Pen cases

[MY63]

I started making this pocket case for one of my Montblanc 149 s way back in the summer after I made a pocket case for someone else.

I started by forming some kydex over my large form I also cut a deep slot to allow for the 149 clip

DSC_0420 by my0771, on Flickr

Wrapping in yellow nappa leather

DSC_0423 by my0771, on Flickr

I cut and formed a piece of leather using some spare thread to keep the edges in place

DSC_0426 by my0771, on Flickr

I left the top section to dry for*......5 months then wondered what had happened to it I found it under a load of rubbish on my desk and dyed it black.

DSC_0144[1] by my0771, on Flickr

I don't know if my phone camera is not working very well or if it is just bad photography

DSC_0151[1] by my0771, on Flickr

I often show final pictures before the edges are finished so this is just to show that I can do them.

DSC_0157[1] by my0771, on Flickr

The idea of this design is to allow a fragile fountain pen to be carried in a front pocket without damage.

Thanks for looking

Michael*

[Hawk]

Cool idea. Very nice work as usual. I often have problems with misplacing things. My excuse is my age....

[MY63]

As some of you may know I am a little obsessed with pen cases until now I have always made super strong cases to protect pens recently i was asked if I could make a leather sleeve for a pen without kydex.
Not being able to resist a challenge I have spent the last two days designing one from scratch.

My first effort was not right as I did not make a template so I cut a template from card and used that to cut this spare piece of leather

DSC_0203[1] by my0771, on Flickr

After lining in suede and some stitching I had this

DSC_0205[1] by my0771, on Flickr

A MB 149 fitted fine but there was a little more space around the top than I wanted
I made another template and produced this

DSC_0209[1] by my0771, on Flickr

The next thing was to add a little length a small space at the end will help squeezing pens out.

DSC_0210[1] by my0771, on Flickr

After making template three I used a slightly nicer (in my opinion) piece of* leather this is from Italy and is very soft lined in red suede.

DSC_0202[1] by my0771, on Flickr

After marking a line all around with my dividers I punched stitching holes through the top is single and the stitching is just for show so those holes were stitched first then the case was folded in half and glued.

DSC_0229[1] by my0771, on Flickr

The rest of the stitching was cross over stitching which looks like this

DSC_0230[1] by my0771, on Flickr

DSC_0232[1] by my0771, on Flickr

Thanks for looking

Michael

[Hawk]

Cool.

[Monkey]

That's interesting

[amk]

That is lovely. I like the way the stitching goes all the way round the top, and the crossover stitching is very pretty. (Now, where are the instructions for crossover stitching?)

[MY63]

Thanks Hawk Monkey and Amk as far as the instructions for the cross over stitches amk ......well you cross the thread over and that's it really 😀

I am trying to come up with a price for these trying to keep them as reasonable as possible maybe £25 around $30 US plus postage would appreciate any comments

[MY63]

Now I am happy with the design I have made a couple more sleeves.

This one is red Italian leather with yellow stitching and yellow nappa leather inside

DSC_0252[1] by my0771, on Flickr

DSC_0256[1] by my0771, on Flickr

I still had the edges to finish when I took this picture

The next sleeve is also the red Italian leather but this one has straight saddle stitch in red with a blue suede interior

DSC_0251[1] by my0771, on Flickr

DSC_0249[1] by my0771, on Flickr

DSC_0260[1] by my0771, on Flickr

These will be in a classifieds section near you soon the final price will be £25 sterling postage is included

[MY63]

Here are my first pen sleeve orders the red is pre dyed Italian veg tanned leather with black suede inside the black one is hand dyed Kip leather with cobalt blue suede inside both with black Lin Cable stitching.

DSC_0279 by my0771, on Flickr

DSC_0283 by my0771, on Flickr

Thanks for looking

Michael

[MY63]

I have made a little batch of pen sleeves in the hope that I might get some into the classifieds although some have sold already.

DSC_0021[1] by my0771, on Flickr

DSC_0018[1] by my0771, on Flickr

DSC_0013[1] by my0771, on Flickr

Thanks for looking

Michael

[MY63]

When I started making this pen sleeve my first version had the same curve at both ends this fit the pen nicly however it did make it a little difficult to remove the pen. I am sure that I am not the first maker to come across this but as my design evolved I added some length and increased the taper towards the closed end.

DSC_0035[1] by my0771, on Flickr

The longer taper and wider opening at the top allow smaller pens to also be carried in this sleeve the picture shows a Parker 51 in place the taper grips the end of the pen so even upside down the pen stays in place. the larges pen I have is a Montblanc 149 which also fits in this case easily.

Thanks for looking

Michael

[MY63]

I have not posted for a while as I thought I had inflicted enough of my work on you for those who enjoy the work here is one of my recent projects

I was commissioned*to make a case large enough to hold a Namiki Emperor or two in the style of a cigar case I have made a similar case before however it was a little smaller.

Starting with the protective Kydex and a dowel to form it around.

20170118_141700[1] by my0771, on Flickr

Formed and welded

20170118_155751[1] by my0771, on Flickr

Wrapped in red suede

20170118_195410[1] by my0771, on Flickr

First thin leather cover

20170119_140842[1] by my0771, on Flickr

Forming the outer cover around the pen tubes

20170120_170610[1] by my0771, on Flickr

After allowing the outer cover to dry

20170120_123244[1] by my0771, on Flickr

Outer cover stitched

20170121_182306[1] by my0771, on Flickr

Oak toggle ebonised

20170122_111634[1] by my0771, on Flickr

Just before final assembly with a MB 149 for size comparison

20170125_105154[1] by my0771, on Flickr

Finished

20170125_123444[1] by my0771, on Flickr

As ever the full details are on my blog see the link below

Thanks for looking

Michael

[Hawk]

Beautiful. We were wondering what happened; MY63 post withdrawal.

[MY63]

​I am always looking for ideas for pen cases as most of my orders are for cases for larger pens. Whilst looking at an idea for a pen wrap like this

20170117_182059[1] by my0771, on Flickr

I started trying larger pieces of board this picture shows a front back and spine board

20170117_190058[1] by my0771, on Flickr

Eventually I ended up with some extra pieces on each end I also tried mini rare earth magnets to work as*a closure method.

20170117_192024[1] by my0771, on Flickr

When folded it looked like this

20170117_192705[1] by my0771, on Flickr

The next step is making an inner section.

Thanks for looking

Michael

[MY63]

Here are the pieces to make the inner section a light*black suede for backing a heavier black suede for the flaps and* a nice turquoise for the pen slots.

20170129_092608[1] by my0771, on Flickr

First pen slot stitched in place two more to do.

20170129_092953[1] by my0771, on Flickr

Inner section complete

20170129_183234[1] by my0771, on Flickr

A strap and a Sam Browne stud completes the case I am not sure where to cut the end of the overlapping piece

20170131_091606[1] by my0771, on Flickr

Thanks for looking

Michael*

[MY63]

I started off this week with two cases to make one single and one double both with orange linings.

The process starts with a flat sheet of 0.6 mm Kydex which I formed into tubes of the desired sizes and welded the seam.

20170205_181107[1] by my0771, on Flickr

Tubes wrapped in orange suede in this picture the outsides were not glued.

20170205_191619[1] by my0771, on Flickr

I am not sure how the next picture will show the colour as the leather was still wet.

20170207_124717[1] by my0771, on Flickr

Using my modified metal workers clamp I have formed the leather around the Kydex*and then formed the top section around the lower section. I placed the top section in a plastic bag after this picture was taken to slow down the drying process.

20170207_144355[1] by my0771, on Flickr

Here you can see the formed lower section and the lid section in its plastic bag

20170207_150657[1] by my0771, on Flickr

Stitching holes marked with a pricking iron waiting for the awl and stitching

20170207_160720[1] by my0771, on Flickr

After marking and then making the holes I stitched the lower section unfortunately my stitching was not good enough so I cut out the stitching and decided to form the lid .

20170208_134436[1] by my0771, on Flickr

After some practice I stitched both pieces and was pretty happy with the result. the difference in colour is the top section is still wet.

20170209_103400[1] by my0771, on Flickr

More to follow

Michael

[picautomaton]

My63 your work is astoundingly good, I aspire to have your skills.

[amk]

Love the red and yellow combo. It's really striking. What pen wants to go in it? I'm thinking a tortoise binde Pelikan or perhaps a bright yellow Bexley 10th Anniversary...

[MY63]

Progress at last the stitching is sorted and the top is almost dry toggle / pen rest finished it is made from sapele wood which is like mahogany.
Once the top is fully dry I can check the fit and finish it off.

20170210_204159[1] by my0771, on Flickr.

Thanks for looking

Michael

[MY63]

As I mentioned in my previous single pen post I was also making a double pen case so from the point where I showed the three pen tubes wrapped in suede. the double pen case gets an extra coat of thin leather.

20170207_114540[1] by my0771, on Flickr

Two pieces of leather are stitched up the centre line and soaked in water so the leather can be formed around the tubes

20170207_115236[1] by my0771, on Flickr

Once I was happy with the shape I added some colour and stitched the edges together.

20170207_213754[1] by my0771, on Flickr

The completed pair of pen tubes were then sealed in plastic film and encased in the leather that would form the outer cover and clamped.

20170209_103619[1] by my0771, on Flickr

After 24 hours in the clamps I drilled a series of holes around the outside edge to assist in aligning the pieces after cutting.

20170210_103922[1] by my0771, on Flickr

I marked the two halves*with tape on the inside and cut the two pieces in half. using the marked holes I used contact cement to glue the two halves together.

20170210_143420[1] by my0771, on Flickr

I cut a strip of leather to cover the joint I marked out the holes and stitched the strip in place.

20170210_211619[1] by my0771, on Flickr

This case is for a single fountain pen and a Viscontti traveling inkwell

Thanks for looking

Michael