembly as you began, by executing a back-stitch beneath the lifted snout (J) on the right side of the face.
Congratulations on completing your beautiful lion bag charm!
Final touches
Finally, install the carabiner O-ring to the hanging loop.
Final result
I hope you enjoyed following along this tutorial. Please consider posting a photo of your creation in the comments below. It would mean a lot to me to see my little projects out into the world as you make them your own.
Any feedback/question about this tutorial or project idea that you’d like to see posted here is and always will be more than welcome.
Happy crafting!
Footnotes
The following online content provided some assistance and/or inspiration during the making of this project:
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Tutorial
Lion Bag Charm
4 hours
Easy
Common for leathercraft
I’ve told that story of NomadeCrafts few times on my socials and about me page so I won’t go into too much details but the TLDR is this: I’ve started this project following the dream of being able to finance my bicycle travels around the world. After cycling through North and South America, Asia and Europe I am now headed to Africa in a couple of month. So of course these days I find myself day dreaming about hippos and giraffes, elephants and…lions!
When I’m on the road I mostly spend the night wild camping. Dealing with the bears in Canada or the boars of Europe is one thing. But the possibility of a lion roaming by my camp is a whole other level of scary! There’s a piece of wisdom circulating in the cycle-touring community: as long as you NEVER leave your tent during the night, the lions won’t bother you. Is it the truth? Well, I’ve never heard of anyone being attacked by a lion in their tent. But it may be that those that did get attacked are no longer with us to tell the tale….
I’ve designed this lion bag charm to tame my fears – and the lions that I might come across. It is also a celebration of that new chapter of my journey that is about to start! By making this charm, you’ll be joining me in this adventure. Because each pattern purchase helps make that dream a reality.
Requirements
Skills
Tools
Bill of Materials
Pattern
Lion Bag Charm
2,50 €Walk-through
Printing the pattern
You can get the pattern here.
Print it on US letter or A4 paper depending on the version you downloaded.
Make sure that the pattern is not resized by checking your print settings. You can check if it was printed properly by measuring the reference found at the bottom of each page.
Keep the assembly diagram to help you position the pieces later on during the stitching process.
Securing the pieces of the pattern on the leather
Roughly cut out the pattern pieces and secure them to your leather using masking tape.
.Keep the stencil. It will be useful during the dyeing stage.
Punching the holes
Using 1mm stitching prongs or a 1mm hole punch, pierce the stitching holes directly through the paper pattern.
Use a 3mm hole punch for the rivet holes on the hanging loop (element labelled P on the pattern) and a 4mm for the eye sockets on the cheeks (L).
Cutting out the pieces of the project
Using a pair of scissors or an X-Acto knife, cut out all the pieces of the bag charm.
Dyeing the leather
I used water-based dyes for all pieces of the bag charm.
The color scheme features a gradient ranging from a warm earthy yellow, used for the main body and appendages, to a dark orange for the mane. I achieved these tones by mixing yellow, orange, and brown in varying proportions.
The cheeks, belly, and inner ears are dyed brown, while the snout is white.
Finally, I used black for the mouth and the six claws.
To paint the white accents around the eyes, I used a Posca marker. I first used the stencil to lightly mark the designated areas, then carefully filled them in with the paint.
Setting the rivet on the O-ring strap
Form a loop at the end of the O-ring strap (P) and secure it with a rivet.
Use a rivet setter to permanently fix the hardware in place.
Gluing the eyes
Place the plastic eyes into their sockets on the cheeks (L).
Add a generous amount of glue to the back to hold them in place, and let it dry fully.
Stitching it all together
Begin by stitching the claws (A) to the front and hind paws (B1, B2 & C1, C2). For each claw, start from the back and use a single needle to loop through the two holes twice.
Next stitch the two front paws (B1, B2) to the legs (D1, D2).
From this point forward, use two needles and a saddle stitch.
Stitch the belly (E) to the front body (F).
Next, stitch both legs (D1, D2) to the body (F). The first hole of each leg aligns with the corresponding hole on the body edge. After passing through the three holes of the leg, the final stitch is made into the hole on the body located just beyond the edge of the leg. This serves to secure each leg firmly in position.
To assemble the face, begin by stitching the chin (G), mouth (H), forehead (I) and snout (J) together.
Next, stitch the nose (K) on top of the snout (J) and forehead (I).
Connect the cheeks (L) to the forehead (I). The first stitching hole is located directly beneath the nose. Stop the seam at the last two holes located above the eye.
Next, incorporate the two parts of the mane (M & N) and the back of the body (O). Continue the same seam, but now stitch through the forehead (I), the cheeks (L), both mane pieces (M & N), and the back body (O) simultaneously.
After one hole, insert the (Q1) ear and inner ear (R1) between the forehead (I) and the mane (M). As the ears are folded, the second stitch should pass through both layers of the folded ear.
Attach the hanging loop (P) between the back of the body (O) and the mane (N) across the next three holes.
Next, add the left ear (Q2 & R2) using the same technique as the right ear.
Finally, stitch the other side of the forehead (I) to the cheeks (L).
Stitch the outer edges of the cheeks (L) to the manes (M & N) and the back of the body (O).
To ensure continuity of the seam at the back, begin the stitch through the back body (O) and both manes (M & N), using the hole located just beyond the edge of the cheeks (L).
Complete the seam by ending in the hole at the corner of the forehead (I).
Before stitching the left side of the cheeks (L) in the same manner, you may insert polyester stuffing beneath the face to add volume and thickness.
Continue stitching the body by passing through all layers, beginning at the edge located beneath the snout (J). The snout (J) must be lifted slightly to allow the needle to be threaded underneath it. Execute a back-stitch at this point before progressing further down the body.
This is where the continuity that was mentioned previously comes into play. While these sections could have been joined using the same thread used for the cheeks (L) and forehead (I), they were separated here to allow the thread colour to match the cheeks (L). However, you may choose to create a single, continuous seam around the face and body to simplify the assembly process.
After the initial back-stitch, continue under the mane (N). Lift the mane to stitch the back of the body (O) to the front of the body (F).
Lift the leg (D2) to thread your needle beneath it once you reach that section of the assembly.
Four holes down from the top of the leg, insert the left hind leg (S2) and the tail (T) between the back of the body (O) and the front of the body (F).
When you reach the last hole of the hind leg (S2), add the hind paw (C2) in front of it.
Repeat this process with the hind paw (C1) and hind leg (S1) on the right side of the body.
Before closing the body completely, you may insert polyester stuffing to achieve the desired thickness.
End the assembly as you began, by executing a back-stitch beneath the lifted snout (J) on the right side of the face.
Congratulations on completing your beautiful lion bag charm!
Final touches
Finally, install the carabiner O-ring to the hanging loop.
Final result
I hope you enjoyed following along this tutorial. Please consider posting a photo of your creation in the comments below. It would mean a lot to me to see my little projects out into the world as you make them your own.
Any feedback/question about this tutorial or project idea that you’d like to see posted here is and always will be more than welcome.
Happy crafting!
Footnotes
The following online content provided some assistance and/or inspiration during the making of this project: