How to Make Stitching Holes in Leather Before Sewing

Leather is a common fabric used for a variety of projects.

Sewing leather can be a daunting task, especially when you must sew thick leather. In fact, most leather is too thick to sew by hand or on a sewing machine without first making stitching holes. Stitching holes can be made using leather chisels or leather punches. Punches are ideal for very thick leather. Chisels will work for thinner leather and cut lines which are less noticeable on the finished product.

Things You'll Need

• Leather punch
• Leather chisel
• Mallet
• Wet cloth

Instructions

1. Wet the leather using a wet cloth or sponge. Place the leather on a hard surface.

2. Hold the leather punch or chisel over the part of the leather where you wish to make the stitching hole.

3. Hammer the top of the leather punch or chisel until you have made a hole completely through the leather.

4. Place another hole next to the one you just created. Continue to punch stitching holes until you reach the length to be sewn. Measure the distance between the holes to keep them as uniform as possible.

References

• Ally Cat Scratch: Hand Sewing Leather Tips; April 2008
• Complete Leatherwork: Easy Techniques and Over 20 Great Projects; Katherine Pogson; August 2009

Resources

• Tandy Leather Factory: Leathercraft Tools