How to Prepare Leather For Sewing
Most people are surprised to discover just how easy it can be to sew most types of leather using a standard sewing machine--with just a few simple alterations.
When preparing leather for sewing, keep in mind that the very heaviest cowhide leather will be the most difficult to work with. On the other hand, extremely light-weight leather, such as snake skin, also has its challenges.
Preparing leather for sewing includes the acquisition of your leather to begin with. Purchasing entire skins can be costly. It may be more economical to purchase used leather, such as skirts and jackets or even couches and ottomans and use reclaimed leather.
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Things You'll Need
- Special leather sewing needles
- Leather presser foot for sewing machine
- Rotary cutter
- Leather tape
- Polyester thread
- Chalk
Instructions
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Cut used leather using a rotary cutter on either side of major seams. Throw all pieces into a warm water wash in your standard washing machine. If leather pieces have been colored, use a "color catcher" to prevent colors from being reabsorbed. Dry in your dryer, using a low heat setting. If necessary, iron leather pieces by placing a piece of cotton fabric between the moderately-warm iron and the leather itself.
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Lay out your leather pieces prior to sewing to make certain that colors and grains match as well as possible. Make certain that the edges of patterns will not fall right next to seams as this can result in "double seams," which can ruin the lines of your project.
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Use special leather needles in your sewing machine. These needles are stronger and sharper than normal needles. Also install a leather presser foot on your sewing machine to make it easier to feed the leather through your machine. Use polyester thread rather than cotton, as cotton thread is not durable enough for use on leather.
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Use special leather tape when laying out patterns so your leather is not poked with pins unnecessarily. If marking leather for cutting around pattern edges, use an easily cleaned marker such as chalk.
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Tips & Warnings
Do not wash or treat whole skins of leather unless directed to do so by the seller. Leather sold by the skin in leather shops and other retail establishments has already been washed and treated and is ready to cut and sew "as is."
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