Spur straps

[cactus cowboy]

The spur straps I was working on from the Will Ghormley old west collection pattern came out sized for a kid. I didn't even think about putting them up against straps on any of my spurs. I usually wear normal modern type straps with my spurs.  It had leaves and flowers, so I'm afraid to just use the computer to strech a picture of the pattern out. I think if the strap part that gets buckled is just longer that the strap will look funny too. What should I do the next time to make the pattern fit an adult.

Cactus

[santee]

Really, he has no pattern for adults in that pack? I would email Will and ask him. You'll find he's very helpful.

[RollingThunder]

I usually measure the person I'm doing straps for, especially if they are one-piece straps, like dove wings. I've used Will's patterns, and found that they are sized for an adult. But if the adult has a gargantuan foot, you might consider resizing.

A general rule I go by is at least 8-9 inches spur button to spur button for the basic size. The billet lengths I work with will accomodate up to 10" though.

Spur leather is like any other garment. You do have to measure twice before you cut once. Good luck to you!

[cactus cowboy]

I'll make sure that I measure next time before I lay it out to be sure it fits. It's only about an inch or so short. Some of the other patterns look larger. Actually, I wanted to know more how I should make the big part of the strap with the tooling longer (sorry don't know the name for it). Should I just add another flower or leaf or just make them bigger? The pattern book says intended for intermediate to advanced, and I'm a rookie and just learning. I didn't mean to say that the pattern was wrong, if it came out that way.

Cactus

[Slowhand Bob]

Is this not something you can do on your computer?   The most basic photo edit programs will usually resize and all that I have used will allow resizing horizontally, vertically or overall.  The carving will remain basic but you will need to adjust a slight bit for the enlarged patterns tooling.  Learning to use your basic photo program will pay lots of dividends when working with all sorts of leather patterns.  When someone posts a free pattern, in scale, here you can run it through one of these programs to make it actual size.

[JD Alan]

Not if he's using Will's patterns, which aren't available online, at least as far as I know. Having said that, your idea is really a great one. I'm going to go looking for some online spur straps!

Thanks Bob, once again a great source of quality info, JD

[panhead pete]

Maybe place the pattern in a copier and set the enlarge scale to 120-150%.

Panhead Pete

[Curley Cole]

you can also scan the pattern into the computer, and go into something like Paint shop pro, and hit resze you can make it any size you

curley

[cactus cowboy]

I think that's what I'll do (resize it in the computer). I just thought it would distort it, but I'll take a look and see how it comes out.

Cactus

[RollingThunder]

Trace your pattern on heavyweight paper or cardstock and cut it out. Mark two little X's across from one another on the body of the strap (the deep part where all the floral tooling is), and cut it from one side to the other. Take a rectangular piece of the same paper/card stock in the amount of additional length needed for the strap, and place it between these two, securing the three pieces together with tape. Trim excess off the new addition. Add to the tooling as needed. 

[Curley Cole]

I think that's what I'll do (resize it in the computer). I just thought it would distort it, but I'll take a look and see how it comes out.

Cactus

If you resize  it in Paint Shop Pro/PhotoShop, you click on resize then  click on aspect ratio and leave it at 1:1 and all it does is make the image bigger or smaller....then I would cut out the image and see how the fit is...

hope that helps some
curley