Leather Wallet Instructions
1 - Check you have everything in your Wallet kit:
- Pre-cut and Punched Leather Pieces
- 3 x Canvas Cloth for burnishing & protecting
- 2 x Binder Clips to help you stitch
- 4 x Colours of Handmade Waxed Thread
- 1 x Keyring Loop
- 2 x Sewing Needles
You will also need:
- Small pair of scissors
- A little pot of water
- Your quality time, 1-2 hours
2 - Measure the Thread
Your Wallet has 5 stitching sections, so you will need to cut 3x 35cm & 2x 50cm 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
Burnish all edges that will be inaccessible after stitching.
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 Wallet. 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.
Your kit includes a Leathercraft Basics instructions guide. Please refer to the Burnishing the Edges section for further diagrams and instructions.
-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 35cm 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 1
5 - Align and Clip
Align piece B onto piece C as shown. Both smooth sides should be facing up. Line 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
With the 35cm length of thread, pass one needle through the top hole 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 Wallet 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 Stitch
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 from the smooth side and bring it down 1 stitch to leave you with both needles on the same side. Cut excess threads.
Your kit includes a Leathercraft Basics instructions guide. Please refer to the Securing the Thread section for further diagrams and instructions.
Saddle Stitch 2
9 - Align and Clip
Align piece A onto piece B as shown. Both smooth sides should be facing up. Line 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.
10 - Start Stitch
With the 35cm length of thread, pass one needle through the top hole and pull the thread through until you have an even amount on both sides.
11 - Locking Backstitch
This stitch section requires a locking backstitch to add durability. Proceed to stitch forward 1 stitch hole following the A-D saddle stitch instructions from step 7. Take your needles and stitch backwards 1 stitch in the opposite direction. You will now be back at the start of the stitch section at the first hole, ready for saddle stitch.
12 - Saddle Stitch
- A. With your left hand, take the needle from one side of your Wallet 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.
13 - Secure 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. Cut excess threads.
Your kit includes a Leathercraft Basics instructions guide. Please refer to the Securing the Thread section for further diagrams and instructions.
Saddle Stitch 3
14 - Manoeuvre Pieces into Place
You will now need to manoeuvre the leather pieces into a new position ready for another stitch section. Take piece C and fold the flap over piece A like shown in the diagram.
15 - Align and Clip
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.
16 - Start Stitch
With the 35cm length of thread, pass one needle through the top hole and pull the thread through until you have an even amount on both sides.
17 - Saddle Stitch
- A. With your left hand, take the needle from one side of your Wallet 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.
18 - Secure 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. Cut excess threads.
Your kit includes a Leathercraft Basics instructions guide. Please refer to the Securing the Thread section for further diagrams and instructions.
Saddle Stitch 4
19 - Fold and Clip
Fold 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.
20 - Start Stitch
With the 50cm length of thread, pass one needle through the top hole and pull the thread through until you have an even amount on both sides.
21 - Locking Backstitch
This stitch section requires a locking backstitch to add durability. Proceed to stitch forward 1 stitch hole following the A-D saddle stitch instructions from step 7. Take your needles and stitch backwards 1 stitch in the opposite direction. You will now be back at the start of the stitch section at the first hole, ready for saddle stitch.
22 - Saddle Stitch
- A. With your left hand, take the needle from one side of your Wallet 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.
23 - Secure 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 outer 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.
24 - 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.
25 - Repeat on Other Stitch Section
Repeat Steps 22 - 27 on opposite stitch section
26 - Final Burnish
You will want to burnish all the outer edges of the leather piece.
Repeat the instructions detailed in step 3.
27 - Mold Leather
Gently mould the holder to give the curve a nice rounded shape.
Ta-daa! Great job - you have now finished your personally crafted .Ar:ti|sans Wallet! What will you choose to do now with your Wallet - gift it or maybe use it yourself?
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.
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