Measure and cut
Start with a steel ruler, suitable cutting mat, sharp craft knife and a marking tool. A ruler with a finger guard can help keep your hand away from the cutting edge. Replace dull blades instead of increasing pressure.
Make matching stitch holes
Use stitching irons appropriate to the pattern, a suitable mallet and a punching board. Pitch is the distance between neighbouring holes. Pre-marked holes and your chosen iron spacing must agree; do not force one spacing onto another.
Sew by hand
Use two blunt harness needles and thread suited to the hole size and leather thickness. A stitching pony can make holding the work easier, but it is not necessary for every small project. Practise a short seam on scraps before starting the piece.
Prepare and finish
An edge beveler, fine abrasives and a slicker can be useful for suitable vegetable-tanned leather. Other leathers may need edge paint or a different construction. Test the finish on a scrap; there is no single finish that works for every leather.
Only add tools when needed
A skiving knife, strap cutter and specialist punches become useful with particular designs. Read the pattern’s materials list before buying hardware or tools. Keep blades covered when not in use and use adhesives with the ventilation their labels require.
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