Leather Projects For The Novice
Gathering Materials For a Leather Craft Project
When you've settled on your leather craft project you'll need to have suitable supplies and a designated area in order to work well and efficiently. Making preparations before is sure to make your project a lot more
fun.
Tools to Use:
When working with leather, consider the essentials: an awl and spare point, a retractable knife with a break-off blade, a rotary punch and a retractable X-acto knife and spare blades.
Additionally, you'll have to get needles, wax lined thread, beeswax, a pair of pliers to pull the needle through the leather, and strong scissors for cutting the leather.
Then you'll find bevellers and leather slickers that will
finish the edges, thong cutters for lace making and a drive punch for making bigger holes. A straight edge and yardstick are imperative to make sure that the
leather craft project is measured correctly.
Trimming the Edges:
In order to trim the leather craft's edges, position it on an even
work surface. Make certain that the leather is moist, and keep it so by spritzing it with water.
You will need to have what's called an edge beveling tool to even out the cut edges. The 2 prongs that make a V shape must be placed so
that they're positioned upward on either side of the leather's edge.
Stabilizing the edge beveling tool at a 45 degree angle with your index finger positioned on the top of the tool, then push the edge beveling tool away from you along the cut edge, holding the
leather design firmly in your other hand.
As you work, little strips of leather are going ro come off. It is smart to practice on extra pieces of leather prior to you using the leather craft
beveler on your actual project, so you are more comfortable.
Marking the Cut:
Use a yardstick or ruler and a pencil to mark the area you want to cut on your leather project. Just make a very light mark with the pencil. A rounded edge is going to help if you're cutting a curved line. Use the edge of an X-acto knife on a
metal edge and carefully cut on the line keeping the knife flush against the edge.
What to Cut On:
Regardless of the project, it's necessary to cut your leather piece. Use a leveled surface protected with a rubber mat. The mat should
help to protect your tools and stop them from becoming blunt. Alternatively, you might use a self-healing cutting board. Cuts made in a board like this, automatically seal up. Devices like this are available to purchase at art supply stores or Staples .
Review:
If you are just starting out with leather, you might not want to spend too much on leather tools. When you've worked with a
simple set and made a few leather craft projects, you'll have a
lot better impression of what supplies and tools you will most likely use.
At that point, a little bit of research and making comparisons can lead you to buy a better leather tool when you need it. However, even the most expensive tools won't help if you don't allow for the time to perfect and improve your skill in leather crafting.
If you do your best with the things you've got, it does not matter if you can't afford really extravagant leather craft awl or the best knife.
Your skills will be apparent once you have the basics down.
You can usually find a leather art supply store in your area when you check out your phone book. A lot of larger stores have a Tandy leather craft shop close by.
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