Leather Bookmark Instructions

1 - Check you have everything in your bookmark kit:

1. Pre-cut and Punched Leather Piece
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 Bookmark has 1 stitching section, so you will need to cut a 30cm length of thread. Start by choosing the thread colour that you would like to stitch with, then measure and cut the 30cm piece of wax thread.

3 - Burnish the edges.

Burnish around the whole piece of leather.

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. 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 30cm 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.

5 - Fold leather piece and clip in place

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. 

Did you know?

Leather craft requires skill with both hands. Using your non-dominant hand creates stronger connections between your brain’s hemispheres and increases brain function.

6 - Sew sides together 

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

7 - 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.

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.

• 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. 

9 - Secure the thread

Once you've reached the end you will need to secure your thread. Create another bar tack stitch. Now take the needle from the embossed side, insert through the first hole leaving you with both needles on one side.

10 - Cut the threads

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

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