1Beginner’s Roadmap
27GOUGING AND FOLDING NATURAL LEATHER
2TOP 3 BEGINNER PITFALLS: DON'T FALL INTO THEM!
28Gouging
3History of Leather Crafting
29Folding
4Leather Categories
30HOW TO THREAD A NEEDLE FOR STITCHING NATURAL LEATHER
5Leather Kinds
31Saddle Stitch
6Hide Dimension as well as Component
32COMPLETING SADDLE STITCH THROUGH BACKSTITCHING
7Picking a Veg Tanned Leather/Leather Grading
33NATURAL LEATHER HARDWARE: RIVETS
8Introduction to Basic Tools
34RINGS
9List of basic tools required for a beginner:
35BUCKLES AND HOLDS
10Sample Tools
36Grommets
11Setting Up a Leather Workstation
37Among the first things you need to do is find out just how to get it sharp and also maintain it sharpness. Keep it polished to make sure that when you're working, it's not dragging in the leather and making it harder to manage.
12A sample workstation illustration
38Natural leather is tanned with a range of oils and minerals, which can cause an accumulation on the knife and create rubbing when attempting to pull the swivel knife along the leather. By stropping the knife consistently with jeweler's rouge, you are brightening the blade to keep it working efficiently.
135 Tools for the Beginner Leather Crafter
39The thing to note is that this is a fingertip-controlled device. When you're holding this device, what we teach to beginners is how to hold it; you hold it with just your fingertips. You position your forefinger right into the yoke with the very first knuckle and your thumb on one side. Your other fingers get on the opposite side. I have my ring finger on the side of the blade here. That's pretty much the grasp.
14A Good Knife
40I let the side of my hand rest on the table or on the leather so that I obtain excellent equilibrium with it. You make the cuts by sticking just the corner of the blade right into the natural leather and drawing the knife in towards you. It gets its name, swivel knife because the body of the knife turns. That's what helps you in making nice, smooth, curving cuts. When you're making these swivel cuts, you do all of the revolving with your fingers that are along the side of the knife, and then you do all the lowering with the yoke, with the first finger that remains in the yoke.
15Job Surfaces
41I wish someone had told me that early, too. I've practiced a lot over the months, but if I’d had put in a lot of time and effort into practicing just how to use this tool properly, it sure would have made it a lot simpler. It would have made my projects better. It would have saved me a lot of frustration if I had practiced much more regularly on some scrap leather. Earlier leather instructors would have their trainees exercise swivel knife control as much as 30 minutes a day. After some experience, I understand why they began their trainees this way.
16Rulers
42If you’re not experienced enough, then work at it until you can make the knife cut the design it’s supposed to. The technique of holding a swivel knife is more important than the quality of the device itself. You have to invest time practicing.
17Burnishers
43Swivel Knife Maintenance
18How to make leather Patterns
44Now let’s take an example of embossing an elephant picture:
19Patterning in Two Dimensions
45Dyeing
20Patterning in Three Dimensions
46Using Antique Finishes
21Sample Pattern Design for Leather Money Holder
47Ending Up Natural Leather Edges
22CUTTING LEATHER
48What should be my first project/ which factors should I consider for my first project?
23Cutting Leather with Scissors
49My First Project: Knife Sheath Explained
24Cutting With X-Acto, Utility, or Craft Knives
50Start the stitching by using two-needle saddle stitches. In saddle stitch, a needle is held in both the hands, and it passes each time you make a stitch. This creates a very strong stitch. Before we fold it, we give the welt loop area special attention and apply burnishing gum to the flesh side of the welt loop. Then buff it with a cloth and burnish it again to look cleaner and polished.
25Using a Cutting Wheel
51Five skills you must know for leather crafting
26Cutting straight lines freehand
52Ergonomics for the Craft Expert
