Leather is now one of the most utilized material for making purses and handbags, shoes, wallets, belts, toys, jewellery cases to name a few. Since the days of the old west, cowhands have used this beautiful material for lassoes, chaps, holsters. Ancient civilisations used leather for bookbinding and today bookbinders still covert this natural material using it to cover the most beautiful books you will see. Leather is so durable books hundreds of years old still retain their original covers.
Over the years, numerous men, women and children have turned this craft into a hobby and it evolved into a material 
that’s used to make a wide range of products that we use today. The skins of animals are tanned and crafted into different types of leather. Alligators, Snakes, Cows, Bisons, Buffaloes as well as Ostriches are among the many killed for their hides. Even though leather is abundant and is available in a multitude of colors and finishes, it commands a high price tag for almost any item it is produced from. Regardless if you are engaging in leather craft as a hobby or as a business, you’ll be able to create an product that people will adore. The various leathercraft tools needed t start a new project are few and very affordable.
These are:
Smallish steel square for measuring as well as cutting a straight edge
Modelling tool to make designs Knives for cutting and skiving
Mallet
Stitch marking wheel Awl – various holes sizes
Punches – pronged and single slits various sizes
Two piece snap setter
For leather craft the smallest piece’s of leather can be used, particularly when just starting out, so purchasing an entire hide will make plenty of items. It is strongly recommended that if you are novice at leathercraft you should start out with several square feet of various scraps to learn about this craft.
Okay so you have been shopping, now we can get going. Try to begin producing straightforward things like belts, billfold or perhaps a pair of sandals. You can sketch the parts you will need on the leather but on more complicated items it’s better to produce a pattern First. Lay the leather down on a work table right side up. After that place the pattern you made on the leather and with one hand positioning the pattern securely trace the outline of the pattern on the leather. Initially don’t bother about blemishes or which way the grain runs. At this time you simply need to get the feel of the leather and tools.
After that, dependant upon the thickness you need to work with a sharp knife or scissors to chop out the pattern. On thicker parts for instance the sole of a sandal use tin snips. Skiving is when you slice or pare away part of the sides of the leather to avoid hard and bulky ends when it is joined. With thicker leather you may need a sharp awl to make holes (about half an inch or so from the edge) along the pattern edge in order to stitch using a blunt needle. With thin leather you can use a normal unthreaded sewing machine to produce the holes. Ensure the holes are spaced equally apart then it will look neat when finished. Use nylon cotton, silk or nylon line to stitch your pieces together. There is waxed thread available for this purpose or you can wax the thread with beeswax.
As you get more experienced with this you’ll discover other ways to stitch your product together but for now you can just work with a simple hem stitch. To put a nice finished look on your item purchase snaps, split rings or other cosmetic accessories to provide a classy feel. Now that you have experimented with your first leather item, I am sure you’ve got a lots of ideas to get moving on.
There are loads of things I haven’t touched on since there is such a lot of things that can be done with leather. It is a remarkable material and the more you practice this craft, the better you will be able to employ distinctive techniques to improve your project. You’ll learn about ‘ Tooling – carving patterns on the leather’, using grommets, snaps, eyelets, different types of stitching, making a tool for stamping designs on the leather and many other strategies, most of which you’ll discover whilst working at your leather craft skills.
Leathercraft has been around for hundreds of years and is going to be around long after we are gone. There will be someone discovering new ideas to create a better design than before, leather craft just keep evolving and this is what makes it so much fun. Leather goods are a billion dollar industry.
The cost of a simple purse could be in the hundred of dollars. Imagine the opportunity if you’re able to make your own handmade article. You may have a leather craft business on your hands!