Starting leathercraft

[Polecatsteve]

Hi guys I wanting to try my hand at some leather work. Pouches, sheaths and some patches etc.

Can anyone give me a list of tools for starting off. I have a stitching awl for leather but that's it.

Also what thickness of leather is best for the above work?

Any advice would be great.

Steve

 

[Paulm]

Have a look on here Steve, will give you some background and ideas http://www.ianatkinson.net/leather/videos.htm

And on here for the stuff you'll need http://www.theidentitystore.co.uk/default.asp Other suppliers are available also, such as Tandy and Le Prevo.

Cheers, Paul

 

[Polecatsteve]

Thanks Paul, great website and videos. I'll have a watch when I get time.

 

[Wayland]

90% of my leatherwork is done with an awl, thread, some beeswax, harness needles and a craft knife.

If you want to start decorating leather, the list of tools can get much bigger but a lot can be achieved using a blunt pointed fid. ( Think of something solid with a point like a biro.)

Most "beginners sets" contain tools that you don't really need and will hardly ever use. Start with the above and buy other tools if you discover a job that you cannot get around any other way.

Leatherwork is like fishing in one way. I was once told that most fishing lures were made to catch fishermen, not fish.

 

[Polecatsteve]

Thanks Wayland, I appear to have all I need then! Just need some leather and I'm good. Family are throwing out a leather sofa next week but it's blue.

Any way to get the dye out of the leather for recolouring? Bleach?

 

[Wayland]

Probably best to just dye it black if you can't live with blue.

 

[brancho]

Make sure the sofa is dead before you skin it!

As Wayland says not much is needed really a bit of old inner tube is good for gripping needles.

 

[Steve_T]

For veg tan leather tandy are good if you get them on the phone. I got a 3.2 - 3.6 double shoulders grade 2 (Few marks etc, but very useable) for 40 quid, on the site 56 quid currently on sale.