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Make Your Own Leather Incense Holder | Instructions

Make Your Own Leather Incense Holder | Instructions

1 - Check you have everything in your Incense Holder kit:

  1. Pre-cut and Punched Leather Pieces
  2. 3 x Canvas Cloth for burnishing & protecting
  3. 2 x Binder Clips to help you stitch
  4. 2 x Colours of Handmade Waxed Thread
  5. 1 x Keyring Loop
  6. 2 x Sewing Needles

You will also need:

  • Small pair of scissors
  • A little pot of water
  • Your quality time, ½ - 1 hours

2 - Measure the thread.

Your Incense Holder has 2 stitching sections, so you will need to cut 2x 45cm lengths. Start by choosing the thread colour that you would like to stitch with, then measure and cut the pieces of wax thread.

3 - Burnish the 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 outer edges. Be careful not to get any liquid on the leather surface. Using one of the canvas cloths provided, rub the outer 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.

4. Thread the needles

A. Thread the eye of the needle with the thread measuring 45cm. 

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.

Your kit includes a Leathercraft Basics instructions guide. Please refer to the Threading the Needle section for further diagrams and instructions.

5. Line up the holes and clip in place

Line up the holes along the side of part A and part B and clip the pieces together, with right sides facing out. Use the cloth to protect the leather from being marked by the clips. 

6. Sew the sides together

Pass one needle through the top hole and pull the thread through until you have an even amount on both sides. 

Did you know?

Vegetable tanning processes use tree bark from trees such as Oak, Chestnut, Quebrancho and other natural vegetable extracts.

7 - Create a simple secure bar tack

Create a simple secure bar tack stitch by bringing the right hand needle up and over to the other side, pushing the needle through and back to the right side, creating a loop of thread. 

Pull this firmly closed and repeat 3 times.

8 - Use saddle stitch.

A.  With your left hand, take the needle from one side of your Incense Holder and pass it through the next hole. You will be stitching along the piece towards yourself.

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. 

Your kit includes a Leathercraft Basics instructions guide. Please refer to the Simple Saddle Stitch section for further diagrams and instructions.

9 - Create a simple secure bar tack

Create a simple secure bar tack stitch by bringing the right hand needle up and over to the other side, pushing the needle through and back to the right side, creating a loop of thread. 

Pull this firmly closed and repeat 3 times.

10 - Secure the thread

Stitch back 2 stitches. Stitch one more hole with the needle on the embossed side. This will bring both needles out on the underside of the product.

Your kit includes a Leathercraft Basics instructions guide. Please refer to the Securing the Thread section for further diagrams and instructions.

11 - Cut and Tuck

Cut the thread as close to the hole as possible and tuck away any visible ends with the back side of your needle. 

12 - Fold and Clip

Fold over piece B with right sides facing out using your needles to help align. Use the cloth to protect the leather from being marked by the clips. 

13 - Sew sides together

Pass one needle through the top hole and pull the thread through until you have an even amount on both sides. 

14 - Create a simple secure bar tack

Create a simple secure bar tack stitch by bringing the right hand needle up and over to the other side, pushing the needle through and back to the right side, creating a loop of thread. 

Pull this firmly closed and repeat 3 times.

15 - Use saddle stitch.

A.  With your left hand, take the needle from one side of your Incense Holder and pass it through the next hole. You will be stitching along the piece towards yourself.

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.

Your kit includes a Leathercraft Basics instructions guide. Please refer to the Simple Saddle Stitch section for further diagrams and instructions.

16 - Create a simple secure bar tack

Create a simple secure bar tack stitch by bringing the right hand needle up and over to the other side, pushing the needle through and back to the right side, creating a loop of thread. 

Pull this firmly closed and repeat 3 times.

17 - Secure the Thread

Take the needle from the embossed side, insert through the first hole leaving you with both needles on one side.

Your kit includes a Leathercraft Basics instructions guide. Please refer to the Securing the Thread section for further diagrams and instructions.

18 - Cut and Tuck

Cut the thread as close to the hole as possible and tuck away any visible ends with the back side of your needle. 

19 - Mold the leather

Gently mould piece B to give the curve a nice rounded shape. 

Ta-daa! Great job - you have now finished your personally crafted .Ar:ti|sans Incense Holder! What will you choose to do now with your Incense Holder - gift it or maybe use it yourself? Why not craft a few and impress with classy table favours?

We would love to see your creation in your 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), drop us an email or leave us a review on our website to 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.