Plant Hanger Instructions
1. Check you have everything in your kit
- Pre-cut and Punched Leather Pieces
- 3 x Canvas Cloth for burnishing & protecting
- 2 x Binder Clips to help you stitch
- 2 x Colours of Handmade Waxed Thread
- 1 x Gold Loop
- 1 x Keyring Loop
- 2 x Sewing Needles
You will also need:
- Small pair of scissors
- Your quality time, 2-3 hours
- A small pot of water
2. Measure the thread
Your Plant Hanger has 6 stitching sections so you will need to cut 6 lengths of thread, each measuring 50cm. Start by choosing the thread colour that you would like to stitch with, measure, and then cut the six 50cm pieces of wax thread.
3. Burnish all edges
Burnishing leather is the process of sealing and smoothing the rough, raw edges of a leather item to produce professionally finished edges.
Start burnishing by using your fingertip to gently wet the edges of each of the leather pieces. Be careful not to get any liquid on the leather surface. Using one of the canvas cloths provided, rub the edges until smooth and shiny.
Top Tip!
Use a cotton bud for extra precision when wetting the edge so as not to damage the leather surface.
Did you know?
Beeswax is one of the oldest conditioning treatments still used today in many ways. It helps to finish leather edges, waterproof leather, forms cord, thread and lubricates lace for easier stitching and lacing.
4. Thread the needles
A. Thread the eye of the needle with the thread measuring 40cm.
B. Pull through 6-8cm of thread and then pierce the thread.
C. Pierce the thread again at 1cm distance along the long piece of thread.
D. Holding the needle tip, pull down the entire thread. This is called locking the needle.
E. Follow steps A-D with the other end of the thread and second needle.
5. Start attaching the strips
Lay 1 strip on top of the circular base, lining it up with the stitch holes on the base. Clip in place, using the cloth to protect the leather.
6. Start stitching
Push your needle through the first hole (passing through both pieces of leather) and pull the thread through until you have an even amount of the thread on both sides.
7. Saddle stitch along the stitch section
A. With your left hand, take the needle from one side of the Plant Hanger and pass it through the next hole.
B. Pull this needle through, leaving a loop of thread about 10cm long on the side.
C. Take the second needle and push it through the same hole as the first. Avoid piercing the thread as you do this and pull the other thread tightly to the side as this will help.
D. Pull both needles away from the leather to form a tight stitch. Repeat this for every stitch hole.
8. Secure the thread
Once you've reached the end you will need to secure your thread. To do this you can use back stitch. Change direction of the stitch and stitch back 3 stitches, then cut the thread as close to the hole as possible and tuck away any visible ends with the back side of your needle.
9. Repeat steps 4-8 on all 6 strips
10. Attach the ring
Lay your hanger flat with the back side facing up, place your O-ring in the middle of the base.
11. Thread the leather cord
Take 1 piece of leather cord and put one end through the punched hole in one of the strips. Put the other end through the O-ring in the centre, and then the punch hole in the strip directly opposite.
12. Tie the cord to the strip ends
A. On each end, in order to tie the cord to the strip, pull 9cm of the cord through the hole and fold it back on itself.
B. Wrap the cord end around itself 2 times creating loops around the cord.
C. On the 3rd time bring the end up through the bottom of the loops and pull everything tight.
D. This creates an attractive adjustable knot called a slip knot but you can use any knot style you prefer.
Finished Leather Plant Hanger!
Ta-daa! Congratulations, you have now finished your personally crafted .Ar:ti|sans Plant Hanger!
We would love to see your creation and where you choose to put it in your home! Maybe you will use it to hang a plant in your kitchen or gift it to a friend who wants to bring some green into their home. Share it with us and our crafting community so we can celebrate your leathercraft dexterity. Tag us @artisans.life on Instagram (using the hashtag #artisanslife), tell us what you enjoyed most about the making experience.
P.S. Did you recognise our Keyring Kit wrapped in your thread? Now you can practice your leathercraft skills further by crafting your very own leather keyring! Click here to access the Keyring Craft Kit instructions blog.
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