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Leatherwork for Beginners

LadyJasmine by LadyJasmine

Welcome to Leather Crafts 101

Making things with leather is a fun hobby as well as an art form that many people of all ages enjoy. You can learn to make belts, bags, hats, vests, and many other things. There are all different levels of crafts projects available, some of which even small children can do with a little guidance.

Making things in leather also has a long and interesting history, and learning to work with leather can connect you to that history and encourage the do it yourself philosophy. By learning to work with leather you can make very nice things for yourself, as gifts for friends. If you get good at it you can even create your own merchandise to sell at local art fairs and crafts festivals, consign at stores, or sell online.

A beginners leatherwork kit also makes a nice gift for the crafty people in your life who may also appreciate the fun idea. You'll find lot's of ideas for your own projects on this page, books for beginners, and useful tips. Bookmark it and check back, as all my pages evolve over time, and making things with leather is one of my own favorite hobbies. :-)

*photo By Dtarazona (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

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Kits for Leatherwork

Leather Craft Project Kits With Everything You Need

Many beginning leather workers get kits with projects already put together for them. By taking on one project you'll learn a lot of skills that you can apply to other projects you may design yourself. Kits like these really helped me to learn to do nice leatherwork. Here are a few of my favorites:

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There are leather craft projects suited for absolute beginners and children, and the skill can be developed into truly creating beautiful and useful things as an Art.

Leather Stamps

Stamping Designs on Leather is a Great Place to Begin

One thing most beginning leatherworkers learn how to do is decoration with imprints made from metal stamps onto leather. You simply take a stamp on the end of a metal rod, place it where you want on the leather, and smack the back end with a mallet. You can make designs so complex they are worthy of an art museum, or so simple that you can help a small child to do it. ( When I worked at Tandy Leather I actually helped children as young as two or three make key chains with leather fobs decorated in this way! ) I have also seen such intricate and elegant designs done by older experienced leather workers that it it clear that this simple skill can evolve into a way of making art.

TIP: You do need to make sure to use the right kind of vegetable tanned leather, or the stamps wont imprint. You should also moisten the leather with a little water on a sponge. YOU WILL NEED: A mallet, veg tan leather, leather stamps, water, a sponge, and something thick to go underneath your project.

Here are examples of some leather stamps I've collected along the way.
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Leather Dye Can Give You A Rainbow of Colors

Once you are putting projects together in leather and have started working on tooling and stamping decorative designs, you will want to learn how to make your projects any color you want. Here are some examples of dyes and tools I use to make my craft work in many colors.

Tip: Always wear gloves when dying leather. Leather dye is very strong and will stain your hands if you get it on them. I was caught rainbow handed once! Also, put newspaper or plastic down on your table, carpet, or other surfaces you want to protect.
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Some Basic Leather Working Tools

Over time you will create your own tool kit with the things that are most relevant to what you like toi make. Here's a few basic things to think about, and a complete kit that's well put together if you're ready to really spend a lot of time developing your skills.
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Great Books With Leather Craft Projects

There are a lot of good books out there full of detailed instructions and pictures of leather craft projects you can do yourself at home. Here are a few in my collection that I've learned from and given as gifts.

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Check Out These Other Squidoo Pages by Lady Jasmine

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Comments and Thoughts?

  • Tipi Sep 4, 2011 @ 7:26 pm | delete
    I enjoy working with leather and have always enjoyed seeing the artistry of leather tooling, perhaps one day I'll be able to try my hand at it.
  • lbrummer Aug 19, 2011 @ 10:54 am | delete
    I've always admired the tooled leather purses. Nice lens.
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This So Crafty page written by

LadyJasmine

I play piano,guitar, write music and sing. I am also a Wiccan, a tarot reader, a freelance writer, a student, a teacher, a traveler, and a wandering s... more »

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