Leather Craft
Techniques
SECONDARY RESEARCH
END TERM JURY
SANTHOSH SHARMA.K
SEM 4
INTRODUCTION
WHAT IS LEATHER CRAFT?
Creative and functional manipulation of leather
Combines artistic techniques with traditional craftsmanship
Adds value through design, texture, and structure
TECHNIQUE 1 – PYROGRAPHY
(LEATHER BURNING)
Tools Used: Pyrography pen (wood burning tool), temperature
regulator, stencils (optional).
How It Is Done:
Pyrography involves using a heated metal pen to burn designs onto
leather surfaces.
Artists sketch the design with a pencil first.
The heated tool is then carefully used to trace and burn the pattern
into the leather.
Suitable Leather Types: Vegetable-tanned leather.
Leather Thickness: 1.2 mm – 2.5 mm. Time Required: 1–4 hours
depending on complexity.
Details: Pressure and temperature variations produce different
shades.
Ideal for intricate patterns and illustrations.
ETCHING
Tools Used: Stylus, leather etching tools, stencil, resist
material (masking fluid or wax).
How It Is Done:
A resist is applied to the leather to protect parts of the
surface.
The exposed area is then scratched or removed using an
etching tool.
Some methods use acid or vinegar for deeper etching.
Suitable Leather
Types: Vegetable-tanned, natural finish leather.
Leather Thickness: 1.0 mm – 2.0 mm.
Time Required: 2–5 hours depending on design and detail.
Details: Often used for decorative and illustrative
purposes.
Suitable for detailed and fine designs.
PUNCHING
Tools Used: Leather hole punches, rotary punch, hammer or mallet, cutting board.
How It Is Done:
The leather is placed on a cutting mat.
Punches are aligned and struck with a mallet to create clean holes.
Suitable Leather Types: Vegetable-tanned, chrome-tanned.
Leather Thickness: 1.5 mm – 4.0 mm.
Time Required: 15 minutes – 1 hour.
Details: Used in belts, wallets, and leather straps. Prepares leather for stitching,
lacing, or adding rivets.
PERFORATION
Tools Used: Perforation punches, pricking irons, perforating wheels.
How It Is Done:
Small, closely spaced holes are made on the leather surface.
Can be done manually or with machines.
Suitable Leather Types: Garment leather, soft chrome-tanned.
Leather Thickness: 0.8 mm – 1.5 mm.
Time Required: 30 minutes – 2 hours.
Details: Enhances aesthetics and breathability.
Common in leather garments and shoes.
Tools Used: Precision knives, scissors, rotary cutters, cutting mat, stencils.
How It Is Done:
Designs are drawn on the leather.
Sections of the leather are cut out to create decorative patterns.
Suitable Leather Types: Suede, soft napa leather, vegetable-tanned.
Leather Thickness: 1.0 mm – 2.0 mm.
Time Required: 2–6 hours.
Details: Often combined with embroidery or layering.
Adds texture and depth.
Needs steady hands and sharp tools.
CUTWORK
RIVETING AND EYELETING
Riveting and Eyeleting Tools Used: Hole punch, rivet setter, eyelet pliers, hammer.
How It Is Done:
Holes are punched in the leather.
Rivets or eyelets are inserted and pressed or hammered into place.
Suitable Leather Types: Vegetable-tanned, chrome-tanned, saddle leather.
Leather Thickness: 1.5 mm – 4.0 mm.
Time Required: 10–30 minutes.
Details: Adds durability and decoration. Common in bags, belts, shoes, and garments.
Tools Used: Embroidery needle, strong thread (e.g., linen or polyester), thimble,
pricking iron or needle awl.
How It Is Done:
Holes are pre-punched or created using a pricking iron.
Threads are stitched through in patterns like chain stitch or satin stitch.
Suitable Leather Types: Soft lambskin, suede, garment leather.
Leather Thickness: 0.6 mm – 1.5 mm.
Time Required: 3–10 hours depending on design.
Details: Adds texture and artistic detail.
Used in fashion and accessories. Requires patience and technique.
HAND EMBROIDERY ON LEATHER
PLEATING
Tools Used: Bone folder, clips, adhesive (sometimes), heat press.
How It Is Done:
Leather is folded in measured segments.
Pleats are held in place with clips.
Sometimes set with heat or adhesive.
Suitable Leather Types: Thin lamb leather, soft napa.
Leather Thickness: 0.5 mm – 1.2 mm.
Time Required: 1–3 hours.
Details: Creates a dynamic surface texture.
Used in bags, shoes, and apparel.
SMOCKING
Tools Used: Needle, strong thread, marking tools,
pricking iron.
How It Is Done:
Leather is gathered and stitched in a decorative
pattern.
Creates an elastic texture without actual
elasticity.
Suitable Leather Types: Lambskin, soft chrome-
tanned leather.
Leather Thickness: 0.5 mm – 1.0 mm.
Time Required: 3–6 hours.
Details: Often used in accessories and fashion
leatherwear.
Tools Used: Wooden or rubber blocks, leather
dyes or acrylic paints, roller or brush.
How It Is Done:
Dye or paint is applied to a carved block.
The block is pressed firmly onto leather to
transfer the pattern.
Suitable Leather Types: Vegetable-tanned,
nubuck.
Leather Thickness: 1.0 mm – 2.0 mm.
Time Required: 30 minutes – 3 hours.
Details: Used for bold and repetitive designs.
Works well on vegetable-tanned and finished
leathers.
Requires drying and sealing.
BLOCK PRINTING
CONCLUSION:
These leather craft techniques enhance aesthetics and functionality, offering a
diverse range of textures and patterns. The right tools, patience, and understanding
of leather types are key to mastering each technique.
THANKING YOU

Leather Craft Techniques are a Combines artistic techniques with traditional craftsmanship

  • 1.
    Leather Craft Techniques SECONDARY RESEARCH ENDTERM JURY SANTHOSH SHARMA.K SEM 4
  • 2.
    INTRODUCTION WHAT IS LEATHERCRAFT? Creative and functional manipulation of leather Combines artistic techniques with traditional craftsmanship Adds value through design, texture, and structure
  • 3.
    TECHNIQUE 1 –PYROGRAPHY (LEATHER BURNING) Tools Used: Pyrography pen (wood burning tool), temperature regulator, stencils (optional). How It Is Done: Pyrography involves using a heated metal pen to burn designs onto leather surfaces. Artists sketch the design with a pencil first. The heated tool is then carefully used to trace and burn the pattern into the leather. Suitable Leather Types: Vegetable-tanned leather. Leather Thickness: 1.2 mm – 2.5 mm. Time Required: 1–4 hours depending on complexity. Details: Pressure and temperature variations produce different shades. Ideal for intricate patterns and illustrations.
  • 4.
    ETCHING Tools Used: Stylus,leather etching tools, stencil, resist material (masking fluid or wax). How It Is Done: A resist is applied to the leather to protect parts of the surface. The exposed area is then scratched or removed using an etching tool. Some methods use acid or vinegar for deeper etching. Suitable Leather Types: Vegetable-tanned, natural finish leather. Leather Thickness: 1.0 mm – 2.0 mm. Time Required: 2–5 hours depending on design and detail. Details: Often used for decorative and illustrative purposes. Suitable for detailed and fine designs.
  • 5.
    PUNCHING Tools Used: Leatherhole punches, rotary punch, hammer or mallet, cutting board. How It Is Done: The leather is placed on a cutting mat. Punches are aligned and struck with a mallet to create clean holes. Suitable Leather Types: Vegetable-tanned, chrome-tanned. Leather Thickness: 1.5 mm – 4.0 mm. Time Required: 15 minutes – 1 hour. Details: Used in belts, wallets, and leather straps. Prepares leather for stitching, lacing, or adding rivets.
  • 6.
    PERFORATION Tools Used: Perforationpunches, pricking irons, perforating wheels. How It Is Done: Small, closely spaced holes are made on the leather surface. Can be done manually or with machines. Suitable Leather Types: Garment leather, soft chrome-tanned. Leather Thickness: 0.8 mm – 1.5 mm. Time Required: 30 minutes – 2 hours. Details: Enhances aesthetics and breathability. Common in leather garments and shoes.
  • 7.
    Tools Used: Precisionknives, scissors, rotary cutters, cutting mat, stencils. How It Is Done: Designs are drawn on the leather. Sections of the leather are cut out to create decorative patterns. Suitable Leather Types: Suede, soft napa leather, vegetable-tanned. Leather Thickness: 1.0 mm – 2.0 mm. Time Required: 2–6 hours. Details: Often combined with embroidery or layering. Adds texture and depth. Needs steady hands and sharp tools. CUTWORK
  • 8.
    RIVETING AND EYELETING Rivetingand Eyeleting Tools Used: Hole punch, rivet setter, eyelet pliers, hammer. How It Is Done: Holes are punched in the leather. Rivets or eyelets are inserted and pressed or hammered into place. Suitable Leather Types: Vegetable-tanned, chrome-tanned, saddle leather. Leather Thickness: 1.5 mm – 4.0 mm. Time Required: 10–30 minutes. Details: Adds durability and decoration. Common in bags, belts, shoes, and garments.
  • 9.
    Tools Used: Embroideryneedle, strong thread (e.g., linen or polyester), thimble, pricking iron or needle awl. How It Is Done: Holes are pre-punched or created using a pricking iron. Threads are stitched through in patterns like chain stitch or satin stitch. Suitable Leather Types: Soft lambskin, suede, garment leather. Leather Thickness: 0.6 mm – 1.5 mm. Time Required: 3–10 hours depending on design. Details: Adds texture and artistic detail. Used in fashion and accessories. Requires patience and technique. HAND EMBROIDERY ON LEATHER
  • 10.
    PLEATING Tools Used: Bonefolder, clips, adhesive (sometimes), heat press. How It Is Done: Leather is folded in measured segments. Pleats are held in place with clips. Sometimes set with heat or adhesive. Suitable Leather Types: Thin lamb leather, soft napa. Leather Thickness: 0.5 mm – 1.2 mm. Time Required: 1–3 hours. Details: Creates a dynamic surface texture. Used in bags, shoes, and apparel.
  • 11.
    SMOCKING Tools Used: Needle,strong thread, marking tools, pricking iron. How It Is Done: Leather is gathered and stitched in a decorative pattern. Creates an elastic texture without actual elasticity. Suitable Leather Types: Lambskin, soft chrome- tanned leather. Leather Thickness: 0.5 mm – 1.0 mm. Time Required: 3–6 hours. Details: Often used in accessories and fashion leatherwear.
  • 12.
    Tools Used: Woodenor rubber blocks, leather dyes or acrylic paints, roller or brush. How It Is Done: Dye or paint is applied to a carved block. The block is pressed firmly onto leather to transfer the pattern. Suitable Leather Types: Vegetable-tanned, nubuck. Leather Thickness: 1.0 mm – 2.0 mm. Time Required: 30 minutes – 3 hours. Details: Used for bold and repetitive designs. Works well on vegetable-tanned and finished leathers. Requires drying and sealing. BLOCK PRINTING
  • 13.
    CONCLUSION: These leather crafttechniques enhance aesthetics and functionality, offering a diverse range of textures and patterns. The right tools, patience, and understanding of leather types are key to mastering each technique. THANKING YOU