How to Tool Designs in Leather

Designs on leather belts

Lots of sturdy goods are made of hand-tooled leather. The designs on a leather bag, or other handcrafted accessory, are made with leather tools and dyes. The goods are commonly stitched with lace and coated with a protective finish. Patterns for leather crafts are available for creating several items, and many are sold in kits with all the necessary materials for selected projects. Make unfinished leather into useful goods with selected designs.

Things You'll Need

• Unfinished leather
• Sponge
• Tracing pattern
• Swivel knife
• Wooden mallet
• Leather stamp tools
• Rubber gloves
• Newspaper
• Dye
• Sealer finish
• Paint brush

Instructions

1. Purchase unfinished leather that's cut for creating a product like a leather bag, wallet or other project. Purchase kits for leather crafts that include tracing patterns and pre-cut leather for selected projects.

2. Trace a design onto the smooth top grain side. Use a paper design pattern, or draw the design on paper. Dampen the grain with a moist sponge. Set the design paper over the grain and trace over the lines in pencil with enough pressure to indent marks into the surface.

3. Carve the design marks into the grain with a swivel knife. Rest your index finger on the saddle of the tool and grip your thumb and middle finger around the post. Follow the lines with a corner of the blade and gently cut into the leather surface.

4. Bevel the design carvings in a single direction to create a shadow effect and give dimension. Angle the bevel stamp into the cut lines and tap it with a wooden mallet to indent bevel marks.

5. Use leather tools for stamping design elements into the grain. Encircle the pattern with arches. Add shading, depressions and raised grain impressions with various stamping leather tools.

6. Add colors to the design with leather dye. Wear rubber gloves and cover the tabletop with newspaper. Soak a small amount of dye onto the applicator and apply it to a spot on the leather to observe how it absorbs. Carefully cover the selected areas of the design with the chosen dye colors.

7. Apply sealer finish to the top grain and edges. Use a paint brush to apply two coats of sealer to the leather. Allow drying time between coats according to product directions. Most sealers need about an hour for the first coat to dry.

Tips & Warnings

• Learn the basics for creating leather crafts on small items that don't need dyes or stitching. Use round cut-outs to carve and tool designs on a coaster for starters.

References

• The Artful Crafter: Tooling Leather--How to Add Designs to Leather
• Alley Cat Scratch: Tooling Leather--Introduction for Tooling and Stamping Leather