How to Make a Hole for a Leather Sewing Punch

Leather punches can generally be adjusted for different sizes of lacing.

Using a leather swing punch is relatively easy, but if you don't mark out your lacing lines before you use your punch, then your project will not look right, and may have an unsightly pucker. Once you learn how to use a leather punch correctly and how to mark your piece for lacing lines and borders, you will be able to complete a wider range of leatherworking projects.

Things You'll Need

• Scrap piece of thin leather or suede, 4 to 5 inches across
• Straight edge
• Pencil
• Sharp scissors
• Seam gauge
• Leather over stitch marker
• Leather hand sewing punch

Instructions

For Straight Edges

1. Lay your leather down and place your straight edge on it, so that your straight line will be as long as possible. Mark this line with your pencil. Use your sharp scissors to cut along this line. Set one of the pieces aside for now.

2. Adjust your seam gauge to about 1/4 inch. Use your seam gauge and pencil to make a small mark, 1/4 inch of the way into the leather, every inch or two along the straight edge of your leather.

3. Line your straight edge up with the marks. Run your over stitch marker along the straight edge one time, pressing firmly. You will now have a row of small dimples or holes.

4. Use your hand sewing leather punch to punch holes where each dimple is. Center each dimple where the punch will come down, and then squeeze the handle to punch the leather.

For Curved Edges

1. Freehand draw a curve on the straight edge with your pencil on your leather. Cut along this line with your scissors.

2. Adjust your seam gauge to 1/4 inch. Make a mark with your pencil every 1/2 inch.

3. Connect the dots with your pencil, drawing a curved line that is identical to your outer curve. Run your over stitch marker over the penciled line once, pressing firmly.

4. Punch the leather with your punch, centering the punch over each dimple made by the over stitch marker.

Tips & Warnings

• Most over stitch markers for leather come with differently spaced markers for different sizes of holes. The larger your holes are, the further apart your markings will need to be, so adjust as needed.

• Most leather hand punches are intended for use on thin leather only, and using them on thicker leathers can cause damage to your hand punch.