Leather crafts: master class on technology for making beautiful products with your own hands (75 photos). Leather crafts How to make genuine leather

Leather: types of leather, methods of leather preparation.

Leather- This is a strong and durable material that is made from the skins of various animals. Leather production is one of the oldest. Man has long learned to process leather and use it to make clothes, shoes, bags, accessories and various household utensils. Genuine leather is classified according to several criteria: by purpose, by the type of raw materials used, by the method of dressing and finishing.

Methods of tanning leather

Cured leather is generally divided into three main types: raw leather, rawhide and tanned leather.

Raw leather (raw, golyo)- leather material of the most ancient production method. Usually, its inner core is only cleaned and the wool is removed, that is, this is what is called “golyo” in the leather industry.

Rawhide (rawhide, ball)- leather material of the ancient method of tanning. It is produced by loosening the skin structure and fixing this condition with fatty substances. It was widespread, but has now been practically replaced by tanned leather.

Tanned leather (sheepskin)- gole (raw leather) treated with tanning substances to impart plasticity, strength, wear resistance, etc. In the old days, oak bark was used in the process of tanning leather, hence the name “tanning.”

Despite the differences in methods and recipes for leather processing, there are common required steps. The first universal operation is fleshing, in which the skin is deprived of the remains of meat, fat and subcutaneous fatty tissue. Then, if required, dehairing or liming is carried out, removing hair and epidermis. The resulting product is called let's go.

Mereya- this is a pattern on the surface of the skin, formed by traces of hair bags removed along with the epidermis as a result of dressing the skin.

Bakhtarma- the inner surface of the skin formed after fleshing.

Types of leather tanning

After the initial processing of the leather, tanning begins. According to modern concepts, tanning is the process of fastening collagen molecules with tanning agent particles (cross-linking molecules). There are now many types of tanning:

Vegetable tanning— in the dressing process, oak bark and other ingredients obtained from plants are used. The result is a brown elastic material. The desired shade is achieved by varying the quantity and quality of the ingredients used and selecting the color of the raw materials. Vegetable tanned leather is not water resistant. When exposed to moisture, it changes color, and if it absorbs liquid and then dries, it will shrink in size (shrink) and harden, becoming less elastic. In hot water, this type of leather shrinks greatly and becomes a hard, brittle material, which affects its quality and limits the possibility of its use.

Iron tanning- used very rarely due to the negative properties of ferric iron to catalyze the destruction of collagen.

Aluminum tanning— For tanning, aluminum alum is usually used, which upon hydrolysis forms tanning basic aluminum salts. Compared to chromium salts, tanning basic aluminum salts give a weak tanning effect. Aluminum tanning is used mainly for the production of glove leather (husky). To increase heat resistance, it is possible to simultaneously use aluminum and organic tanning agents.

Chrome tanning— Trivalent chromium salts are used for tanning. The softness and elasticity of chrome tanned leather is higher than that of tannin tanned leather. More resistant to high temperatures. In humid conditions they get wet faster and dry out slower. Chrome tanning agent colors bakhtarma gray-green.

Zirconium tanning— zirconium tanned leather has good strength and abrasion resistance. Zirconium tanning agent colors bakhtarma white.

Titanium tanning— titanium-tanned leathers have basically the same quality as zirconium-tanned leathers and do not stain the bakhtarma.

Fat tanning— During fat tanning, the meat is treated with fats containing unsaturated fatty acids. These include fats from marine animals (seals, sperm whales and fish). The mechanism of fat tanning is complex and is currently interpreted in different ways. It is usually believed that during the tanning process, oxidation of unsaturated fats occurs due to the addition of air oxygen at the site of double bonds. Oxidation products enter into a chemical bond primarily with the amino groups of collagen. Fat tanning is used to produce one type of leather - suede. Fat tanning gives the leather high water resistance and softness. When suede leather comes into contact with water, it is initially permeable, but as it swells it becomes waterproof. This property also allows suede to be used as special filters.

Tannide tanning— In tannide tanning, vegetable tannids and synthetic tannids (syntans) are used. They are compounds of the carbocyclic series, being derivatives of polyhydric phenols. The raw materials for obtaining plant tannids are plant extracts containing tanning agents (for example, willow, spruce, oak, quebracho). The raw materials for the production of syntans are phenols, resorcinol, naphthalene resotane, etc. Tannides bind to the amino groups of collagen molecules. In addition, they are deposited as filler in the skin. Tannids give the skin a number of valuable properties: increased thickness, plasticity. They are used mainly in the production of plantar leathers. Currently, due to low heat resistance and wear resistance, pure tannin tanning is not used. Tannid tanning is usually combined with chrome, titanium and zirconium. This allows you to obtain leather with the advantages of these tannings.

Aldehyde tanning— Of the aldehydes used for tanning, formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde are used. They are not currently widespread. Formaldehyde tanned leathers are thin. Tanning with glutaraldehyde is of great interest. In terms of physical and mechanical properties, glutar leather is close to chrome leather, but is characterized by high sweat resistance, resistance to alkalis, softness and elasticity. Due to the imparting of high sweat resistance and microbiological resistance to the leather, such tanning is advisable to use for the production of calf leathers.

Combined tanning— Combinations of tanning agents are used to impart the beneficial qualities of each type of tanning to the leather. For example, the use of chrome compounds for tanning gives leather high wear resistance and heat resistance; tanids - plasticity and increased thickness; zirconium compounds - density, strength, etc. Of the combined tannings, the most widely used for the production of plantar leathers are: XP (chrome-vegetable), XTS (chrome-titanium-syntan).

If tanning agents penetrate poorly into the structure of the dermis (in the case of thick and dense leather tissue), a skin defect such as untanning occurs (in the form of a light stripe in the center of the cross section of the skin).

Neprodub

Types of leather by type of raw material used

Cattle hide (cattle)

Calfskin- considered the highest quality and most valuable of leathers. It is used to make shoes, clothing, belts, accessories, furniture upholstery and is an affordable and popular material for making bags. Calfskin is smooth, soft, durable, does not break or form cracks on its surface. Production includes chrome and vegetable tanning. Calfskin bags are very elegant and do not wear out for a long time.

Calfskin, depending on the age of the animal, is divided into the following types:

1. Slimy- skin of unborn calves. Skin thickness is from 1.0 to 1.4 mm. Used for the production of haberdashery leathers.

2. Opoek- skin of calves up to 6 months that are breastfed. Soft, delicate, elastic, it is considered the most valuable leather. Skin thickness is from 0.5 to 1.4 mm.

3. Outgrowth- skin of calves up to one year old, eating plant foods. The skin is less elastic and soft than the skin. Skin thickness is from 0.7 to 1.6 mm.

4. Half-skin- skin of calves up to 1.5 years of age. The leather is tougher and can be sawed. Skin thickness is from 1.0 to 3.0 mm.

5. Yalovka- the skin of a calving cow is denser and more uniform in thickness; It is superior in quality to bull and bull. The skin of a calving cow is distinguished by a small saddle cloth and large, thin flaps. Cow leather varies in thickness from 1.2 to 4.0 mm. The leather is sawed.

6. Goby- skin of a young bull (thickness up to 5.00 mm). Used for the production of shoe and technical leather.

7. Bychina- skin of castrated bulls. Has sparse hair. It is used for the production of shoe, saddlery and technical leather, rawhide.

8. Buffalo- bull leather. It is the thickest and heaviest among cattle skins, has a rough and loose structure. The heaviest and thickest is buffalo leather. Due to their thickness and strength, such leathers have a long service life, but they are rarely used in production. Compared to beef, it has thicker flanges, collars, and rumps; more wrinkled skin. Used for the production of technical leather and rawhide.

Sheep and goat skins

Sheep leather have a large thickness of the papillary dermis layer - from 50% in fine-wooled animals to 80% in coarse-haired ones. Such skins are characterized by low strength and good ductility. Due to the weak connection between the reticular and papillary dermis, lag of these layers may occur. Used for the production of chevrette and haberdashery leathers.

Goatskin- durable, soft and thin material with beautiful grain. Goat skins have a large thickness of the mesh layer (up to 60%) and a dense interweaving of collagen bundles, which makes these skins dense and durable despite their small thickness. Used to produce chevro.

1. Chevro(from the French “chevreau” - kid) - leather made from the skins of kids up to 6 months old. It is considered one of the most expensive lame tanned leathers. Very beautiful, dense, elastic chevro leather has a strong structure with an original pattern on the front side in the form of small wrinkles. Used for shoe uppers (including children's), haberdashery, clothing, furniture upholstery.

2. Kozlina- goat skin made from an adult goat.

3. Chevrette- leather made from sheep skins by lame tanning. The pattern of the mere is similar to chevro. Used for shoe uppers, clothing and haberdashery.

Pig skin

Pigskin- the most economical and unpresentable type of leather, differs in appearance and structure from cattle leather. Pigskin is now mainly used as a lining material and rarely as a base material. This is due to the fact that pig skin is not elastic enough, gets wet quickly, has a rough and hard surface, and also has a persistent odor. In addition, it is not strong enough, and the ugly perforated texture in the product does not look interesting.

Horse skin

Horse hides are not often used in leather goods production. Due to numerous highly developed sweat and sebaceous glands, the dermis is looser than that of cattle skins. The front is more suitable for making soft leathers; Khaz is used to make tough leather.

1. Slimy- skins of unborn or stillborn foals. There is almost no hair, the mane is not developed; its properties are close to that of alcohol. Used for the production of haberdashery leathers.

2. Foal- the skin of dairy foals is a valuable material. The skin is uniform in thickness and has almost no defects, which is why it is highly valued. Used for the production of haberdashery leather and shoe upper leather.

3. Urostok- the skin of foals that ate plant foods.

4. Marking- skins of young horses up to one year old. It is used for the production of shoe upper leather.

5. Large horse raw materials- area up to 400 sq. dm., thickness 1.5-3 mm.

Deer skin

Deer skin- very elastic leather, has high strength and heat protection. The most common material used to make deerskin is suede. Used for the production of gloves, briefcases, bags, wallets. The warmest gloves are made from deer leather.

Moose skin- elegant, durable, silky to the touch leather, similar in properties to deer leather, but has a slightly more porous structure. Used for sewing men's outerwear and accessories.

Camel skin

Camel skin produces low-quality, low-strength leather, used mainly for leather goods.

Cutting raw materials from finished leather

In production, leather is cut and has various configurations. This is determined by the size of the hide and the range of finished leathers.

- Whole skin.
- Half-skin- half of the skin, cut along the spine line.
- Kulat- skin with the collar cut off.
- Vorotok- part of the skin from the neck part, usually has many defects.
- Cheprak- the most valuable part of the skin is the dorsal part, which does not have a floor and a collar. It can make up up to 55% by area of ​​the entire skin area. Can be divided into “upper saddlecloth” and “lower saddlecloth”. Typically used for the production of belts, bags and other products requiring high density raw materials.
- Krupon- a saddle cloth cut in the shape of a rectangle.

Areas of the skin with the most defects:

- Paws.
- Paula- part of the skin from the peritoneum.
- Flanks- areas of skin adjacent to the paws on the ventral side.

Horse hide is divided into the following sections:

- Haz- back of the skin (croup and legs).
- Spiegel- compacted areas of skin located above the articulation of the pelvis and thigh bones. Khaza plot.
- Peredina- skin without haz. The most valuable part.

Classification of finished leather by purpose

- Shoe leathers.
- Clothes and haberdashery leather- for sewing clothes, hats, gloves, bags, wallets, etc. For these purposes, chevrette, husky, suede, and cattle leather are used. According to the type of tanning, they mainly use chrome and chromotannide tanned leather.
- Saddle leather- for human and horse equipment. Cattle and pig leather is used.
- Technical leather- for mechanisms (for example, drive belts).

A broader classification includes the following items:

- Leather for shoe uppers- for these purposes, they use chrome-tanned cattle leather, horse fronts and markings, chevro with various finishes - nubuck, velor, split leather, varnish. Yuft is used for the upper of heavy shoes.
- Lining leather— intended for shoe lining parts. Pork skins are mainly used for these purposes.
-Leather for the bottom of shoes- used for the manufacture of insoles and shoe soles. For these purposes, pig skins and cattle skins, as well as horse hazes, are used.
- Glove leathers- produced from sheepskin, goat, pork, dog and horse fronts.
- Furniture leather- for upholstery of furniture, car interiors. The leather used is chrome-tanned cattle.
- Parchment— dried, untanned leather from cattle skins. Characterized by high hardness, it is used in the manufacture of musical instruments.
-Rawness— untanned leather of cattle, pigs and moose. Used to make horse harness and equipment.

Types of leather

There are many classifications of leather, which differ in the type and age of the animal from which they are obtained, as well as in the methods of their processing and coloring.

Here are some examples:

Cowhide- its thickness, unlike calfskin, is 2.5-5 mm, and the size of the skins can exceed 2.5 sq.m. Traditionally it is called “saddlery”. Initially, it was used for the production of saddles, harnesses and other elements of harness. Currently, bull meat is used, as a rule, to make denim belts, ethnic-style bags, trunks and backpacks. This type of leather is better suited for manual and mechanical embossing than others. Due to the thickness and strength of the leather, products made from it can last almost forever.

Cowhide

An example of a leather jacket made from cowhide. The photo shows the thickness of the leather and its characteristic texture.

Buffalo leather- in its main characteristics it is very close to bovine leather, but the skins have an even larger size and an interesting “coarse-grained” (or “rubbed”) texture of the front surface. Resistant to moisture and mechanical damage. Very popular in the manufacture of jackets and accessories for bikers. Unfortunately, this skin type is not very common in Russia.

Buffalo leather

Buffalo leather bag.

Cowhide- plastic, elastic, durable leather with an impressive natural texture on the front side. It accepts various types of dressing, processing and coloring well. Allows you to obtain a significant range of leather materials of various colors and textures, including elite and exclusive ones. It has a wide range of applications, including: sewing clothes, shoes and haberdashery, upholstery of furniture, upholstery and decoration of car interiors, residential and office premises, manufacturing of decorative and gift items.

Cowhide

Cow's skin- durable leather, less thick and stiff than bovine leather. It has a pleasant natural texture and is wear-resistant. Used for the manufacture of haberdashery goods, outerwear, shoes and accessories in a moderate price range.

Cow's skin

Women's bag made of cow leather.

Calfskin- thin, soft, plastic, silky to the touch leather, has a natural “breathable” structure, high strength and wear resistance. The characteristics, uses, and costs of calfskin vary depending on the age of the animals. The skin of dairy calves (up to 6 months) - calf - drapes perfectly and keeps its shape, has high elasticity and resistance to deformation. High-quality clothing and accessories are made from it. The skin of calves up to one year of age - the outgrowth - is thicker, less elastic and is used for the manufacture of high-quality shoes, bags and other haberdashery products and accessories. The toughest and densest skin of calves up to 18 months of age is half-leather. It is used both for the manufacture of high-quality shoes, bags, suitcases and various souvenirs, and in interior design.

Calfskin

Opoek— Soft, elastic leather obtained from the skins of suckling calves. The most valuable leather. The fibers are thin, elastic, dense weave. The hair of a calf is thicker, finer and more beautiful than that of an adult animal. Calf leather turns out soft, full, with a beautiful grain.

Opoek

Outgrowth— the skin of a calf that has switched to plant food and changes its primary hair during the process of molting. The quality of the leather is worse than that of the felt, the weave of the fibers is weaker. The finished leather is smooth, thick, with a beautiful measure, but not as full as opoek. Shoe uppers and leather goods are made from it.

Outgrowth

Pigskin— rather thin and light leather with a characteristic large-pore texture. It accepts dressing and coloring well, but is not durable or water resistant. Used for the mass production of inexpensive haberdashery goods, clothing, shoes, accessories, upholstery and lining materials.

Pigskin

Wallet made of pigskin.

Horse leather- fairly dense, high-strength leather of medium plasticity, requiring quite a long processing time to achieve quality. Used for the manufacture of high-quality men's outerwear, hats, shoes, accessories, as well as natural upholstery and lining materials.

Horse leather jacket.

Goatskin- delicate and soft, very thin and durable, has a unique wave-like pattern, is quite waterproof, retains heat well, is plastic and elastic. Used to make high quality, elegant accessories and lightweight outerwear.

Goatskin

Sheepskin (sheep leather)- flexible, soft, elastic skin, with high extensibility. It is perfectly processed and retains its desired shape. It is considered one of the best materials for making high-quality fashion clothing, hats and accessories.

Sheepskin

Men's sheepskin jacket.

Deerskin— Leather that is processed using fat extracted from animal brains or other types of fats. The end result is an elastic, durable, velvety material similar to suede. Retains its shape well even with frequent changes in temperature and humidity. Perfectly retains heat, protects from wind and moisture. This type of leather is commonly used to make briefcases, bags, purses and wallets.

Deerskin

Moose skin- elegant, durable, silky to the touch leather, similar in properties to deer leather, but has a slightly more porous structure. Used for sewing men's outerwear and accessories.

Moose skin

This is what the details of a hunting jacket made of elk leather look like.

Reptile and exotic animal leather- very expensive and noble leathers. These are skins - crocodile, python, monitor lizard, ostrich, kangaroo. Recently, designers have paid attention to eel skin.

Monitor skin

Reptile skin

Eel skin

Crocodile skin- characterized by noble beauty, complex, time-consuming and labor-intensive processing, strength, elasticity, absolute resistance to moisture and dirt, and very high cost. Based on raw materials, properties and price, they are divided into: caiman leather - tougher and less durable; actual crocodile skin and alligator skin. Footwear, clothing, haberdashery and accessories made of crocodile leather are made primarily by hand by the highest class craftsmen and adorn the collections of the world's leading designers.

Crocodile skin

Crocodile leather bag.

Snake skin is smooth and elastic, with fantastic patterns and textures, strong, durable and perfectly resistant to various types of dressing, processing and coloring. The most popular are python and cobra leather. Snakeskin is used to make shoes, clothing and accessories, giving even the smallest item originality and uniqueness.

Snake skin

Cowboy style wallet made of snakeskin.

Ostrich leather- dense, flexible, quite durable leather, has a very impressive texture on the front surface. One of the most popular materials in the collections of many famous designers. Used for the manufacture of shoes, outerwear, haberdashery items, decorative elements and interior decoration.

Ostrich leather

Ostrich leather gloves. The characteristic texture is visible.

Kangaroo leather- plastic and springy, light and durable, has high breathability and hygroscopicity, perfectly retains its properties and shape in finished products. Used for sewing clothes, shoes, including sports shoes, haberdashery and accessories.

Kangaroo leather

Hiking boots made of kangaroo leather.

Shark skin— considered the most durable among natural leathers, while being light and elastic. In its natural state it is covered with very hard and sharp scales, which are quite difficult to remove. Shoes, outerwear, haberdashery items and various accessories, decorative elements and souvenirs are made from shark skin.

Shark skin

Shark skin wallet, handmade.

Stingray skin- has a very attractive fine-grained texture of the front surface, is very durable and difficult to manufacture and process, but is waterproof, resistant to dirt and does not require special care. It is used to make high-quality outerwear, shoes, haberdashery and accessories, decorative elements and even women's jewelry.

Stingray skin

Iphone case made of stingray leather.

Boiled leather- vegetable tanned leather, which has been immersed in hot water, boiling wax, or similar substances to increase strength. Historically, such leather was used as armor due to its hardness and light weight, and was also used for book binding.

Boiled leather bag.

Crust(Krust) is a general designation for dense leathers with a preserved natural grain surface, obtained primarily from the hides of cattle. Such leathers undergo chrome or chrome-free tanning and are subjected to top or through dyeing. To protect from moisture, the front surface of the crust is treated with natural wax, while maintaining the natural breathability of the skin. Crust is used for the manufacture of shoes, haberdashery and office products, furniture upholstery, the manufacture of goods for riding (saddles, harnesses) and special-purpose goods (sheaths, bags, holsters, etc.). Products made from trust are durable; with prolonged use in places of bends and constant friction, they acquire a darker color (patination) and the effect of natural aging.

Krust

Vegan(Vegan) - crust tanned with substances of natural (vegetable) origin. To obtain vegan, both cattle hides and pig skin, with a thickness of 1 to 3 mm, are used. Designed specifically for the manufacture of carved elements, carving and embossing, which are widespread in subcultures, among bikers, as well as in the manufacture of traditional elements of costume and everyday life of residents of the Western United States (belts, backpacks, holsters, scabbards, etc.). Vegan is used to make decorative and gift items, accessories and household items in ethnic, “country” and “crazy” styles, elements of traditional costumes, and riding goods (saddles, harnesses).

Vegan

Velours(French velours - velvet, from Latin villosus - hairy, shaggy) - leather made from pork, less often sheep skins, chrome tanned with the front surface processed by grinding. Velor is an inverted leather, with the bakhtarma on the outside and the front side (mereya) on the inside. Sometimes the velor on the reverse side is tucked under the suede. This material can be equally soft and thin, or hard and thick, it all depends on the processing technology. Used for making shoe uppers, clothing and leather goods.

Velours

Gloves made of natural velor.

Suede— fat-tanned leather (i.e., raw hides that have been subjected to preliminary preparation. During tanning, they are impregnated with fats). Used for the manufacture of shoes, gloves, haberdashery, outerwear, jackets, skirts, and also as a filtering and polishing material. High-quality shoe suede is obtained from the skins of deer calf, outgrowth and Russian short-tailed sheep, technical - from the sheepskins of Russian long-tailed sheep, rubbing - from the skins of adult deer, Russian sheepskin. Suede has high ductility and porosity, which makes it highly breathable. Suede is particularly soft, which it retains not only after soaking in water, but also after washing in soapy water, which is why Suede is also called “washable leather”. This material is less wear-resistant than smooth leather and requires careful care.

Suede

Laika— Thin, soft, elastic skin. In the old days it was made from dogs - hence the name; now it is mainly made from the skins of lambs and kids using chrome or chrome-fat tanning. The surface of the measure should be perfectly smooth, without wrinkles. Despite its softness and tenderness, husky is quite durable and wear-resistant. It is mainly used for the manufacture of gloves, decorative items and jewelry, much less often in the manufacture of light footwear and haberdashery. Laika does not tolerate moisture well, and after drying it loses its shape and properties. Laika products require proper care.

Laika

Laika gloves.

Nappa— Thin semi-aniline leather made from cattle hides and sheepskin. May have a thickness from 0.5 to 1.0 mm. Nappa leather is an extremely soft and flexible material commonly used to produce high-quality wallets, toiletry sets, haberdashery, various accessories and decorative items.

Nappa

Napplak— Leather with varnish applied. Most often it is lacquered nappa.

Napplak

Nubuck(nubuck) - fine-haired chrome-tanned leather with the front surface sanded with fine-grained abrasive materials (for example, sand). It is used for the manufacture of haberdashery, parts of shoe uppers and upholstery of upholstered furniture.

Nubuck is similar to suede, but is made from other types of leather, usually from cattle. Nubuck is less protected from dirt and greasing faster than suede. Nubuck requires careful attention, especially in the first month of wearing. Nubuck, like a sponge, absorbs any moisture and it will be good if you are especially careful during this period. Later it goes away. Remember that light-colored nubuck items darken over time, and dark ones become lighter. Nubuck is durable and wear-resistant, with proper care.

Nubuck

There are: natural nubuck, artificial nubuck, nubuck-oil.

Natural nubuck made from genuine leather. It has a weak pile on the front surface, which gives the skin a good appearance - it becomes velvety. Nubuck leather is made of genuine leather and has good breathability. The disadvantages of this leather include low wear resistance and the need for product care. Products made from natural nubuck must be cleaned with special products.

Natural nubuck

Artificial nubuck or synthetic is much cheaper than nubuck made from genuine leather. This is a multilayer polymer material that has a velvety structure and is similar in appearance to natural nubuck. Synthetic nubuck, unlike natural nubuck, does not absorb water and has higher wear resistance.

Artificial well-well

Nubuck-oil- This is nubuck, which was protected from moisture during the production process by treating it with fat impregnation. Nubuck is soft and velvety to the touch, while oil nubuck is damp to the touch and heavier than regular nubuck. It is more wear-resistant and unpretentious than regular nubuck.

Nubuck-oil

Crazy(Crazy) - sophisticated leather with an elegant matte face and a pull-up effect. Unlike nubuck, after sanding it undergoes a special stretching treatment and a wax coating. This treatment gives the effect of lightening and “floating” the color in places where the skin is stretched. It is also used for making shoes and as a furniture material.

Crazy

Morocco- high-quality, thin, soft leather of rich bright colors, made by vegetable tanning, usually from goat skins, less often from the skins of sheep, calves and foals. It has high strength, resistance to contamination and mechanical damage, and has an elegant, rich appearance. It is used for the manufacture of stylish bags and accessories, decorative items, jewelry and elements of national clothing. The secret of its production has been known in Russia since the 12th century.

Morocco

Split- natural leather material obtained by mechanical separation - sanding - of natural leather into layers, usually from 3 to 6 layers. Chromium and chrome-fat leathers of cattle and pigs are subjected to exfoliation. By lamination, the front, middle and back (bakhtarmyan) splits are obtained. Thin grain splits are used to produce high-quality haberdashery and photo leathers. Thick front and middle splits form split velor, which is used for the manufacture of technical footwear, workwear and for the manufacture of furniture leather.

Split

Split velor

Cheprak(butt) - heavy, dense, thick leather produced by fat tanning from cattle hides taken from the back of the animal. This type of product is usually used for leather for belts for both men and women, since this is the densest part of the leather.

Cheprak

Shora— Dense, thick leather, produced by fat tanning from cattle skins, is more plastic than saddle cloth.

Shora

Shagreen(English shagreen leather, shagreen, French chagrin) - a rough and porous type of untanned leather with a decorative convex-grained texture, made from the dorsal part of the skins of horses or kulans and usually dyed green. Shagreen these days is usually made from goat and sheep skins.

Shagreen

Galisha(French galuchat) - shagreen obtained from the skins of stingrays and sharks, which have a natural granular structure. It is used to make shoes, outerwear, haberdashery items and various accessories, decorative elements and souvenirs.

Galisha

Kid(French chevreau, English kidskin) - Soft, dense, durable leather made from goat skins by chrome tanning. On the surface it has a peculiar pattern in the form of small wrinkles. Used to make gloves and shoe uppers. It is also used to make various haberdashery items, decorative elements and souvenirs.

Kid

Chevrette(Chevrette) - elastic, viscous, dense and loose leather obtained from young sheepskin by chrome tanning. The pattern of the front surface resembles chevro, but is much less durable and of poorer quality. Used for the manufacture of outerwear, shoes and haberdashery. To increase strength, loose chevrette is treated with polymer and other materials. A more durable type of chevrette, better suited for sewing shoes, is obtained from the skins of sheep of coarse-wool steppe breeds.

Chevrette

Cordovan(Cordovan) - durable, strong, elastic exclusive vegetable tanned leather with a shiny smooth front surface. It is made from separate sections of horse hide by very long hand-dressing (about 6 months). Cordovan is waterproof, durable, easy to clean, and retains its shine for a long time. Used for sewing exclusive men's shoes.

Cordovan

Famous Indy boots from Cordovan.

Yuft— Thick leather produced by fat tanning from cattle skins taken from the belly of the animal. Significantly softer and more flexible than saddle cloth or blinders. It is made from cow or cow raw materials and the skins of one-year-old bulls, with the exception of veal raw materials. After washing and fleshing, the raw materials are subjected to ash, washing, trampling and kneading in pounding and drums, cutting, shavings, squeezing the face, boiling in jelly, soaking in weak tanning juice and then juice and powder tanning. Yuft comes in white, red and black. The best leathers are selected for white yuft.

Yuft

Cowhide— “Yalovy” in Slavic languages ​​meant animals that had not yet given birth. Cowhide for boots was made from the skins of one-year-old bulls or cows that had not yet given birth. This leather was optimal for durable and comfortable shoes. Older or younger animals were not suitable - the delicate skin of calves was not yet strong enough, and the thick skins of old cows and bulls, on the contrary, were too tough and heavy to wear.

Cow boots

Chromium— Chrome foal is considered to be chrome skins made from the skins of foals. This subtype of leather is produced in very small quantities, since the bulk of the raw materials is used for the production of fur. The thickness of the skins ranges from 0.4 to 1.0 mm. These raw materials are mainly used for the manufacture of officer's chrome boots.

Chrome boots

Kirza- an abbreviation for the Kirov plant, where mass production of these products began during the Great Patriotic War, is a dense, durable multi-layer fabric. The term is more often used in relation to shoe tarpaulin - a composite material consisting of multilayer fabric treated with film-forming substances (actual tarpaulin). Used as a leather substitute. The surface of shoe tarpaulin is embossed to imitate the texture of pigskin. It is mainly used in the production of the tops of army boots, as well as for the production of rubberized drive belts, pouches, and tablets.

Tarpaulin boots

Aniline leather(aniline leather) - leather dyed with organic dyes with minimal technological processing. It is the highest quality of all leathers. It is characterized by marks caused by nature, such as scars and different color shades. It is this type of leather that is more sensitive and prone to patination (acquiring an antique look) during use.

Aniline leather

Smooth skin— made from the highest quality raw materials, not polished. Only the fur is removed. The pores of the skin remain in their natural state: the skin “breathes” and, at the same time, the service life of the product increases. Products made from this type of leather are more wear-resistant. During wear, a natural “patina” appears on the surface of the product and it becomes more beautiful every year. The highest quality furniture and shoes are made from smooth leather.

Smooth skin

Sanded leather- the leather is sanded and broken. It is sanded on one side, where natural pores are present. The other side is smooth. Used to make shoes, haberdashery, and clothing.

Sanded leather

Embossed leather- leather in which the pattern on the front surface is obtained using molds or stamps. Using embossing, defects and imperfections on the facial surface of the skin are eliminated. The resulting pattern can imitate the skin of reptiles (snakes, crocodiles) and exotic animals.

Embossed leather

Parchment- leather, which got its name from the name of the Greek city of Pergamum. This is untanned leather made from the skins of lambs, kids, and calves. It is used to make musical instruments, such as drums, some machine parts, book bindings, and women's jewelry. In the old days it served as the main material for writing.

Parchment

Belt leather- smooth leather that was originally used to make driving pulley belts. This type of leather is often used to make briefcases and wallets. It is quite thick, hard and smooth to the touch. Belt leather is the only type of leather used to make luxury products that can maintain its shape without the need for a frame. This material is heavier than smooth leather.

Belt leather

Leather belt

Fish skin— Fish skin manufacturing began in ancient times; it used to be one of the main materials for sewing clothes and shoes. Fish skin is a material that has excellent consumer properties and a beautiful and varied texture. Leather is produced from fish processing waste and has excellent development prospects. Each skin is good in its own way. Salmon is cellular, carp is shaggy, sturgeon has spikes and stars. Now fish skin has begun to be used in industrial production; it is used to make clothes, shoes, various accessories and decorative items.

Fish skin

Fish skin shoes

patent leather- This is chrome-tanned leather with a varnish coating or duplicated with a varnish film, which gives the surface a mirror shine. The quality of patent leather largely depends on the properties of the varnish coating, which must have a certain thickness, the necessary ductility and resistance to repeated bending. Good-quality patent leather should have a shiny, sagging-free film and uniform color. An amazing glossy, shiny coating gives natural patent leather an exquisite originality, but unfortunately, it has poor strength and low resistance to temperature influences. At temperatures below -10°C and above +25°C, patent leather becomes covered with cracks. Patent leather shoes are not recommended to be worn in bad weather. Due to dampness and street dirt, the shiny varnish surface gradually becomes dull and becomes covered with small cracks. Patent leather shoes require special careful care. Periodically, shoes are lubricated with glycerin, petroleum jelly or castor oil to protect them from premature cracking in heat or cold; patent leather shoes should be stored wrapped in paper.

Lady's handbag made of genuine patent leather.

Men's boots made of genuine patent leather.

Compiled by: Patlakh V.V.
http://patlah.ru

"Encyclopedia of Technologies and Methods" Patlakh V.V. 1993-2007

What can you make from an old leather jacket?

From a long jacket, cut the bottom to the required length of the jacket.

Important! Don't forget to leave a few centimeters longer than required for the hem.

Next, sew on a sewing machine. An ideal and unusual option will be obtained if you use different colors of jackets, then accordingly the new product will look more original. Not like everyone else. Instead of a zipper, make loops and sew buttons. We recommend sewing a fake pocket on the left side. A jacket is the first thing you can make from an old leather jacket.

It’s easy to make a colored or plain bag using any chosen style template. For example, an elongated barrel-shaped one: this option will give a sporty look and will last for a long time. After all, leather itself is a durable and dense material. The only thing left is to decide on the size of the handles.

Jacket sewn from pieces: you can sew a large handbag. Insert a zipper and sew several internal pockets for various small items.

Case for phone, tablet, laptop

For phone Using sleeves is suitable. Turn it inside out and cut out the desired shape. Next we sew along the edge, not forgetting to retreat.

For tablet use the two front pieces. Cut two identical pieces to size and sew them together. You can insert a zipper or drawstring. The last option with a lace is a more elegant and simpler way.

Attention! Apply the scraps in the form of appliqué designs on top of the tablet cover.

Laptop. Can be sewn as a book cover. We cut the template to size and finish the edges with a hand stitch through a loop.

You can weave a necklace from pieces of leather; there are no limits to your imagination, the main thing is patience.

Pillow, pillow cases

Cut out any shape to size: two identical squares and sew on the sides. You fill it with anything, such as cotton wool or soft fruit wrappers that are wrapped in the store. You sew it up.

Pillowcases. It is better to use soft material. Take a sample from any pillowcases that you use every day.

Reference! Use for interior beauty.

Take an old frame and glue a piece to size. And from the remaining scraps, come up with a composition with meaning. For example, for a bedroom: You can cut out a horse with a girl. Use your imagination. The most important thing is to sew the details manually on top of the picture. Use different colors for combination.

Trim the sleeves. Replace the zipper with buttons. If you need to shorten the length. For a vest, it is best to use one color.

Important! Decorate bright colors with dark buttons.

It is better to sew the skirt in the form of a ribbon with ties on the sides. And for fastening, insert Velcro or sew a hook closer to the opposite side.

A small clutch will be made from half of the top part. Be sure to measure the shape and size and add a few cm to the hem. Sew a double-sided strap. This will make it comfortable to wear on your hand. Or choose a simple option without a strap. Preference is given to a strict look.

Leather slippers are made easily from any template.

Important! Measure your feet correctly. To strengthen the sole, sew in thick 2 ml cardboard. Make visors from the sleeves. One product will make more than one pair of slippers. Minimum three.

Cut out a wide strip of about ten cm. Fold it in half and sew each side. For decoration: make holes and pass narrow leather laces through. Approximately in the form of a snake along the contour of the hand.

Cut into thin strips. We weave in any way. For example, “hand weaving”. Options can be found in magazines. If this is not possible: Braid 6 braids. We fasten the top, leaving four centimeters for the screed. We fix it. Next, we connect the bottom in the same way, leaving larger ends. Just above the bottom we insert a pot with a flower and fix it. The pot is ready.

We sew a bag with rounded ends. We insert a cord around the edge for a tie. We sew a strap to the body part to pass through the arms so that the backpack hangs behind the back. We sew the patch pocket behind the whip to the outside.

We make a double wide strip. Then we divide it with stitches into different sections. We put insert pockets for tools on top according to size. Sew a ribbon along the top from the middle for tying. Roll it up. This option is suitable for working at heights where it is not possible to get the necessary tools. And with such a holster, everything will be at hand.

The cut can be simple. We cut an apron from the back of the product. Next, we sew a deep pocket onto the front part. We attach strips to the sides for tying from the back. But you can also tie it in the front. For whomever is convenient, choose. The thick apron does not get wet and can be quickly wiped with a damp cloth. Necessary for work at large enterprises in various fields of activity.

Earrings

Original earrings in the form of tassels can be made from a collar. Cut a five cm strip not completely at a distance of 2 ml. Next, roll into a tube. Pull the ear through from old earrings. IMPORTANT: Use non-oxidizing metal.

Cover for books (electronic and regular)

Make it look like a simple book cover. Tuck a piece of material around the edges in strips of four cm each. Then sew it up. Insert e-book. And for fixation, add a rivet on the glued strip.

Reference! Regular books do not require a rivet.

It’s easy to make a case for glasses: We sew a narrow bag with ties. The edges can be made rounded.

Cut according to the template. There are two parts for each hand. Consider the distance for seams. Make it a little wider than natural size. This will allow you to bend your fingers freely.

Look into the far corners of your wardrobe, where “no man has gone before” - a joke, where you haven’t looked for a long time, it’s possible that there are many things there that you are no longer going to wear. Surely, among all this rubbish there will be several items of clothing, accessories or shoes made of leather or substitute - these could be gloves, a bag, boots or even an entire jacket.

If you are definitely not going to wear them, then you can make a new unique thing out of them that will take on a new life and you will enjoy using it.

Making leather crafts is very easy, especially if you have imagination and creativity. Look at the photos of leather crafts and you will definitely choose what you need most now.

As ideas, we advise you to consider options such as wall panels, souvenirs and gifts, flowers, various additions to your wardrobe and even decorations. In order to make a craft, you only need free time, attentiveness and a great desire to do something with your own hands.

If you are new to creating leather products, we recommend that you choose a simpler final option, so you can learn how to make a product and not screw up your first “hand-made” project. For example, you can make flowers for the wall or a small decoration.

You don’t have to come up with something new; it’s enough to find step-by-step instructions for creating a certain thing and follow it from start to finish. Once you learn this craft, you will be able to create masterpieces yourself and share them with the world.

Leather bracelet

What could be simpler than a homemade leather bracelet? Today, such an accessory is considered very fashionable, and it can be done in just a few hours with the right approach to the pattern.

Materials and tools

• Leather cord 0.8 m long
• Chain 3x0.25m
• Scissors
• Thread with needle
• Button of the same color as the chain

Such a simple leather craft as a bracelet is not difficult to make for beginners. Mentally divide the leather cord into three equal parts, and then cut one of them. Prepare the chains. The whole process will consist of braiding a braid from a lace and a chain.

When the weaving is finished, you need to tie the ends using a thread of the same color so that it is not visible. Try to do everything carefully so that the product looks decent.

You need to sew a button on one end, and make a loop on the other end that will fit over the button so that the bracelet can be closed. Keep in mind that the best option would be to match the colors of the chain and button.

Now your bracelet is ready and you can safely show it to your friends.

Leather brooch

Let's look at step-by-step instructions on how to make such a craft from leather. You can create a brooch design in the shape of a flower.

Materials and tools

• Colored leather elements
• Cardboard
• Scissors
• Pin
• Tweezers
• PVA glue and Moment
• Candle

First of all, you need to make sheet templates for the cardboard flower. Then, according to the prepared template, you need to cut out about ten such leaves from the leather. Next, on the back side of each sheet, you need to apply Moment glue along its entire length and make a crease along the glue line.

Next, dilute the PVA glue with water, but not too much, and work on the underside of each sheet. When the glue dries, it is important to carefully take the leaf with tweezers and hold it on a burning candle, try it, you will understand why it is needed, but seriously, the leaf will acquire a natural volume and you will be surprised how beautiful it will look.

Attention, the sheet should be processed only inside out over the fire, so as not to damage the skin itself.

Further making leather crafts with your own hands involves creating a base for the leaves. To do this, you need to cut a circle of leather with a diameter of about 4-5 cm.

Then we proceed to gluing the petals to it. If you have made leaves of different sizes, then put the large ones in the first row, then the medium ones and, finally, the smallest ones.

After this, you need to make several blanks for the center of the flower and glue them to the center of the base. The last step is to glue the pin to the back of the base. When the glue dries, you can immediately wear this decoration.

What else can be made from pieces of leather?

For example, it could be a Japanese-style leather bag. To do this, you need to make a bag of leather so that it resembles a cylinder with a bottom.

The upper edge of such a bag is folded back and properly stitched with a beautiful stitch. A cord with a clip is inserted into the hole that has been bent and stitched, then the bag can be simply tightened and the contents will not fall out of it.

You can sew handles or straps to this bag, then it will be comfortable to wear on your back or shoulder.

Lunch bag

Try taking a rectangular sheet of leather and sewing additional walls on the sides of the long side, right in the middle. On the smaller edges, it is important to equip a fastener.

If you got it right, when you join the long edges, you should end up with a small carry-on bag that is convenient for storing your portable lunch.

Yes, the bag is not easy to make, but you will catch a lot of looks at yourself and at the bag, which will allow you to be fully proud of yourself.

Leather package

Have you seen the paper bags they put food in at fast food restaurants? Try sewing two equal pieces of leather together to make the same bag. This product is convenient to store, carry and can be used for many occasions, from carrying food to storing money in it.

Stand

Don't want to spoil your new table with hot dishes? Cut a fancy shape out of leather or, conversely, a recognizable figure and you can safely place hot glasses and plates on it. Nothing will happen to the code, so don't worry.

Notebook

Wrap your notebook in real leather from an old jacket you no longer wear. Study the dimensions carefully and get to work stitching the edges of your new notebook cover.

In addition to all of the above, there are thousands of master classes on leather crafts. All you have to do is choose what you like best and make such a product. Leather has always been and will remain in fashion, so feel free to start creating a unique piece.

Photos of leather crafts

Leather- This is the shell of the body. Surprisingly resilient and durable, it protects us from germs and external influences, helps maintain a constant body temperature, removes some body waste through the pores and is regularly renewed. In addition, the skin contains receptors that send signals to the spinal cord, providing its tactile function. This is how we can distinguish between cold and hot, smooth and rough.

What is leather made of?

The skin is the largest organ of our body; it covers an area of ​​at least 2 square meters. m!

The skin has two main layers - the epidermis and dermis (the skin itself), as well as a thinner layer - the hypodermis or subcutaneous tissue. Epidermis: The outer layer of skin containing melanocytes - cells that produce melanin, which acts when we tan in the sun. This layer also contains the horny substance keratin, a protein also present in hair, nails and body hairs. When exposed to sunlight, the epidermis produces vitamin D, which retains calcium in the bones. The epidermis is regularly renewed: dead cells on the surface of the skin are replaced by new ones. Dermis: The thick inner layer provides elasticity and strength to the skin. The dermis is permeated with blood vessels, sebaceous glands that secrete a fatty substance - sebum, sweat glands responsible for sweating, sensory receptors that respond to touch or pressure, and nerve endings that send information about the outside temperature to the brain. Hypodermis: A thin layer located below the dermis and composed of fat cells that acts as a thermal insulator. With age, the skin becomes wrinkled due to the gradual wear and tear of the dermis.

The skin has three layers: epidermis, dermis (the skin itself) and hypodermis (subcutaneous tissue).
1. The surface of the skin is covered with hairs
2. The outer layer of skin is called the epidermis
3. The inner layer of skin is called the dermis
4. Below the dermis layer is the hypodermis

What is skin needed for?

This is a natural barrier that protects against external aggressive environments and microbes. The skin also helps regulate the body's internal temperature: if we are hot, we sweat, thus cooling the body. If we are cold, we shiver or get goosebumps - this helps the body warm up.

Leather of all colors

Melanin is responsible for skin color. But the amount of this pigment is different for everyone. If there is a lot of melanin in all layers of the skin, then the skin is black. If melanin is present only in the deep layers of the epidermis, the skin is light. If melanin is combined with another substance - carotene, the skin has a yellow honey fungus. Fair-haired people whose skin produces little melanin usually get sunburned if they do not protect their skin with special products. But the skin of a dark-haired person can also “burn” if he is under the sun without protection.

The weight of the skin ranges from 3 to 5 kg in different people.

Leather is an excellent craft material. From such a soft and pleasant base, you can make and sew many designer items: brooches, belts, original bracelets, hairpins, etc. Of course, all these handmade accessories can be purchased ready-made in the store. But it’s much more interesting to make them yourself. Let's look at what designer crafts and leather goods you can create with your own hands.

Leatherworking Basics

Let's start with basic knowledge and concepts about this material, namely with the features of working with it:

• In your work you can use any leather and its small parts.
• You can effectively remove stains from the surface of the skin using running water and a sponge.

Important! The use of stain removers or detergents is detrimental to the material, as it makes the leather very rough and, moreover, brittle.

• If you need to soften the skin and increase its elasticity, treat the front side with glycerin.
• Various rivets, special clips and threads will help to connect the elements of leather products with each other. It is best to make seams using a sewing machine, but be sure to choose only the right needles so that the resulting holes are neat.
• High-quality work can be done using special tools. Therefore, make sure you have at least a minimum of them: a hammer, a punch, a vice, pliers, etc.
• It is extremely convenient to cut out leather elements on a dense surface. For example, a regular cutting board is perfect for these purposes.
• Decorative decorations for leather products include bright beads and beads, shiny rhinestones, sequins, metal clips, buttons and laces, etc.
• To ensure that the edges of the leather are even, gently heat them.

Another important step in getting acquainted with working with leather is familiarizing yourself with its types.

Types of genuine leather

Like any material, leather has different types. It is classified according to the quality of production, differs in the type of raw materials, and the age of the animals is also important. The material has a dense front side and a loose back side, which is called bakhtarma.

So, what types of material can be distinguished from which you can make leather crafts with your own hands:

1. Yuft. This type of material is made from the skins of pigs, horses or deer, which are impregnated with willow bark. In addition, this thick leather is treated with fat. Suitable for making shoes.
2. Kid. This soft leather is made from goat skins. Chrome tanning makes the leather durable and elastic, which is why it is used for the uppers of elegant women's shoes.
3. Suede . A popular type of leather made from the skins of goats and calves. The material is fat tanned. During the leather dressing process, the outer layer of the hide is sawed off. The peculiarity of the material is its low pile, softness of the fabric and high stretchability. Suede found its use in leather goods and shoe production.
4. Chevrette. Quite loose leather made from sheep skins. It also has good stretchability. Chromium tannins were used for its processing. Suits and outerwear (various jackets and coats) are made from such leather.
5. Opoek. Elastic and soft leather material made from the skins of dairy calves.
6. Velours. Another type of leather with a pile surface, but unlike suede, this material is a little rougher, and the thick and even pile is a little lower. In addition, chrome tanning of hides is used. Used for sewing coats.
7. Laika. Incredibly thin and soft leather with excellent elasticity. The hallmark of this type of leather is kid gloves.
8. Morocco. Thin and soft leather obtained from the skins of goats, calves, foals or sheep. Vegetable tanned.

Important! Most often, the skin of cattle is used for leather production, however, you can also purchase more exclusive material: from the skins of snakes or lizards.

DIY leather crafts can be made from the remnants of leather items whose service life has come to an end. For example, handbags, old gloves, boot tops or belts. New pieces of leather for small items can be purchased at an atelier or tannery. Its cost will be low, since, in essence, it is scraps of material. For larger items, you will have to spend money and purchase a whole piece of leather.

How to use old leather in work?

For small DIY leather products or miniature items, as well as individual elements of the composition, you can and should use old leather material. Wallets, parts of boots, handbags - all this will work for your creative ideas.

Step 1

First of all, cut the leather of the product at the seams. The front side of the leather is smooth and dense, it shines pleasantly, as it is most often covered with nitro paint. We advise you to wash it or wipe it with soapy foam.

Important! You cannot wash leather products, as you can wash off the fat tanning substances of the material, then it will lose its appearance, begin to bristle and shrink.

Step 2

Then rinse the item with salt water and vinegar. To do this, connect:

• One liter of water.
• 50 grams of table salt.
• One glass of 9 percent table vinegar.

Important! This mixture gives the skin elasticity. This characteristic can be improved by lubricating the surface with glycerin. After this, the old material will become quite suitable for making your own leather goods.

Other ways to wash your skin are:

• Unboiled milk or coffee grounds. The only exception for the second remedy is white skin.
• But suede can be washed in warm water with washing powder with the addition of ammonia. If there are greasy stains on it, then purified gasoline, chloroform or another solvent will help get rid of them. Dip a piece of clean cloth in the liquid and wipe away any dirt.

Important! To make the pile look impressive and like new, walk over the surface of the material with a rubber brush, fine sandpaper or foam rubber. After this, rub your skin with this mixture:

• One glass of warm milk.
• One teaspoon of soda.

Step 3

The wet material must be stretched on some kind of base, a thick board or sheet of plywood. Dry small parts under a press, placing them between dry pieces of fabric. After such procedures, the skin will acquire an even and smooth surface.

While the leather is drying, treat it with one of the impregnation options:

• Castor oil.
• A mixture of butter and warm water, plus a little ammonia.

Important! Carefully and carefully cover the surface of the skin with the composition. This is best done with a soft brush or thick cotton swab. Remove excess with a clean cloth.

As a result, you will get an excellent basis for crafts. What can be made from pieces of leather? Cute accessories and little things: keychain, stylish decoration, jewelry, etc. And leather remnants are also interestingly used in room design in the form of original fittings: handles for drawers, strips of leather can be used in the form of fastenings for shelves, handles for wooden storage boxes.

Necessary tools for working with leather

Professionals have a great variety of them. However, if you are planning to make leather crafts with your own hands for beginner craftsmen, then only a few of them will be enough.

Important! In the process of your creative activity, you will replenish your set of tools, as experience will suggest the most practical and convenient means at hand.

You can highlight the following tools for working with leather, which will definitely be useful to you initially:

• Scissors. You should stock up on several types. For small details made of thin fabric, manicure ones are perfect, and for larger elements made of thick leather, tailor’s ones. Curly zigzag scissors will help you create a jagged edge.

Important! Scissors should be sharp to cut the leather rather than crush it.

• Awl. Designed for stitching product parts.
• Hammer. Needed for punching holes in the material, applying patterns and installing rivets.
• Ruler. It is optimal if it is metal, as it is necessary for an even cut of the edges. In addition, using a knife and such a ruler, you can cut cords or parts from straight lines.
• Substrate. It will come in handy if you cut out parts with a knife, as well as if you carry out actions using force. An example could be a wooden board, a plexiglass plate, or a thick rubber sheet.
• Punchers. Using such means, holes of the required diameter are punched in the skin. The principle of their operation is quite simple: the instrument is applied vertically to the skin and hit the other end with a hammer.
• Figured stamps. The purpose of such tools is to create patterns on the surface of the skin, which can be various geometric shapes or patterns. The technique is the same as that of punches: striking the stamp. Most often they are made of metal or hard wood. You can make the stamp yourself. To do this, take a nail and turn it upside down. Round designs are ready for use. And with the help of a file, you can also give it another shape: square, rhombus, etc.

Important! For a more embossed pattern, place a soft substrate under the skin: felt or a piece of linoleum.

• Ball pen. With its help, it is convenient to apply a design to leather or a pattern. It is necessary to draw from the wrong side.

These tools will be enough to make DIY leather crafts one of your favorite pastimes.

Master class with video - a convenient method of self-study

DIY leather goods - a master class for beginners and more experienced craftswomen. You can choose the most suitable option and implement your own creative ideas in it. So, let's learn how to make original things, and here are some of them.

Simple and stylish necklace

To create a leather decoration, prepare the following tools:

• Revolving hole punch.
• Glue.
• Sharp scissors.
• A piece of leather.

The creation process consists of the following stages:

1. Using scissors, we cut out a number of triangles from the leather - their shape and size may vary. This will make your decoration look more interesting.
2. Then, using glue, connect all the elements together in a chaotic creative disorder - as your imagination and sense of taste tell you.
3. Wait until the glue is completely dry.
4. After this, make two holes in the resulting blank along the edges and thread a chain or decorative cord through them.
5. Fasten and wear your jewelry with pleasure.

Leather earrings

Another interesting DIY leather craft for beginners, for which you will need:

• Leather. Preferably painted in bright colors.
• Base for earrings in the form of studs.
• Glue and scissors.

The creation process itself is quite simple and fast:

1. Decide on the design of your earrings and then use scissors to cut out the shapes you want. They can be arbitrary or geometric.
2. We glue each of the elements to the cap-base of the earring.
3. We wait a certain period of time until the glue dries.

You are the happy owner of new earrings!

Keychain and vase for keys made of leather

This unusual set will be an incredibly practical and stylish product. In addition, such DIY leather gifts will surprise you with their originality.

You will need the following things:

• A piece of leather.
• Sharp scissors and a stationery knife.
• 6 rivets.
• Key ring.

Stages of creating a turnkey vase:

1. Cut a rectangle out of leather. Determine the parameters yourself - it can be a neat-sized vase just for storing keys, or you can make it wider to put some other small items.
2. We clamp one corner and make a hole in it. To do this, you can use a hole punch or a sharp knife, or even a nail. Insert the rivet.
3. We do the same manipulations with the remaining corners.

The vase is ready!

Now let's move on to making the keychain:

1. We cut out a small rectangle from the leather, and on one side of it we leave a horizontal strip about 1 cm wide. It turns out to be a kind of rectangle with a tail.
2. We bend this section in half and secure it with a rivet, thus creating a loop.
3. On the surface of the rectangle, using a ruler and pencil, we draw lines along which we cut the fringe with scissors, not reaching the edge of the material by about 1-1.5 cm.
4. We twist the resulting fringe around the loop and fasten the entire structure with glue.
5. Last step: thread a key ring, chain or decorative cord through the loop.

Important! This elegant keychain can be used not only to store keys, but also to decorate a handbag.

Hair bow

You need the following materials:

• Skin stripes.
• Thin wire.
• Regular hair tie.
• Scissors with a ruler.

So what do we do:

1. Using a ruler, draw a stripe on a piece of leather. Length - about 40 cm and width - 4 cm. Cut it out.
2. Sharpen both ends of the strip with scissors.
3. Attach the leather strip to the elastic band and fasten them together with wire. In this case, the elastic band should be placed in the middle of the leather tape.
4. Tie your hair as usual with an elastic band, wrap a leather ribbon around the ponytail, and decorate it with a graceful bow.

Stylish DIY leather clutch

A bag is an accessory for every young lady, and how nice it is if you created such a product yourself. Everyone will certainly pay close attention to your handbag. This is why DIY leather crafts are so necessary!

Let's start the process by preparing the necessary materials:

• A piece of leather of the required size and color.
• Scissors and stationery knife.
• Clips.
• Flat plate.
• A sewing machine and needles of the appropriate size, nylon threads are also needed.

Sequence of the creative process:

• Cut a rectangle measuring 40 by 28 cm from a piece of leather.
• Let's start decorating the front of the clutch. How it's done? Cut out pieces measuring 12 cm long and 1.5 cm wide on the sides of the rectangle. The lines should be smooth.
• Now we apply a regular plate to the top of the product and mark the lines of roundness, along which we subsequently cut off the excess.

Important! Such rounded cuts should be made as symmetrically as possible.

• Next steps: bend the bottom of the bag to the smooth cutouts on the sides of the product. Secure the connection points with clips.
• We sew the resulting seams along the edges of the bag using a sewing machine. Remove the clamps.
• Turn the bag right side out.
• We bend the upper part of the workpiece, make a small longitudinal cut at a distance of about 2.5 cm from the edge.
• Now we need a separate piece of leather, from which we cut out a strip of material 70 cm long and 1-1.5 cm wide.
• We tie one end into a knot, and thread the opposite end through the hole on the bag.
• We gracefully wrap the excess strip around the clutch and tie a bow or a beautiful knot.

leather flower

What can be made from pieces of leather? Incredibly beautiful rose!

You need:

• Leather.
• Glue.
• Candle.
• Ball pen.

Manufacturing stages:

1. On the wrong side of the leather, we draw rose petals with a pen, 10 pieces small and large, and cut out the details.
2. We burn the elements over a candle fire. You need to hold the skin with the side down. Hold the petals with a clamp or tweezers. During the process of fire treatment, the parts are slightly bent inward.
3. Apply glue to the underside of the petal and roll it up. This is how the core of the flower turned out.
4. Apply glue to the next element and connect it to the middle. The petal must “hug” her.
5. And now we gradually cover the resulting bud with petals. We start with small elements and then move on to larger ones.

Important! Place rose petals at the same level. To create an even more spectacular look of the flower, spray its surface with a glitter spray.

Leather belts

Such accessories are used by men, women and children. Therefore, handmade leather gifts in this design will be very useful.

For production you need:

• Leather strip.
• Rivet or button.
• Sharp scissors.
• Stationery or carving knife.

And now the manufacturing sequence:

1. Determine the length of the belt by wrapping a strip of material around your waist and marking where the two ends intersect. You can even make it a little longer.
2. Make a hole for the rivet in the marked location.
3. Use a knife to make a small cut about 5-6 mm in size. Then the rivet will go right through.
4. If you want, you can make the ends of the belt rounded; to do this, just give them a smooth shape with scissors.

The original belt is ready!

Or another version of such a DIY leather product. To make it you will need:

• Hammer.
• A sharp knife, you can use a stationery knife.
• Strip of leather.
• Two rivets.
• D-shaped metal ring.

Let's get started:

1. We cut a strip of leather to the required length, and the width of the belt should match the width of the ring.
2. Mark the location of the rivets and make four holes.
3. We thread one end of our belt through the D-ring, and then install the rivets using a hammer.

This is how you can quickly and easily make original leather accessories that are particularly exclusive.

DIY leather crafts are an incredibly creative and fun process. You will really enjoy creating unique accessories and things in the hand-made style. In addition, such products are currently at the peak of popularity. And homemade leather gifts will amaze your loved ones and friends, and your efforts will be truly appreciated.