Basket Stamp Question

[JD Alan]

I doubt I'm the first person to run into this challenge. Hopefully the pictures tell the story. I'm following the directions found in Al Stohlman's book "How to make holsters". The leather is just a scrap piece, but I cut it in the general shape of a holster for practice.

Simply put, I can't figure out how to procede any farther than the second picture shows. From what I understand, you need to have two reference points for the stamp. It would seem running additional reference lines in the leather would be the best deal, but nothing I've read points in that direction. I've tried "faking it" in, but things get crooked enough without additional help.

I'm looking forward to a solution, since I have 3 belts and a holster set that need stamping. Thanks guys, JD   

[Marshal Will Wingam]

You're doing really well with that, JD. If you want extra reference lines, go for it. They'll disappear when you stamp anyway. I use two reference lines when I work around an object to get things lined up so the stamps don't overlap. The more you do basketweaves, the easier it gets. The hardest ones are the ones with the angled ends. You really need light reference lines for those. You can see some mis-alignments in this but no one really notices.

[mike highgate]

Hi JD

Greyghost graphics have what you want on [PDF]Basketweave tutorial.cdr

[JD Alan]

Thanks Will. I've avoided the angled stamps for the reason you mentioned.

Thanks Mike, I will check that out.

[JD Alan]

Thanks again Mike, that is as great tutorial. Since reading that I picked up a 30-60 triangle. I'm looking forward to giving it a shot 

[knucklehead]

JD,

your basket weave looks great. you dont wanna see my first try at basket weave stamping.

what i do to keep it lined up is the following:

stamp one row
next row stamp till no longer have the 2 ref points.
take the ruler and the modeling tool. line up the ruler edge on the 2 ref points that u used for the next row.
using the pointy end of the modeling tool draw a light line from the last ref point to the border of your design.
now just use the light line as your new ref point.
the basket weave stamp will cover up the line nicely.

you will notice that once your done stamping it with the basket weave stamp it will be hard for the eye to see the oops spot.
unless you are really looking for it.

[cowboywc]

Howdy JD
You are doing fine. You just need to lean your stamp and the ends of the row to finish it. Then you have the
marks for the next row.
WC

[panhead pete]

Mornin' JD & Company,

I bought a second basket weave stamp and ground half of it off so I could get closer to the sides of the basket weave "field".  JD, that stamping is looking pretty good Amigo.

Happy Trails,

Panhead

[JD Alan]

Thank you gentlemen, I do appreciate the feedback. Knucklehead, what you discribe is was I was doing because I couldn't figure out what else to do. It seems strange to me that in Al's book on holster making, he doesn't address the issue, unless he does and I just didn't see it, which is quite likely.

I will be able to give it a try later today, and take some pictures for feedback. Thanks again, ya'll are a great help, JD

[RollingThunder]

If I notice things are getting a little lunky, I'll look down the line from the side, instead of from the top and see just how far off it was. Then I'll either draw a line, or tweak the layout on the next pass. Either way, if I'm off a bit, I can always fix the miss later with a modeling spoon.

Frankly, though, your basketweave looks really snappy! Keep it up!

[mike highgate]

Panhead, your idea of getting a second stamp and grinding it down to avoid the edges is inspired.

[JD Alan]

I agree, if you are using Craftools at 6 bucks a pop. I don't think I could bring myself to cut a Barry King or other spendy tool in half. Using a wider border would seem to accomplish the same thing. I say "seem" because I'm still pretty to new to all of this. 

[mike highgate]

JD, you're right. But as a relative newbie, I haven't advanced yet beyond Craftools.

[cowboywc]

Howdy All
I have half basket stamps, tried them but they were more bother than they were worth. You never have
the same end space from one pattern to the next. I just lean my full stamp so I don't over stamp the border
line. Cover with a border stamp.
WC

[SaddleRider]

You said it wc.

Along the side edges I lean the longer side of the basketweave stamp toward the middle (where I already tooled), leaving just a light imprint on the outer edge.  For the ends, I lean the short side of the stamp toward the middle (also where I already tooled), which does the same for the ends.  I usually use the beveler stamp to go around the outer edge to cover any of my mistakes.