Leather has been synonymous with royalty ever since humans discovered its usability. Leather Crafting gives you the freedom to add a sense of originality and individuality to your products. Imagine this, in times when presents are anonymously outsourced, wouldn’t it be a special present for your loved ones?
Usually, we constrain ourselves from giving out free advice. But, considering it is leathercraft, we just couldn’t help ourselves. Understanding the nuances of leathercraft involves a certain degree of finesse, much like that of a connoisseur of wine. It is an art - the process being more important than the outcome.
Dexterous nimble fingers work in unison in an attempt to emulate the vision in the mind. This engagement of the mind and the body stimulates a state of flow, acting as a therapeutic exercise rather than being just a hobby.
If you’ve ventured into the field of leathercraft but are not sure of how to proceed, stay put. We have put together this leathercrafting guide entailing free leathercraft advice for enthusiasts. First and foremost, let us understand the base material that we will be working with, leather.
Read More: Leather 101: Beginner’s Guide to Leathercrafting
Getting Introduced to Leather
Many people believe that leather is well, leather. But that can’t be further away from the truth. With variations arising due to either the manufacturing process, the quality of animal hide or the efficiency with which it is extracted, the ecosphere of leather is very diverse.
Thus, without complicating things more than they need to be, here’s an overview of the types of base leathers commonly available that’ll smoothen your journey of choosing leather for leathercrafting.
Vegetable Tanned
This is one of the most versatile types of leather for leather crafting and can be used for a wide array of projects. It is commonly used in high-end wallets, belts or even pet collars. If you want to feel your way into leather crafting, we recommend you use this leather as a base in your projects.
Recommended: Beginners To Intermediate
Latigo
Latigo leather provides a more elegant and sleek finish than its base constituents of veg-tanned and chrome-tanned. It is also more pliable, making it difficult to be tooled.
Recommended: Intermediate to Advanced
Bridle
Slightly on the expensive side, it is treated with oils and dyed with colours which adds to its aesthetic value. Being weather-resistant, it is useful for products that are to be used outdoors.
Recommended: Intermediate to Advanced
Cordovan
Cordovan leather is very durable which is reflected in its price. Handling this requires a lot of expertise and is not recommended for beginners.
Recommended: Advanced
Upholstery
This leather is soft but cannot be tooled at all and is used in sofas, and seat covers.
Recommended: Intermediate to Advanced
Read More: The Best Leather Making Courses in the UK (Offline and Online)
Grades of Leather You Can Use
Now that you’re familiar with the jargon used in the leather marketplace, you can select the base leather according to your level of expertise. For enthusiasts who have been into leather crafting for a substantial period, here’s another list we’ve put together based on the workability and quality of leather.
Full Grain Leather
Quality: Top-notch, highest quality of leather
Used For: Saddlebacks
Top Grain Leather
Quality: Second best quality of leather
Used For: Suede and nubuck-making, making high-end products such as handbags and jackets
Corrected Grain
Quality: Sanded to remove natural imperfections
Uses: Making jackets, handbags, messenger bags, accessories, footwear, and furniture.
Bonded Leather
Quality: Lowest and cheapest grade of leather
Uses: Making furniture, bookbinding, and various fashion accessories
Assembling Your Leather Crafting Toolkit
A poor craftsman blames his tools, but we will make sure that this adage doesn’t hold in our case. If you have substantial experience in leathercrafting, then try and assemble your tools based on the product that you will be working on.
Regardless, these are some beginner leather crafting tools - the absolute must-haves in every leathercrafting ensemble.
Stitching Chisels
These are used to poke holes in the leather before you start stitching.
Stitching Needles
They’re thicker than the typical needle and fit the thread.
Wax Thread
To stitch the pieces together.
Scratch Awls
These are predominantly used to pierce holes in the leather.
Cutting Board
You want to make sure you’ve got a solid surface at your workstation. You don’t want to damage the surface while piercing holes through the leather.
Miscellaneous
Make sure to keep items like glue, rulers and sandpaper handy. You don’t want to get stuck up on a project because of these.
Most of these tools can be obtained from your warehouse. If not, Amazon provides the most convenient solutions in trying to procure your toolkit. And you need some base leather of course. If you’re unsure of whether leathercrafting is your hobby, just get yourself the cheapest and junkiest piece of leather in the style that you want to work with.
Read More: How To Saddle Stitch Leather? All You Need To Know
Important Advice For Leathercrafting Enthusiasts
For most, working with leather as the canvas can become overwhelming, which is why proper guidance is a must. Most enthusiasts lose interest once they face obstacles while stitching. These simple leathercraft tips and tricks will elevate your experience while using leather.
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Stencil out your design with chalk
Before jumping onto actually cutting the leather, make sure you stencil out your design. This will help you achieve a high degree of intricacy in your finished product.
Tip - Consider using a sharpener to create a finer-point for an even higher level of detail.
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Wet your leather before working on it
With the right amount of moisture in it, the leather becomes workable. In any other condition, it becomes difficult to get clean cuts.
Tip - Try using a water-spray. It helps to regulate the moisture and you have more control over the apparatus.
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Get a feel for your tools
This is important especially with detail-oriented tools. Lack of practice shows through the indecisiveness in the cuts.
Tip- Practice, practice and practice!
Leathercraft is a passion and shouldn’t be treated like a chore. In line with that philosophy, we at .Ar:ti|sans have an extensive in-house leathercrafting collection ranging from tools to leather product in one kit. We recommend you to keep up with our leathercraft advice, get hold of our leather crafting resources and embark on your DIY leather journey today!
To order our beginner's leathercraft kit, click here. Here's a list of our amazing DIY leather crafting kits that you can use to begin making leather products on your own.
DIY Leather Passport Holder Kit
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