I managed to open up the flap pocket on my new Tharpe - so I thought I'd post pics of it. I thought that they'd simply put the zipper and leather trim on top of a solid piece of leather that didn't have a slit for the pocket but I was wrong. The leather that is under the zip is not a part of the main body of the flap - instead it's a small piece sewn in by the innermost set of stitches that holds the zipper in place. It's old serves to cover that slit.

I used embroidery scissors and nail scissors to open the pocket.

First I pinched the fabric lining from the back so that it wouldn't get cut. It turns out there are two layers you need to pinch.




Then I folded the flap in half lengthwise and made a small snip barely through the leather. This shot was taken after but this is how I folded it.


Then you should be able to slip the tip of the scissors through and cut along the length of the zip. You can see the fabric lining the interior.


Pulling open the flap you can see the white liner and where the red leather strip was attached. The back of the leather strip is a little bit tacky with leather glue.



Comparison shot to the inside of the grey Tharpe flap

I trimmed around the opening more so that the edges would clear the zip





I now have a working pocket and will test it out. It is not finished like the ones in the old Tharpe and the minus is that you might get a bit of tacky leather glue on things you put in there. There is glue near both rows of stitches in the image below - I didn't have a good pic of the CA Tharpe to use and so used teh grey one

I think it's odd that they followed the pattern to a point and then added leather to make it non-functional rather than finishing and lining this pocket.

OMG you are brave, Moth! Thank you for intrepidly exploring this new territory and documenting it so well.

Moth - you are so smart and creative. And clearly - a risk-taker!

Great job Moth! You are brave! I would have paid someone to do what you did! I use that pocket on my tharpe for credit cards all the time & I love it! Between that & the strap length, I wont buy another Tharpe if they dont correct these changes.

Amazing, Moth.
I would never have had steady enough hands (and nerves) to do this1

You rock!

Man, I'm impressed, MB. I wonder what's up with the 'new' HH and this production error...

way to pop that cherry, i mean pocket open....

Originally Posted by PiggyinManolos

way to pop that cherry, i mean pocket open....

Great idea! I am sending mine your way

Originally Posted by PiggyinManolos

way to pop that cherry, i mean pocket open....