Leatherworking (Artisan Goods)

To begin leatherworking, you will need a few essential tools including a swivel knife, a rawhide mallet, and a set of basic stamping tools. Additionally, high-quality leather shears, an overstitch wheel, and a cutting mat are necessary for preparing and marking your cuts.

Vegetable-tanned leather is processed using natural tannins from tree bark, resulting in a firm material that accepts tooling, carving, and wet molding beautifully. Chrome-tanned leather uses chromium salts, making it softer, more water-resistant, and ideal for bags and garments, though it cannot be tooled.

Yes, if you intend to machine-sew leather, you cannot use a standard home sewing machine without risking damage; you typically need an industrial walking-foot machine. Many artisans prefer hand-stitching using the saddle stitch method with waxed thread and harness needles, which creates a stronger, self-locking seam.

To get clean, professional edges, you must use an edge beveler to remove the square corners of the leather. After beveling, you apply an edge slicker or burnishing gum and rub it with a canvas cloth or wooden slicker to create a smooth, sealed finish.