Beginner Leather Craft Ideas You Should NEVER Try

Leather workers are always filled with new ideas, and most of them are good. But when I searched around social media listening to beginner leather craft advice, these experts are steering newbies in the wrong direction. To save you time and frustration. I took the time to separate the good from the bad advice.

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00:00 Intro
00:46 Tools You Don't Need
01:54 Mistakes
02:48 Hard Surface
03:24 Plywood
04:23 Olive Miracle
04:45 Multiple Passes
05:44 Wet Your Leather
06:33 Hobby Lobby Leather
08:43 Don't Copy Anyone
09:42 Halloween Project & Free Template

Below are some leatherworking tools like the ones in the video:

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[rominomen]

from a person who's done just a small about of wood carving, what he says about a dull blade being dangerous is so true. Sharpen your tools, whether they're chisels, knives, whether they're for wood or leather or whatever else. If you're using a razor blade, replace it often. It'll make your work SO much easier AND safer

[sueachord]

It’s wonderful to see an artist say use his templates their free you know that’s a real artist who wants to share his craft with beginners

[AntonioMelis-go]

this man is so pure... omg, you're so nice, telling that it's ok to make mistakes, to take our time and you give us templates to sell leather stuff that you made, for free... this is real passion for a job and this is what a nice person is, you like to do what you do and you like to help others, expecially if they just started, that's amazing

[davidr.]

I've been leather crafting for over 20years and still use granite sink cut outs. My wife actually saw them one day and thought of me. They are great. We move quite often and they transport well. That is excellent advice. Thanks for sharing. 
.

[larrycumba]

I agree about buying leather for a beginner. When I shop for leather I figure the cost per square foot. A good quality vegtan can be had for about $5.00 a square foot. Premium goes for about $15.00. Different parts of a hide tool differently also and are reflected in price. That I don’t worry too much about when practicing. Main thing is cost per foot. Would you rather screw up $5.00 or $15.00? As far as weight of leather I like 8 to 10 ounce for what I do. That is another consideration. The thinner is usually cheaper.

[Daggercrossover]

Sometimes you need to add a little more moisture to your leather by wiping a damp sponge over the leather as you tool

[Fuerwahrhalunke]

Started my leathercraft journey when covid started back in early 2020. I try to discover everything on my own, as that's exactly the challenge I wanted. Started out with scrap leather but was able to move up to more expensive leather fairly quickly. The only thing I have yet to actually get into is stamping and carving leather. I can do simple things like like lines and cuts but when it gets to abstract, especially with carving, I reach my limits really quickly. Not to mention the loss of concentration. Maybe some day...

[belbe]

if you cut the eyes and mouth out before cutting the outline shape you have stronger bigger project to safely work on.

cool advice thanks!

[WeekendBuilds]

All good points! I'd add to the hobby lobby leather by saying, on of the best things I ever did was find a whole sale cobbler supply locally in my city that was selling scrap by the pound. Opened me up to getting small test pieces of nicer tannages. I also developed a good relation with them, and now buy several higher end hides every year from them at prices way lower than most online stores.

[michaeldoef]

I am an experienced wood worker who was given a rubbermaid tub of leather pieces so that is what I am learning with

[glennmeek]

I've been doing leatherwork for 40 years; you gave some great advice to those who want to begin leather work. I have taught many people the craft and like you, I tell them to get what they on thier budget, and upgrade through the years. Had a student drop 1500 bucks at (insert leather supply store here) just to quit 3 months later and put his tools up for sale and he lost 1400 bucks. Start small and work up.

[kingdomrains]

I picked up leather working as a hobby 2 years ago, looking to turn it into a side business soon. Some things I can add.

1. Keep your workspace clean. Not just before starting a project but between stages as well, leather is easy to mark and a stray bit of leather that you punched out earlier can get caught under the piece you are working on and make a mark or dent.

2. One project at a time, nothing is more demoralizing to me than seeing that unfinished project that I had to put aside for one reason or another, in most cases it was because of the next point.

3. Make sure you have all the parts you need for your project. I have only one saddle shop near me that carries the quality of buckles, rings and keepers that I like to use, they aren't open on weekends and I already have a full time job so I have trouble getting there most days. I occasionally order on line in bulk, but I also like to have that local connection to people that share my hobby.

4. Keep an eye out for people getting out of the hobby. I have twice found someone who was giving up the hobby for various reasons, I managed to get a full set of carving tools and stamps for a fraction of the retail cost.

5. Your first project will probably suck. My first project was a small pouch, it was terrible, if I made something like that today i would be embarrassed to give it to somebody. I still have it, it reminds me how much I have improved. I am good enough now to be happy to take private commissions and confident I can make what they want.

[edgell]

Good advise. I’ve been working with leather for ten years, and I agree with your comments. The intermediate leather is a good start. Starting out, I went to a local leather company (they were great!) and asked for the basics. I have built my collection of leather tools from there. Just finished a 30 page paper on the thinks I have learned in leatherwork.

[coalcreekdefense]

I subscribed when you stuck the cereal box back into the cupboard.

[chriscohlmeyer]

Great advice for beginners, that is basically how I started out and eventually branched out into western saddles, harness racing repair, and draft harness (except the collars - had an older gentleman that whipped them out almost as fast as we could keep him supplied). For myself it was great therapy for recovery from a severe concussion and drug addiction (avoid both, they ain't worth it) before I moved on to other pursuits - the small items could be made fairly quickly (where you make mistakes and learn) then you can start to make them fancier and start to explore and design your own items. Dull tools are dangerous tools - got a few scars to prove that 🤪. Wet your leather then wet it again and again for stamping and forming - too dry and your patterns fade, then again too wet and the leather goes mushy. A piece of shoe sole leather is great as a backing for punching holes, cutting mats are a great new fangeled item to protect and control your cuts (wood grain doesn't help for straight cuts). Snap off knives are a great tool, just snap them away from yourself just in case it doesn't snap cleanly. You can't beat a piece of marble for backing to stamp patterns on nor a good heavy bolted on vice or a piece of rail for rivets

Long time away from it now but still have my tools - assisted children with scout projects, and made some inserts for my shoes to adjust for a leg length issue following a knee operation and a few other fixes and repairs now and then. Maybe one of these days I'll finish up a 60% completed saddle 😜.

[Azelethros_OG]

Excellent pointers. I've been dying to get into leathercrafting, and research alone has been very enlightening. The best tip you gave is "Don't be afraid to fail." I heavily look forward to using cheap leather and copying many people with fun ideas, and I don't mind failing at all. Learning and becoming good is impossible without failures along the way. Fails teach us what to do differently, and things to avoid. Failure is one of the greatest teachers.

[Vleathercraft]

The learning never stops in leathercraft

[mattrickard]

Thank you so much for this video. I have always struggled with the problem of being paralyzed by wanting to get things right rather than just getting in and finishing a project warts and all, so to speak. Not wanting to screw up a few hundred dollars worth of leather while also having zero experience and zero skills, what you said makes a lot of sense.
I'm off to get myself some "scribble" leather to learn on before attempting a masterpiece. 😊😊

[brianlawson]

I must have missed the tip about recycling cardstock from packaging for pattern templates. When I set up my new shop I was on a tight budget and reused the card paper from cases of ginger ale to make my first patterns. I still have pouch patterns that say Canada Dry on one side, lol. 😁 Grabbing poster board from the dollar store is also super economical if there's one around.

[ACutAboveKnifeandLeather]

Great video! Spot on utilizing a countertop store. When I was in search of a piece of granite I went to my local store with money in hand. They pointed to the dumpster out back and said take all you want.