Preparing For a Leather Craft ProjectOnce you've decided on your leather craft project, you'll need the right tools and room to do the work. Being prepared ahead of time will make your task more enjoyable and give you a sense of satisfation when you're done. If you're like most of us you'll probably be working on more leather craft projects over time, so creating a designated area is probably a good idea. What to Cut On: Regardless of the project, you'll need to cut your piece of leather. Choose a flat surface protected with a rubber mat. The latter will help protect your tools and prevent them from becoming blunt. Alternatively, you can purchase a self-healing cutting board that comes with a grid work. Any cuts made in the board seal up. This product is readily available at such shops as Staples. Marking the Cut: Use a ruler or yardstick and a pencil to mark the cut. Just make a light mark with the pencil. A rounded edge will help if you're cutting a curve. Then place a metal straight edge along the line you have drawn. Using the tip of an X-acto knife, cut along the line, keeping the knife against the metal edge Trimming the Edges If you want to trim the edges of the leather, lay the piece out on a flat surface. Make sure the leather is damp, and keep it so by using a spray bottle full of water. You'll need what's called an edge beveling tool to smooth the cut edges. The two prongs that form its V shape need to be positioned so that they are facing upward on both sides of the edge. Keeping the tool at a 45 degree angle, with your index finger on the top of the tool, push it away from you along the cut edge, holding the leather craft piece firmly with your other hand. As you work, small strips of leather will come off. It's a good idea to practice on small scraps of leather before using the leather craft beveller, so you feel comfortable with it and what it can do. Tools to Use * Cutting board, preferably self-healing kind * Ruler, pencil, metal straight edge, rounded edge * X-acto knife * Leather craft edge beveling tool Summary * Use a cutting board * Mark where you want to cut before you cut! * Dampen the leather when trimming the edges * Butt the knife against a straight edge or a curved edge for more control More on Tools For working in leather crafts, consider the basics: an awl and spare point, a retractable X-acto knife and spare blades, a retractable knife with a break-off blade and a rotary punch. In addition, you'll need needles, a lump of beeswax and some waxed linen thread. As well, a pair of pliers to pull the needle through the leather is a must, and scissors you can use for cutting the leather. Then there are edge slickers and bevellers that are used to finish the edges, drive punches for bigger holes and thong cutters for making laces. A T-square, compass and yardstick are essential to ensure that your leather craft piece is measured accurately. If you're just starting out with leather crafts, you might not want to spend a lot of money on tools. Once you've worked with the basic set and completed a few leather craft projects, you'll have a better idea of what tools work best and what you use most. At that point, a little research and some comparative shopping can lead you to acquiring better quality leather craft tools that will enhance your work. Of course, even the most expensive tools won't help if you haven't taken the time to develop and perfect your skills. If you do your very best with what you have, it doesn't matter if you can't afford the most expensive leather craft awl or the latest knife. Quality will show anyway. Summary * Start with a basic leather craft tool set * Buy better quality tools once you've completed some projects and have a better idea of what will enhance the quality of your work *** Hey! Need To Know More About Leather? ***
MORE RESOURCES updated Fri. March / 29 / 2024 New restaurant and new crafts store planned for Bradenton shopping center development Bradenton Herald Crafts retailer Joann files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy as consumers cut back on pandemic-era hobbies The Macomb Daily Crafts Retailer Joann Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy As Consumers Cut Back on Pandemic-Era Hobbies WKTV Joann fabric and hobby stores enter bankruptcy; post-pandemic craft decline cited - The Mercury News Craft and hobby classes in St. Louis St. Louis Magazine 6 Craft Hobbies Everyone's Talking About In 2024 Country Living UK Lancaster Countians win PA Farm Show ribbons for crafts, hobbies, plants, square dancing LNP | LancasterOnline One Tank Trips | AdhDiy Craft Cafe KSHB 41 Kansas City News Having a hobby tied to happiness and well-being Harvard Health 8 Craft Hobbies Set To Be Popular This Autumn And Winter Country Living UK The Latest Craze in Hobby Crafting: Becoming a 21st-Century Blacksmith The New York Times The 20 Most Relaxing Hobbies to Try This Year Country Living UK 4 Craft Hobbies To Try Out This Summer | Best Summer Crafts 2023 Country Living UK 14 Best Fiber Craft Kits for Adults of 2024 | Reviews by Wirecutter The New York Times The Alphabetical Guide To Craft Hobbies | A-Z List Of Crafts Country Living UK Joann craft retailer files for bankruptcy Globe Gazette Hobby Supplies: How to Organize Your Hobby Room with ADHD ADDitude magazine Second Saturday event at Factory attracts shoppers, crafts: in photos Columbia Daily Herald Rug Tufting: An Old Craft That's New Again Next Avenue National Craft Month - March National Day Calendar Best new hobby deals for 2024: Lego kits, DIY jewelry making, ClassPass subscriptions, and more Mashable Six Independent Craft Stores to Visit in Around Boston Boston magazine 8 new hobbies to try in the St. Louis area Ladue News Meet Mike Larisey, owner of Maritime Hobbies & Crafts Ltd Downtown Halifax Looking to pick up a new hobby? Indigo Studio is here to help. inputfortwayne.com The calming influence of crochet: How ASU students find relief from stress in the craft - The Arizona State Press The State Press Best craft classes for adults in Los Angeles Los Angeles Times Craft fairs, Hobby Con in Williams Lake this weekend Williams Lake Tribune The Heritage Crafts On The Brink Of Extinction Country Living UK London Named UK's Craftiest City | The Most Creative Areas Country Living UK Cobblestone Crafts listed for sale after four decades for $679K HollandSentinel.com Where to try new hobbies in San Diego County in 2023 The San Diego Union-Tribune The Hobby Lobby Controversy, Explained The Mary Sue OPINION: A love letter to arts and crafts Indiana Daily Student Yo! Easter offers skills, sports and hobbies for everyone | City Of Wolverhampton Council Wolverhampton City Council The Best Craft for Each Zodiac Sign Best Life Handicrafts and hobby store giant Milbby to open its first branch in the province on the Costa del Sol Surinenglish.com Leny Handy Crafts: How a hobby became a business Manila Bulletin How Crafting Saved My Life | Sutton Foster Maria Shriver Business Intel: Crossroads Hobbies and Crafts Roanoke Times Bored at home? Now’s the perfect time to pick up a new hobby CNN Underscored West Virginia Hobbies & Crafts: A 25-year success story Huntington Herald Dispatch Best craft kits for kids that could inspire a new hobby Evening Standard Katie McAllister has a multitude of hobbies that all correlate to crafts The Central Trend Endangered Crafts and the Destinations Keeping Them Alive (Published 2019) The New York Times How to Keep Hobbies Organized — Using the Kit Method for Hobbies Apartment Therapy The nostalgic crafts that are making a comeback Yahoo Finance UK The 16 biggest controversies in Hobby Lobby's five decade history Business Insider Hobbies and Crafts Theme Cruises Cruise Critic Hobby Lobby vs. Michaels: Which craft store is better? Business Insider Lost trades: The industrial origins of crafts and hobbies National Science and Media Museum 10 of the Best Craft Kits for Adults Apartment Therapy Druid City Makerspace offers room for people who create arts, crafts Tuscaloosa Magazine Dawn's Folly grows from hobby corner to shop selling handmade goods Port Clinton News Herald Business Intel: Salem Hobby Shop Roanoke Times 103-year-old-Columbia woman stays active through crafts and community Columbia Daily Herald
|