Everyone likes to play hockey, it’s one of the greatest sports there is! It is a lot of fun and you get to meet some cool people. Unfortunately, playing hockey can also be pretty dangerous so you have to be careful. One of the biggest injuries that hockey players suffer from is getting their hands or fingers injured, due to repeated blows by a puck. This is why they wear gloves, to protect their hands. There are many different types of gloves available to hockey players, each one designed for a specific purpose. In this article, we will discuss one of the simpler and most common ways to make a hockey goalie glove.
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Choosing The Right Leather Or Faux Leather For The Surface
When making a hockey glove, you initially need to decide whether you want to use real leather or faux leather for the surface. Real leather is the classic choice when it comes to making hockey gloves as it provides the required durability while maintaining the right feel in your hands. However, it is rather expensive and hard to come by, which makes it more of a luxury item than a common replacement for your hands. Faux leather is a cheaper alternative that is widely available and relatively easy to find. It is also a good option if you want to take the craft of making gloves a step further and want to add some pattern or color to the item.
Cut The Pattern
Once you have determined that you will be using real leather or faux leather for the outer layer of your gloves, you need to cut the pattern for the hand portion. You can either use a template or you can trace the outline of your hand with a ball point pen. Whatever you do don’t forget to round the corners on the pattern so that they fit the curves of your hands perfectly. Once you have your pattern cut out, you can use a rotary tool to create slits in the leather, for the fingers. Make sure to cut the slits at an angle, as this will help improve the grip of your gloves when put into practice.
Soften The Edges With An Overnight Soak
Another important step when making a hockey glove is to soften the edges with an overnight soak. This is a process where you brush up against your leather, to create a better bond between your hands and the item. It is a good idea to do this overnight, so the leather can “rest” and relax, before you begin work on the next step. After you have brushed up against your leather a few times, it will begin to feel like a better bond and you will be able to work on the next step without worrying about ripping or tearing away at the surface. It is also a good idea to do this step on an old towel or cloth, to create more surface area for the soak.
Wash The Surface Down So It Feels Less Leathery
To further improve the grip of your gloves, it is a good idea to “wash” the surface down with soap and water. When you are washing your hands, it is important to get all of the soap from the surface as this will further improve the grip when it is dry. After you have washed down the surface, it is time to let it air dry completely before using any additional tools or water-based chemicals to maintain the shape of the gloves. If you find that your hands are starting to go back to their natural position after several days of wearing these gloves, it is time to wash them again and let the leather “rest” for a while.
Tumble Dry For The Last Step
Last but not least, we have the tumbling dry. This is where you put your gloves through their paces, by throwing them around in the dryer. The tumble dry not only gives your gloves some much needed warmth but it also provides a final shape to the item. For the best results, you should put your gloves in the dryer on a low heat for about 10 minutes; this will make the leather more pliable and give you the desired shape.
As you can see, there are several steps involved in making a hockey goalie glove. It starts off as a simple decision regarding the type of leather that you will use and then you have to cut out a pattern for the hand using either a template or an outline with a pen. After you have cut out the pattern for the hand, you need to brush up against the leather, several times, to achieve the desired soft feel in your hands. You also need to soften the edges with an overnight soak followed by a good wash and dry. To give your gloves some much needed shape, you can either tumble dry them or use a hand dryer on low heat for about 10 minutes.
As you can see, making a hockey goalie glove isn’t exactly easy. It takes some time and patience but if you want to achieve the best possible results, it is definitely worth it. By taking the time to do some research and read the instructions thoroughly, you will be able to make a pair of gloves that players will be sure to enjoy wearing.