| Tool |
Purpose |
Notes |
| Cutting Knife / Rotary Cutter |
Cutting leather pieces |
Sharp blades, precision required |
| Leather Shears |
Heavy-duty scissors |
For cutting thick leather |
| Edge Beveler |
Rounds off leather edges |
Adds professional finish |
| Hole Punch Set |
Creates holes for stitching, hardware |
Different sizes for various uses |
| Stitching Groover |
Grooves for stitching lines |
Guides needle and thread |
| Pricking Irons / Chisels |
Mark stitching holes evenly |
Various hole spacing options |
| Leather Needles |
For hand stitching |
Blunt tip needles for durability |
| Waxed Thread |
Strong stitching thread |
Available in various thicknesses/colours |
| Mallet / Hammer |
Sets punches and stamps |
Rawhide or poly mallet preferred |
| Burnishing Tools |
Smooths and seals edges |
Wood or bone burnishers |
| Cutting Mat |
Protects surfaces |
Self-healing mats recommended |
| Skiving Knife |
Thins leather edges |
Useful for seams and folds |
| Leather Dye & Finish |
Colours and protects leather |
Oil-based or water-based dyes |
Common Leather Types for Crafting
| Leather Type |
Description |
Best For |
Thickness |
Cost |
| Vegetable-Tanned |
Natural, ages beautifully |
Tooling, wallets, belts |
2-6 oz |
$$ |
| Chrome-Tanned |
Softer, flexible |
Bags, garments |
1-4 oz |
$$ |
| Oil-Tanned |
Water-resistant, durable |
Outdoor gear |
3-6 oz |
$$$ |
| Patent Leather |
Glossy finish |
Fashion items |
Thin |
$$$ |
| Suede / Nubuck |
Soft, textured finish |
Accessories |
Thin |
$$ |
| Exotic Leather |
Unique textures (snake, alligator) |
Luxury goods |
Varies |
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Leathercraft Techniques
| Technique |
Description |
Tools Required |
Skill Level |
| Cutting & Shaping |
Precision cutting and edge beveling |
Cutting knife, edge beveler |
Beginner |
| Hand Stitching (Saddle Stitch) |
Durable two-needle stitch |
Pricking irons, needles, waxed thread |
Intermediate |
| Edge Burnishing |
Smooth, sealed edges |
Burnishing tool, water or gum tragacanth |
Beginner |
| Leather Dyeing |
Colouring leather evenly |
Dye, sponge/brush, gloves |
Intermediate |
| Tooling & Stamping |
Decorative patterns on veg-tan leather |
Stamps, mallet |
Intermediate |
| Skiving |
Thinning leather for folds |
Skiving knife |
Advanced |
| Hardware Installation |
Rivets, snaps, buckles |
Hole punches, setters |
Beginner-Intermediate |
Recommended Starter Kits
| Kit |
Includes |
Price Range |
Best For |
| Tandy Leather Starter Kit |
Basic tools, leather pieces |
$40–70 |
Beginners |
| Crafters Leather Supply Kit |
Tools, dyes, needles, threads |
$50–90 |
Hobbyists |
| DIY Wallet Kit |
Pre-cut leather, tools |
$30–50 |
Quick projects |
| Professional Tool Kit |
Full tool set + hardware |
$100–200 |
Serious crafters |
Project Ideas by Skill Level
Beginner Projects
| Project |
Materials |
Tools Needed |
Time |
Sell Price |
| Leather Keychains |
Scrap leather |
Punch, stitching tools |
30–60 min |
$8–15 |
| Simple Wallet |
Vegetable-tanned leather |
Cutting, stitching tools |
2–4 hrs |
$25–50 |
| Cord Organizer |
Thin leather |
Punch, mallet |
1 hr |
$10–20 |
| Project |
Materials |
Techniques |
Tools Needed |
Sell Price |
| Belt |
Thick veg-tan leather |
Cutting, stamping, finishing |
Edge beveler, mallet |
$40–75 |
| Passport Cover |
Chrome-tanned leather |
Stitching, dyeing |
Dye, stitching tools |
$30–60 |
| Leather Journal Cover |
Various leather |
Stitching, tooling |
Stamps, needles |
$40–80 |
Advanced Projects
| Project |
Skills |
Materials |
Hardware |
Market |
| Custom Handbag |
Pattern making, hardware |
Chrome-tanned, exotic |
Rivets, snaps, buckles |
Fashion market |
| Tool Roll |
Precision stitching |
Heavy leather |
Multiple hardware |
Artisan markets |
| Leather Shoes |
Complex stitching & assembly |
Thick leather |
Specialized |
Niche customers |
Troubleshooting & Maintenance
| Problem |
Cause |
Solution |
| Uneven stitching |
Misaligned holes |
Use pricking irons and stitch groover |
| Frayed edges |
Poor edge finishing |
Burnish edges well, apply finish |
| Dye blotches |
Uneven application |
Apply thin, multiple coats |
| Thread breaks |
Wrong needle or thread tension |
Use leather needles and waxed thread |
| Leather cracking |
Dry leather or poor care |
Condition regularly with leather oils |
Workspace Setup & Safety
| Item |
Purpose |
| Cutting mat |
Protect surfaces and blades |
| Good lighting |
Precision cutting and stitching |
| Ventilation |
Safe dye and finish use |
| Ergonomic seating |
Long project comfort |
| Tool organizer |
Keep tools accessible and safe |
Learning Resources & Communities
| Resource |
Type |
Focus |
| Tandy Leather YouTube |
Tutorials |
Basic to advanced leathercraft |
| Leatherworker.net |
Forums |
Community Q&A, tips |
| Books (e.g., The Art of Hand Sewing Leather) |
Guides |
Hand stitching, techniques |
| Local Workshops |
In-person classes |
Hands-on skills |
| Instagram / Pinterest |
Inspiration |
Designs and trends |
Leathercraft turns raw hides into timeless treasures, master the craft one stitch at a time!