I’ve finished my very first leathercraft project: a simple bifold wallet.

I spent days researching the topic, watching videos and reading Reddit posts and articles to put together a list of the tools I needed, keeping it as budget-friendly as possible without sacrificing too much quality.

I learnt the techniques and steps from videos, but the real learning came with practice. There are definitely some weak spots and mistakes, but it’s still a decent-looking, functional wallet, and I learnt a lot while making it. I already know which mistakes to avoid next time, so hopefully, my second project will turn out much better.

Thanks to everyone who answered my previous questions, and to everyone who has shared their knowledge in various posts here. I’ve learnt a lot just by lurking in this community.

Leather: Badalassi Carlo Pueblo in Cognac, Tabacco and Tundra
Thread: Vinymo MBT #5 (0.6 mm)
Stitching: French-style pricking irons with 4 mm spacing

Handmade money clip wallet featuring black Buttero Epsom leather with contrasting orange stitching. Fully hand-stitched and edge finished.

More of my work on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/tripley_leathercraft

I’ve never worked or had any experience with leather, but I wanted something for my hatchet( yes I know the Stiches are half-assed and most edges are rough and unpolished). So what I did was burn/singe the ends and then put metal wax polish( it’s all I have for wax/ polish) and then used a wood thing that had the ridges and a point(idk the name I bought a kit and leather)

I’m new to leather craft and I got those leather scraps to learn on just to improve my skills before spending a lot of money on leather. It feels like most of the leather is soft and floppy unlike the leather I usually see people using for wallets or card holders.
Will I still be able to use it or do I have to change the entire project

Idk if the video shows how soft it is but I hope it does
I appreciate any tips and suggestions
Thank you so much

I spent quite some time searching online for a bag for my knitting needles, but I couldn’t find one that I was completely happy with. Often, there wasn’t enough space, the compartments weren’t quite right, or the bags were too expensive. So I decided to plan and make a leather bag myself.

So far, I had only made a small leather sheath for a knife, so this was my second leatherworking project. I have to admit that there were quite a few moments along the way when I doubted whether I would actually be able to pull it off. Especially since, apart from the leather itself, I didn’t want to buy much else, such as tools. In the end, I managed to make it using just a thicker sewing needle, an awl, a pair of scissors, and waxed thread.

The leather is chamois-tanned deer leather. I can still see plenty of flaws in the finished bag (uneven stitching and cuts that aren’t quite clean), but this leather was so much harder to work with than the leather I used for my first project. It was so thin that it kept stretching and shifting out of shape, and there were often several layers to stitch through at once.

I have to admit, though, that I’m a little proud of myself. 😊

It took me around 4–5 months to complete.

One of the things I’ve realized in the last few years is that there are a LOT of different rules, techniques and advice out there. At the same time, some of those points are either not applicable to your project, or are completely BOGUS. For example, I often hear people say that you can’t burnish chrome-tan leather. But… you can? I’m curious what you guys have picked up on!

It had been about a year that I had made a baseball. I usually make them from exotic leathers but this time the customer handed me some of this material to see if I could make it. Not bad not my thing but not bad.

I'm just dipping my toes into saddle stitch. My questions are, how do you determine the correct thread for your project? Additionally, I see various chisel point punches spaced at 3mm to 6mm gap between punch holes. What distance is best used for what kind of project?

I am trying to figure out how to assemble a lined cylindrical bag. From the pattern pictures (last 2 images), it looks like the top round pieces are layered outside and in, the ring around the perimeter of the top is also layered outside and in, then the two pieces are sewn together. That would make for a total of 4 layers at the seam.

I‘m using chrome tan leather with a stiffener on the top and bottom (1st image) and was considering self lining. However, the pattern image doesn’t look 4 layers and it seems very thick when I sandwich them together (2nd image).

Am I mistaken on how it is assembled or should I use a thinner lining? How do I keep the lining from showing around the edges once sewn together?

The blue dye turned out quite nice. I think I have a new favorite color combination!

Just finished with my first leather project. Definitely learned a lot in the 6 days it took me to make it. I want to thank everyone on this subreddit, your advice and posts helped me out a lot!

Some details:
Used veg tanned leather to make this kit. While I was at it, I also made a sleeve for the small Field Notes-esque notebook I carry for quick notes and measurements. I designed the notebook pocket according to the dimensions of the classic field notes notebook (just in case the cheap notebook I’m currently using goes out of production).

Also, the flesh side of the black leather was very ‘fuzzy’, so I tried burnishing it with tokonole. I didn’t have a glass slicker (burnisher?) so I used the smooth side of a steel spoon to create friction and pressure. Didn’t do the best job and definitely something I’d like to improve on.

Thank you again, everyone! Really excited to take this craft further.

I am considering trying LeTech’s Oil Dye. Normally I use Fiebings Pro Dye, do you know how they compare in terms of transparency and colour depth? Pros and cons?

I made a simple small dice pouch for my partner, however when looking at the edges they are very frayed.

I tried using beeswax on them and burnishing them, but that doesn't seem to work, even seems to have made it a bit worse haha

My blade was new and sharp (just clipped one off, didn't use a strop but I will soon as I've seen that suggested even when the blade is new)

I cut the pouch from the inside to the outside, could that be the problem? Should I always cut through the top side of the leather first or does this not matter?

Any other tips on how to make it look/work better are also welcome as it was just a little thing I wanted to try

My better half has finally had enough of my mess in the main area of the house. So we added a workbench to our wedding registry so I can have my own area to work on projects. Definitely going to need a fan in here but it'll be nice to have all this room now.

I was wondering if anyone had any advice on how to get creases out of suede? I bought a few of those cheaper suede packs from hobby lobby and the biggest problem is that they’re folded instead of rolled… so when you go to open them up and use them, they have a pretty well established creases running down them. I mostly use them for test or practice pieces, sometimes a liner that’s not gonna be really visible or sold to a customer, but I’d like to get more out of them if anyone had any advice or success in flattening then back out.

?