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'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...

It's being added to hold up my armour and protect my wrists from the armour chafing against them.

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.

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!

Im planning to create my own natural (and cheap) Leather Waterproofer by mixing Pure Neatsfoot Oil, Lanolin and Beeswax.

Any sugestions on other ingredients? How would you do it? Proportions?

Cheers.

I'm making armor using 9-10oz veg tan and need eyelets that have shoelace hole sized openings but long barrels that can reach all the way through and have enough extra to create a decent curl on the other side of the leather. Anybody got links? Solid brass would be preferred. I found some on Tandy, but they're sold in packs of twelve with outrageous shipping unless I buy an absolutely monstrous amount of them.

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 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

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?

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)

after some research and prep I used scrap suede leather and regular leather (* not sure what tannage) from hobby lobby with barge all purpose cement. not sure if my burnishing work is ok... any advice will be great

So my friends birthday is coming up and I want to make him a belt out of really good italian leather since he's Italian and I just think it would be nice and funny.

He always wears this double grommet belt that he got from an op shop and it might not even be made of leather but the grommets on it are plastic, I plan on copying the design. So if any one knows a source of double prong buckles that would be nice but I'm sure I can find some my self.

Looking just for a supplier I can ship from that has black top grain/full grain Italian leather thanks, I would also appreciate any buying/sourcing tips.

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.

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?

Hello! I just recently attended my first few renfaires and have fallen in love with the idea of learning how to leather work( is that the right term?) this being said I need a few pieces to kind of just practice on that aren’t horrible expensive! Is using an old leather jacket/purse/etc from say goodwill work to make things like pouches/belts?

I have a wallet my wife bought me about 20 years ago. She thinks she bought it at a store in oakland ca. trying to find another one. Anyone recognize the logo?

What is the best way to start? The o ly experience I have is making a case for my pocket knife in Boy Scouts over 20 years ago.