How to Sew Leather by Hand
Leather is one of the most luxurious materials that can be used for clothing and other products, such as wallets and handbags. One problem with leather items is that they can be very expensive. That is why every day more and more people are choosing to sew their own leather clothes and accessories. So, in this oneHOWTO article we want to show you how to sew leather by hand.
Contents
Materials
The first step to sew leather by hand is to gather all the correct sewing materials. Generally, any sewing machine can be used to sew leather, though you can also do it by hand. However, you must ensure that you have a leather needle. Leather needles not only have larger eyes that allow you to use polyester thread but are also firmer and thicker overall.
This is important because leather can be very tough and usually breaks regular needles used for fragile fabrics, such as cotton. Remember to always use polyester thread, as cotton thread is simply too weak to support leather's weight and is usually too small compared to leather. You also need a leather cutting tool and a sewing foot designed for leather if you are using a sewing machine.
Leather type
Next select the type of leather that you are going to use for your project. There are several types, such as snakeskin, lambskin, cowhide and pigskin. Each type of leather has its strengths and weaknesses. Snakeskin, for example, is very easy to damage and is very expensive. However, it is the most beautiful and has a unique pattern that always stands out. Lambskin is also fragile, but it is very light. Pig leather is very hard, but it has large pores. Cowhide is the most common leather to work with. It is the strongest and has very small pores, almost unnoticeable. This makes it perfect for clothes, such as coats and belts.
Marking
Before starting to sew the leather by hand be sure to mark the pattern or design that you will use. Marking is very important and should be done with great precision and care, as once the points and needle pass through the skin they will leave a permanent mark. If possible, use small pieces of leather to see how they feel when sewing by hand.
Sewing
Once you have marked your leather pieces, it's time to start with the sewing by hand. In the case of textiles, the stitching is the fixing method for the thread. By contrast, when it comes to leather you must knot the thread so that no other holes will be added to the leather which can weaken it and make it look messy.
After you've finished sewing the leather add some coatings to the leather clothes, so that they are more comfortable to wear. With these steps you'll easily be able to create your own inexpensive, leather clothes. With a little practice, you will come to sew leather as naturally as if you were dealing with other clothing textiles. We also recommend consulting how to clean a leather jacket.
If you want to read similar articles to How to Sew Leather by Hand, we recommend you visit our Hobbies & Science category.
