1 - Check you have everything in your Box:

Pre-cut and Punched Leather Pieces
2x Chicago screws
2x Buckles
4x Binder Clips
2x Keyring loops
2x Colours of Handmade Waxed Thread
6x Canvas Cloth
4x Sewing Needles
Illustrated Learner Guide

You will also need:

• Small pair of scissors
• A little pot of water
• Your quality time, 2 - 3 hours

2 - Measure the Thread

Your Leather Tassel has 3 stitching sections, so you will need to cut 4x 45cm and 1x 55cm 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

At this stage you will need to seal the leather edges using a traditional technique called "Burnishing". Using the diagram above to find the edges needing burnishing at this stage.

Take your finger tip and dab a small amount of water on the edge of the leather. Then take your cotton cloth and gently rub the edges, you will see the rough edge turn smooth and shiny.

*Top tip - You can use a cotton bud for express precision when apply your water*

4 - Thread the Needle

A. Thread the eye of the needle with the 55 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.

Crafting the Large Belt

5 - Insert Large Buckle

6 - Insert Large Buckle

Gently insert the buckle onto the strap piece, once inserted fold the end of the leather piece over to align the stitch sections.

7 - Place and clip pieces together

Use the needles to help align correctly, clip in place with the binder clips. Use the canvas cloth to protect the leather. 

7 - Start stitching

Start your stitch by pushing the needle through the top hole of the back stitching section. Pull the needle through so that there is an equal amount of thread on either side.

8 - Secure with a 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.

9 - Use saddle stitch

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

Continue with saddle stitch until you reach the point detailed below

10 - Secure with a 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.

11 - Secure the thread with a backstitch.

Once you reach the end, saddle stitch back on yourself for 2 stitches to secure the thread.

Take you needle from the smooth sides of the leather pieces. Take this needle through the next hole bringing both threads out on the rough side.

12 - Cut and clean

Cut your thread and use your needle to neaten the loose ends

13 - Insert Chicago screw

Align the centre hole of all the pieces, insert your Chicago with the smooth side on the outside and use the mini screw driver to secure

14 - Secure band piece

These next steps apply for both large and small belt pieces

15 - Secure band piece

This step will be done without the binder clips to protect the shape of the leather, you will need to secure the small leather piece in your fingers while stitching.

16 - Start stitching

Following step 4, Re-thread your needles with a 45cm length of thread.

Start your stitch by pushing the needle through the top hole of the back stitching section. Pull the needle through so that there is an equal amount of thread on either side.

17 - Secure with a 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.

Once the bar tack is complete, gently fold the piece up to create a loop shape that will fit in belt loop. The edges of the leather should line up to create a flush piece.

18 - Move Stitch sections

Take the right side needle and bring it cross but down to the underside hole. This will allow you to start a second bar tack below.

19 - Secure with a 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.

20 - Secure the thread

Cross your needle back over and go down into the hole opposite the starting needle. This will bring them out of the first stitch section on the under rough side of the leather.

21 - Secure the thread

Tie 3 knots in your thread and snip any excess thread

22 - Mold leather

Gently mold the leather piece into shape

23 - Repeat for other belt piece

Repeat steps 16 - 22 for the other sized belt piece

24 - Insert large belt piece

Take the larger belt piece and insert onto the large belt loop

25 - Secure belt

26 - Insert Chicago screw

Align the centre hole of all the pieces, insert your Chicago with the smooth side on the outside and use the mini screw driver to secure

Crafting the Small Belt

13 - Insert Small Buckle

Gently insert the buckle onto the strap piece, once inserted fold the end of the leather piece over to align the stitch sections.

7 - Place and clip pieces together

Use the needles to help align correctly, clip in place with the binder clips. Use the canvas cloth to protect the leather

8 - Start stitching

Following step 4, Re-thread your needles with a 45cm length of thread.

Start your stitch by pushing the needle through the top hole of the back stitching section. Pull the needle through so that there is an equal amount of thread on either side.

9 - Secure with a 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 - Use saddle stitch

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

Continue with saddle stitch until you reach the point detailed below

11 - Secure with a 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.

12 - Secure the thread with a backstitch.

Once you reach the end, saddle stitch back on yourself for 2 stitches to secure the thread.

Take you needle from the smooth sides of the leather pieces. Take this needle through the next hole bringing both threads out on the rough side.

13 - Cut and clean

Cut your thread and use your needle to neaten the loose ends

24 - Insert small belt piece

Take the larger belt piece and insert onto the small belt loop

Align the small loop between the completed and none completed stitch section

7 - Place and clip pieces together

Use the needles to help align correctly, clip in place with the binder clips. Use the canvas cloth to protect the leather

8 - Start stitching

Following step 4, Re-thread your needles with a 45cm length of thread.

Start your stitch by pushing the needle through the top hole of the back stitching section. Pull the needle through so that there is an equal amount of thread on either side.

9 - Secure with a 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 - Use saddle stitch

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

Continue with saddle stitch until you reach the point detailed below

11 - Secure with a 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.

12 - Secure the thread with a backstitch.

Once you reach the end, saddle stitch back on yourself for 2 stitches to secure the thread.

Take you needle from the smooth sides of the leather pieces. Take this needle through the next hole bringing both threads out on the rough side.

13 - Cut and clean

Cut your thread and use your needle to neaten the loose ends

56 - Final Burnish

You will want to burnish all the outer edges of the leather piece

Ta-daa! Great job - you have now finished your personally crafted .Ar:ti|sans Belt Set! What will you choose to do now with your Belt Set - gift it or maybe use it yourself?

We would love to see your creation! 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.