Tools and materials:
(Clockwise from lower left)
Leather 
Suede leather lace
Wooden button
Two piece (speedy) rivets
Old piece of plastic to punch on
Leather punch
Hammer
Heavy duty scissors
Rivet setter

Pattern of the piece including holes and notes

Pattern material is pretty cheap. Use it to make changes if needed before committing to expensive material

Sometime the leather has flaws/marks. Piece has been laid out to take advantage or hide the flaw

Pattern traced and holes marked. Try to keep the pieces together to minimize waste

It's easier to cut the grouped pieces off the main piece of leather then cut out the individual pieces.


Individual pieces cut

Punching the holes

Holes punched, ready for assembly

Belt loops riveted to the back piece

Lacing has begun. It's easiest to start at the middle and work to the outsides

Lacing complete and button added


Completed pouch

Still winter

Past the holidays now but still in cold and flu season. Family has been sick and I have not felt my best. I am still hitting the pell 100 times with each hand every day.

We had fighter practice yesterday evening. I felt very sluggish and slow. I did seem to run as long or longer than the younger guys. Keeping my shield up and keeping the sword moving did not tire me out as it had in the past. I still hesitate and fail to see the openings that should be there but I feel I am out there longer. This is a benefit and I feel the other skills will come as long as I am out fighting and not just talking about it.

Worked a bit with the claymore, offense and defense. It definitely needs a thrusting tip as both myself and my opponent had to actively think about it to keep from thrusting. The hockey gloves are OK but I will want hard gauntlets for extended fighting. My opponent had a cross hilted sword so we were able to trade weapons without changing hand protection. It was much easier to use that I expected. I think if I get a decent set of gauntlets, I will also get myself a cross hilted sword.