Sewing with leather

[RenC]

Hi all
I recently bought a Kindle e-reader & want to make a soft case for it. There are a few nice ones made out of fabric but I think a soft leather would be really great & have an awesome tactile feel.

I'm looking at some fine soft leather. They call it fashion or clothing leather.
Then use some fusible foam for a bit of structure.

Does anyone have any experience sewing with soft leather? Any tips would be much appreciated.

[shirleyknot]

Re: Sewing with leather

You will need a leather needle and some masking tape for marks and "pinning". Remember, every hole you make in that leather is permanent.

[RenC]

Re: Sewing with leather

Thanks for that Shirley. It didn't occur to me that holes are forever on leather but that makes sense & it's great advice.
I was going to use a 90/14 topstitch needle but will look into leather needles. I have wonder clips to use instead of pins.

The leather I'm looking at is quite soft & pliable. It will be sewn on my DSM. The thing that concerns me is the leather clinging to the needle & possibly causing skipped stitches.

[bubba]

Re: Sewing with leather

Be sure you lengthen your stitch length. A good place to get soft leather is your local Goodwill. But a donated jacket, coat or skirt. Granted, the only colors you will find will probably be black or brown, but you never know! I've also heard of women who carry box cutters with them that will pull over on the side of the road, if they see a leather couch out on the curb, and they cut the back off! I don't know if I'd be brave enough to do that!

If you want colored leather, check a Tandy store if you live near one. Online, there is a woman who sells leather (her shop is about three miles from my house!!!) and it is really nice. I've been down to the factory she is located in and had the tour. She has cow, calf or goat, some made to look like python, others look like ostrich, some is just smooth. Hundreds of colors, prints and finishes....one piece I bought is reversible! Here is the link....call her if you have questions and she is more than happy to help you. http://www.peggysuealso.com/ Her shop closes at 3pm west coast time and is closed on the weekends.

[grammaterry]

Re: Sewing with leather

You definitely need leather needles. Last winter we tanned some coyotes that we trapped and I made a bunch of stuff out of their hides. Some stores carry the hides and they have fur on them. That hides your mistakes and they are cool.