I'm going off-prompt today with my journal and am taking this "easy day" as a chance to actually show something I've made this last week. Because I can't share Christmas gifts yet it's a wee treat to be able to show something and I was a bit pleased with this one.
My brother (and his wife AND my dad!) is a December birthday and had asked a few months ago if I thought I'd be able to make a guitar strap pad for him. Upon further chat and investigation it turns out there's a real lack of cool straps themselves available - so I had a bash at making the whole shebang.
You can buy the leather ends in the States (or a kit for making your own strap) but not here in backwards Britain. So I really did make the whole thing - I bought leather and had a go at sewing it. I even had a punch I bought years ago for setting eyelets in my scrapbooks! The hardwear came from a cheap strap I bought - the hardest thing to find was 2 inch square rings. You can't get them for love nor money here!
It worked pretty well and as soon as I saw that paisley fabric I knew it was perfect for him. The pad itself is lightly padded with 3 layers of quilt wadding. I did have half a notion to cut down a pair of memory foam insoles for stuffing but wasn't sure if that would make it too padded. So I decided to caw canny* with the prototype.
* a Scots phrase meaning take it easy! Your vernacular lesson for the day. You're welcome. *g*
It worked pretty well and as soon as I saw that paisley fabric I knew it was perfect for him. The pad itself is lightly padded with 3 layers of quilt wadding. I did have half a notion to cut down a pair of memory foam insoles for stuffing but wasn't sure if that would make it too padded. So I decided to caw canny* with the prototype.
It was gifted on Tuesday and happily received, went straight on on of his eleven guitars (eleven!) and tried for size and deemed perfect. So we will see how it goes. I've warned him not to be too Pete Townsend with it until we see how it wears. I'm worried about the thickness of the leather, the stitching on the leather, the buckle slipping and it just generally being not fit for purpose. But it looks great! I've said if it works (or needs minor adjustments) I'm more than happy to have a go at another since I like a challenge and he has plenty other guitars!
* a Scots phrase meaning take it easy! Your vernacular lesson for the day. You're welcome. *g*
What a great present! I had no idea that nice guitar straps were so hard to come by!
ReplyDeleteANd thanks for the lesson....I know that's for me!:) xo
ReplyDeletei appreciate the Scots lesson too! Good job on the strap
ReplyDeletewhat a clever idea - isn't it odd what you can't get in one place but can in another?
ReplyDelete