Leather Corner Bookmarks Instructions

1 - Check you have everything in your Corner Bookmarks 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. 4 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

The Corner Bookmarks have 3 stitching sections, so you will need to cut a 2x 40cm & 1x 60cm lengths of thread. 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 of your bookmark pieces. 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 Needle

• A. Thread the eye of the needle with the 60cm piece of thread. 
• 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.

Saddle Stitch Heart

5 - Clip Pieces

Align the piece as shown, lining up the holes using one of the included needles and then clipping it in place with the binder clips. Use the canvas cloth to protect the leather. 

6 - Start Stitch

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

7 - Saddle Stitch

• A. With your left hand, take the needle from one side of your Bookmark 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.

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 and stitch back 1 stitch, take your needle on the smooth side and bring it down 1 stitch to leave you with both needles on the same side.

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

9 - Cut Thread

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

Saddle Stitch Wave

10 - Clip Pieces

Align the piece as shown, lining up the holes using one of the included needles and then clipping it in place with the binder clips. Use the canvas cloth to protect the leather. 

11 - Pull Thread Through

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

12 - Saddle Stitch

• With your left hand, take the needle from one side of your Bookmark and pass it through the next hole. You will be stitching along the piece towards yourself.
• Pull this needle through, leaving a loop of thread about 10cm long on the side.
• 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.
• 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.

13 - 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 and stitch back 1 stitch, take your needle on the smooth side and bring it down 1 stitch to leave you with both needles on the same side.

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

14 - 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. 

15 - Repeat steps 11 - 14 on other side

Ta-daa! Great job - you have now finished your personally crafted .Ar:ti|sans Corner Bookmarks! What will you choose to do now with your Corner Book Marks - gift it or enjoy using it yourself? They are the perfect gift for teachers, graduates and bookworms alike!

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.