Was linked to this community so I figured I should share some of my favourite leather pieces that I’ve made in the last year or so as I’ve been learning. I won’t go into detail but I’ll link each one to post that has more pics and details on it in case there is additional interest. There are a few extras in the thumbnail pic too but I’ve not gone into detail for the sake of brevity.

All my work is done in scrap veg tan leather that I get in bulk. Some of my older pieces use flat, waxed polyester thread but I’m trying to move to a natural ramie (“linen”) thread.

I’m a little obsessed with using contrasting and complementary colours in both the leather as well as my thread, so any more natural looking “brown” leather is kind of rare for me… It may not be visible in just the thumbnails but I do have a “signature” thing in most of my work which is to adjoin two pieces of leather, edge on, with an x-stitch. Sometimes it will be to close a loop but more often than not I will be attaching two dissimilar pieces in order to both create a contrast and to avoid needing really large contiguous pieces of leather (remember I mostly work from scraps).

I also draft all my patterns myself, I usually start on some paper to get an idea or to get rough dimensions before using a 2D CAD to create proper dimensioned drawings then print these out, stick them to card and trace them onto the leather. I can then store them away in case I want to re-use them in the future.

So yeah, I like making stuff from leather, its a really fun hobby and I’m enjoying improving my skills. I had a hiatus for a while but with a few birthdays recently I’ve been enjoying making targeted presents for friends (the top two in the list were both presents).

Needle case (Warning, this one is in a women’s only community so read rules if you plan to comment…)

Lego tool holder

Ginkgo leaf bag charm

Wallet

Tiny purse

  • Clay_pidgin@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    1·
    3 days ago

    I really want to get into keeping but I have a few hobbies already on the pile of shame. What is the minimum equipment you’d recommend to get started? I have xacto knives and regular sewing stuff already.

    • Pipster@lemmy.blahaj.zoneOPEnglish
      2·
      3 days ago

      So for leatherwork you can be a bit silly and go very basic but a realistic minimum would be something like:

      • Super sharp craft knife (as you already have)
      • leatherwork needles - you don’t want regular sewing ‘sharps’ as we aren’t actually piercing the leather with the needle (more on this later). Leather needles (specifically saddler harness needles) are blunt and have an eye just big enough to take the thread (you dont ‘tie’ the thread onto the needle, just held with friction). John James needles (at least where I am) are easy and cheap to buy and are kinda the ‘gold standard’
      • Thread - you want 0.8-1mm thick thread ideally, its much thicker and stronger than regular sewing thread. You can get some chinese flat, waxed thread pretty cheap. Its much easier to thread and work with than linen or ramie thread (and you can melt the ends to secure it)
      • Stitching chisels - these are probably the most specialised thing you need. They look like sharp metal forks and are used to make the holes in your work which you then sew. Diamond shaped point chisels are usually easiest (and harder to mix up with ‘pricking’ tools which aren’t designed to go all the way through, just mark). You can usually find them in a set with something like a 9, 5 and 2 prong chisel. You can in theory just use an awl to go through the leather but keeping your stitches even and neat is significantly harder, and the aesthetics of the stitch can be really amazing on a finished piece, its one of the main attractions for me.
      • Contact adhesive - you need this to attach parts of the leather together before stitching. In theory any cheap contact adhesive will do but I now use a water based one thats like super sticky PVA.
      • Mallet - to hammer your stitching chisels in. You dont want a metal hammer as it will damage your tools. A round nylon mallet or a wooden mallet are both good options. You can also a flat faced one for setting your contact adhesive.
      • Poundo board - a thick rubber board you place under your work when using stitching chisels or punches to prevent damage to your work surface and the tools. Technically not entirely necessary but I would never attempt without it.
      • cutting mat - normal self healing craft mat to cut your leather on
      • scratch awl - surprisingly versatile tool for marking out your leather (e.g cutting and stitching lines) and also good for enlargening stitch holes etc.
      • cork backed metal ruler - for marking and cutting lines. Make sure it is cork backed or diy it by attaching some foam or fabric as it will damage the leather if you arent careful. You could also use a crafting ruler (plastic with one metal lined edge). Basically you dont want to keep cutting into it with your knife, you have to apply a lot of pressure when cutting.
      • sandpaper - to prep your edges for burnishing

      I’d say thats all you need to start with. Other ‘nice to haves’ (which are essential later on) will be a burnishing tool, gum tragacanth or tokonole, dividers (for quick stitching line marking) and a bone folder. But those ones I listed above I see as the most important things and most can be bought pretty cheap online from chinese sites.

      I find it a rather fun hobby that is rather niche with the general population so you get a lot of questions and appreciation when you show your work. And its a great skill for making gifts like I do!

      If you have any questions im more than happy to help!