Start here
Leather Carving for Beginners: Tools, Styles and First Steps
A beginner's guide to leather carving: choose vegetable-tanned leather, set up a basic tool kit, follow the carving sequence and start with simple projects.
Techniques
Carving and Tooling
Carving, stamping and tooling designs.
Are you supposed to wet leather before tooling?
Yes, for vegetable-tanned leather. Casing with a damp sponge lets it hold crisp tool marks. Learn when it's ready and how to avoid overwetting.
Best Swivel Knife for Leather Carving: A Buyer's Guide
Choose a swivel knife for leather carving by blade width, style and material, plus the barrel, bearing and price ranges, and how to keep it sharp.
Can a laser engraver be used on leather?
Yes, a laser engraver can engrave and cut leather. Veg-tan gives the best results. Here's which leathers work, which to avoid such as PVC, and how to test.
Can I use an exacto knife to cut leather?
Yes, an X-Acto or craft knife suits thin to medium leather and fine detail cuts. Learn how to cut cleanly and when a heavier tool is the better choice.
Filigree Leather Carving: Cutting Out Background Designs
Filigree leather carving cuts away a design's background so a contrasting underlay shows through. Learn the tools, cutting order and how to add the underlay.
Floral Leather Carving: Basic Rose and Leaf Designs
Learn a basic rose and leaf in leather: trace, cut, bevel, shade, seed and add decorative cuts in order. Practice on coasters before larger pieces.
Free Leather Carving Patterns: Where to Find Them and How to Trace Them
Find free leather carving patterns from suppliers, magazines and public-domain sources, check the license, then resize and trace them onto cased leather.
How to Carve a Leather Belt
Carve a leather belt in the right order: choose 8 to 9 oz veg-tan, mark a border, carve in sections and cut the strap to length after tooling.
How to Etch and Engrave Leather by Hand
Learn how to etch and engrave leather by hand with line cutting, stylus work, gouges or a rotary tool, plus the safety steps for vegetable-tanned leather.
Leatherworking Maker's Mark: Designing and Stamping Your Own
Design and stamp your own leatherworking maker's mark: choose cold stamp, hot brand or laser, prepare vector art, and test on scrap before you strike.
Swivel Knife Carving: How to Hold and Cut Clean Lines
Learn to hold a swivel knife, angle the blade, and pull clean, even cuts with steady depth, tapered line endings and a sharp blade. Practice on scrap first.
What laser is best for leather?
CO2 lasers are usually the best choice for leather, while diode lasers are a cheaper option for engraving. Here's how to choose and what to avoid.
Related topics