How to Sew Torn Leather

Sewing a tear in leather is possible with the right tools.

Discovering a tear in your leather furniture or favorite jacket is disappointing. Once leather is torn, the item is usually ruined, as leather is difficult to repair. However, if the tear is in an inconspicuous area, it is possible to sew the tear closed and prevent it from further ripping. A stitch within the leather will be visible and the repair will easily be seen, but it may save your torn leather item.

Things You'll Need

• Sewing machine
• Utility pressure foot
• Leather sewing machine needle
• Heavy duty thread
• Clear tape
• Paper clips
• Leather hand sewing needle
• Heavy duty waxed thread
• Thimble
• Painter's tape

Instructions

Machine Sewing Torn Leather

1. Install the necessary equipment on the sewing machine. Sewing with leather is difficult because the material is thick and doesn't stretch much. Add a utility pressure foot, leather needle and heavy duty thread. The utility pressure foot is made to handle thick fabrics while the leather needle will easily punch through the material. Apply a small piece of clear tape to the bottom of the pressure foot to allow it to glide easily over the leather. Set the machine's stitch length to the longest setting.

2. Spread out the leather material, right side down. Smooth out the area where the tear is. Fold the leather item in half, centering along the tear. This will align the torn edges, making it possible to stitch them together. If the tear is large or hard to hold together, use paper clips to secure the edges of the tear.

3. Align the leather underneath the pressure foot of the sewing machine to begin sewing. Work slowly along the side of the tear, creating a seam about 1/4 inch from the torn edges. If the leather is very thick, lift the pressure foot manually as you sew or move it to the lifted position, if necessary. Work slowly to avoid tearing, breaking the thread or making mistakes. Once the needle punches a hole in the leather, it is irreversible.

Hand Sewing Torn Leather

1. Thread a leather needle with heavy duty waxed thread. The waxed thread will make it easier to sew through the thick leather by easily gliding through the punched sewing holes. Wear a thimble to avoid making pressure points on your hands and fingers. Pushing the needle through the leather will require some force.

2. Spread out the leather material, right side down, and line up the torn edges of the leather to accommodate a straight seam or a whip stitch. A straight seam will sew the edges together on top of one another, creating a slight pucker in the leather. A whip stitch will align the edges side by side as they once were. Fold the leather item in half along the torn edges and paper clip them together to create a straight seam. Push the torn edges together and tape over the tear with a piece of painter's tape. This will hold the edges together while you sew.

3. Tie a knot in the end of the waxed thread. Align the needle along the side of the tear on the underside of the leather item. Push the needle up through the material and pull the thread through. Continue sewing along the tear, alternating between stitching up and down through the material for a straight seam. Push the needle down through the leather on the opposite side of the tear to create a whip stitch. Sew through the painter's tape.

4. Tie a knot at the end of the thread to finish the seam. Cut the thread from the needle and carefully remove the painter's tape, if necessary.