1 - Check you have everything in your Box:

Pre-cut and Punched Leather Pieces
9x Chicago screws, 1x Double loop
2x Buckles, 2x D-rings, 2x Bolt snaps
4x Binder Clips, 2x Keyring loops, 6x Canvas Cloth
2x Colours of Handmade Waxed Thread
1x Mini Screwdriver
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 Satchel Bag has 9 stitching sections, so you will need to cut 6x 80cm 4x 115cm and 1x 130cm 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 80cm 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.

5 - Place and clip pieces together

Place your two bag pieces together and use the needles to help align correctly, clip in place with the binder clips. Use the canvas cloth to protect the leather. 

6 - 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.

7 - 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. 

8 - 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.

11 - Cut and clean

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

12 - Repeat for other side

Repeat steps 5 - 11 for the other strap piece

13 - Locate holes for alignment

Take this time to find the correct holes for alignment circled in orange

14 - Place and clip pieces together

Place your two bag pieces together and use the needles to help align correctly, clip in place with the binder clips. Use the canvas cloth to protect the leather. 

15 - Start stitching

Following step 4, Re-thread your needles with a 130cm 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.

16 - Locking Backstitch

This stitch section requires a locking backstitch to add durability. It may look like you have started 1 stitch down from the start, but in this step you will go back on yourself to create the locking stitch before starting your 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 away from 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.

Your thread will now be at the first stitching hole.

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. 

17 - 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. 

18 - 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.

19 - Cut and clean

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

20 - Insert D-ring

Locate the strap piece detailed in the image below. Take the d-ring and gently insert over the leather piece

21 - Locate holes for alignment

Take this time to find the correct holes for alignment circled in orange. The cutter pattern will need to be facing the correct way which is detailed below in orange

22 - Attach your strap piece

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.

23 - Repeat for other side of gusset piece

Repeat on the other side of the gusset piece

24 - Start stitching

Following step 4, Re-thread your needles with a 80cm 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.

25 - Locking Backstitch

This stitch section requires a locking backstitch to add durability. It may look like you have started 1 stitch down from the start, but in this step you will go back on yourself to create the locking stitch before starting your 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 away from 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.

Your thread will now be at the first stitching hole.

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. 

26 - 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

27 - 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.

28 - Cut and clean

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

29 - Repeat on the other side

Repeat from step 24 - 28 for the other side of the gusset piece

30 - Insert the top strap

Locate all your top strap pieces detailed in the image below

31 - Insert strap piece

Align the holes in the main bag section and small strap piece, once aligned you can insert your Chicago screw and secure with the mini screw driver

32 - Insert strap piece

Insert the main strap piece under the small piece

33 - Insert strap piece

Align the holes in the main bag section and small strap piece, once aligned you can insert your Chicago screw and secure with the mini screw driver

34 - Repeat and finish top strap

Repeats steps 31 - 33 to finish your top handle

35 - Locate holes for alignment

Take this time to find the correct holes for alignment circled in orange

36 - Place and clip pieces together

Place your two bag pieces rough sides together and use the needles to help align correctly, clip in place with the binder clips. Use the canvas cloth to protect the leather. 

37 - Start stitching

Following step 4, Re-thread your needles with a 115cm 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.

38 - 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.

39 - 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

40 - 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.

41 - Cut and clean

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

42 - Start stitching

From where you left off. 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.

43 - 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

44 - 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.

45 - Secure the thread with a backstitch.

When you reach the end, use Saddle stitch to stitch back on yourself for 3 stitches to secure the thread.

46 - Cut and clean

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

47 - Stitch your strap piece

Insert your buckle piece into the magnet strap piece

48 - Place and clip pieces together

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

49 - Start stitching

Following step 4, Re-thread your needles with a 80cm 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.

50 - Locking Backstitch

This stitch section requires a locking backstitch to add durability. It may look like you have started 1 stitch down from the start, but in this step you will go back on yourself to create the locking stitch before starting your 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 away from 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.

Your thread will now be at the first stitching hole.

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. 

51 - 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

52 - 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.

53 - Cut and clean

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

54 - Attach strap piece

55 - Repeat for other side

56 - Final Burnish

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

57 -Adding the Strap

58 - Inserting C-clip Piece

Insert the C-clip piece into the leather strap

59 - Secure strap

Align the holes and insert the Chicago screw. Secure with the mini screw driver

Repeat on the shorter strap piece

60 - Inserting buckle Piece

Insert the buckle piece piece into the leather strap

Align the holes and insert the Chicago screw. Secure with the mini screw driver

61 - Mold Leather

Gently mold the leather with your hands

62 - Secure strap

Insert and fold to secure the strap pieces together

62 - Attach strap

Use your C-clips to attach the strap to your bag

Ta-daa! Great job - you have now finished your personally crafted .Ar:ti|sans Satchel Bag! What will you choose to do now with your Mini Satchel Bag - 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.