F.A.Q.

Q:  What colors can you dye leather?

A:  Here is the basic palette of colors that are available.  However, the true color depends on the number of coats Ryu uses or the colors he combines.

Q:  How does Ryu hand-sew the leather?

A:  Unlike in hand-sewing fabric, you cannot use pins to secure two pieces of leather together while you sew.  In place of the pins, a thin coating of adhesive is applied to hold the pieces in place.  Then a light "seam-margin" is impressed into the top piece of leather. 

After that, a metal fork, with 1-4 tines, is used to mark where each stitch will be.  Curves and corners make many measurements irregular.  Once the location of the stitches has been determined, a hammer is used with the fork to punch small slightly diagonal holes in the leather.  Sometimes the leather needing to be sewn is too thick to use the fork, so each stitch is punched individually.

Where the sewing is on a flat piece of leather, the piece to be sewn is put into a "stitching horse" (a wooden vise) which holds the leather secure while Ryu is sewing it.

Finally the stitching begins!  A piece of waxed thread is cut and needles are attached to each end of it.  The leather is sewn by making "figure-eights", in and out, through each individual stitch.  After the thread is secured, heat or flame are used to melt the wax into the stitch lines.

Q:  How do I measure for a belt?

A:  Well, we'd love to invite you to stop by, but...that just might not be possible for everyone!  First, the size of your waist or pants may not be the same as the size of your belt.  Briefly, the buckle size as well as the leather belt length make up the size of your belt. 

The outside of a basic buckle is called a "frame".  Often this is in a square, rectangle, or "D" shape.  The piece that actually goes through the belt hole is called the "tongue" or "prong."  On your favorite belt, first measure the length of the "tongue" from the bar to where it intersects with the inside of the frame.  This is the first number we need.

Then, measure again, from the place the tongue intersects with the inside of the frame to the belt hole that you use the most.  This is the second number (in inches or centimeters - please be very exact!) that we need. 

Unless otherwise specified, your new belt will be made with five belt holes.  The middle hole will correspond with the belt hole on your old belt that you use the most often.  The other holes are for Thanksgiving dinners or summer hiking!

Q:  What finishes are available?

A:  Ryu uses one of three finishes:  Gloss (a bit shiny), Matte (not shiny!), or conditioning cream.