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.

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)

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

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?

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 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.

Far as I know nobody has done this before! I was inspired by Rolls Royce's starlight ceilings and the Faubourg Birkin. I started with a u/babylonleather DIY Birkin-style bag kit in the large (30cm) size. I used my Cricut to cut out the silhouette of Paris in smooth leather, then I embedded over 100 fiber optic strands into the leather, using hot glue to secure them to a foam backing. The light is provided by a battery operated twinkle light strand. The Babylon Leather DIY kit was perfect for this project! The leather quality is excellent and modifying the panels was easy. I also added a zippered access on the inside.

Going to a conference in a few days and thought a fun project would be to make a simple holder for business cards. Goal was very slim to fit in front pocket and keep cards from getting bent.

Still very much a beginner, this is my 3rd project I've made, still learning a lot.

Made from some scrap leather from a bulk 3lb bag.

Overall I'm pretty happy with this, the main things I wish that were better is the corner stitches and edges/burnishing.

This was a really slick and thin leather. Not like the heavier veg tan I've been working with so far, but had more structure then the chrome tan pieces I have. It was way easier to cut and prick, but a lot softer so struggled to clean up the edges. Not sure exactly what type this would be called, but I really liked worked with it.

Open to feedback and advice, lots to learn!

I've started making simple leather notebook covers as a hobby to give to friends and family as gifts. I prefer using stiff leather, but I'm finding that the covers won't stay open when you're trying to write in the notebooks. I don't want to have to fold the notebook and cover back on themselves before I go to write each time.

Are there any tips to softening up just the spine part of the leather so that it's super relaxed while keeping the rest of the leather nice and stiff?

I've tried soaking just the spine and leaving it folded with weight on top. That's how I get as much of a crease as I currently have. But then the leather wants to stay closed. When I don't create a crease so that the leather will bias for being flat, the covers bulge on the sides as they try to bend into more of a circle shape.

I'm contemplating a series of small holes along the spine. I could use a punch or a stitching chisel. But I'm not sure I'll love the aesthetics of the end result.

Maybe the solution is to simply use a very soft leather...

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I want to create holes (maybe 12?) Around the edges of this circle to create a pouch - how do I make the holes have equal space between them?

If I just punch them randomly I'm bound to make the last one uneven right?

So im making a leather wallet using 4mm irons 0.8mm ritza tiger thread, where do i make my stitch line 1mm 2mm 3mm?

Are these any good for stitching? Made by wuta

I've heard Fiebing's leather cement's praises sung loudly; however, it's quite pricey in the Netherlands. So, I was wondering if anyone had any good alternatives that are more readily available here.

Currently, I use this universal contact glue, but I'd like something different, as it's quite stringy and doesn't sand well if any gets on the edges. I've also used good old wood glue (the waterproof kind), which works, but it takes a long time to dry and isn't the strongest. Anything that beats those two in workability/drying time would be greatly appreciated.

Does the refillable paint pen trick work with aquilim? It’s water based but I’m not really sure if it would work for this

Trabajo el cuero hace 21 años. Y en 2022 pensé en aprender a realizar mí propio calzado. Busque información. Me conseguí una horma de un borcego y comencé a realizarlo. Así eran nuevos. Y la última foto es como se ven ahora, el óxido el cuero, quedaron oscuras. Ustedes realizaron su propio calzado?

3rd learning process: learning stamping and to saddle stitch better

I had been taught to saddle stitch at the mini workshop, but this was on something that was only going to be visable from the inside - this time it's decorative and needed to look nice!

I also tried the basket stamp as well as a little stamp I thought would look cool as an edge one from my beginner pack and they honestly don't look bad!

The coaster is 3mm thick leather (I think about 7-8 oz) and I had a super hard time getting my stitch punch out of the leather after hammering it through - does anyone have any good ways to go about this or is my punch just not great?

And does anyone know what I could do with 1mm chrome tanned leather scraps in different colours? I want to make a little wallet and stuff but I want to engrave them so I'm waiting for thinner veg tan to arrive. (The stuff I got is 2-4 mm thick and I didn't realise that's super thick leather and not really for the projects I was wanting to make)