REQUIRED MATERIALS
To complete this tutorial, you will need:
- Leather scraps
- 1 mini snap button Ø 10.5 mm and its setting tool OR T3 stud button
- 1 card of Meisi M40 thread Ø 0.45 mm
- 1 jar of Angelus leather paint
And the following equipment:
- 1 round leather punch - Ø 1 mm
- 1 round leather punch - Ø 3 mm
- 1 mallet
- 1 utility knife
- 2 round-tip needles
- 1 jar of neoprene contact cement
1. PRINT THE PATTERN
Download the pattern and print it at full size. Cut out the paper pattern, leaving about 1 cm of margin around the piece. Position the pattern pieces on the leather and secure them using masking tape.
2. PUNCH THE STITCHING HOLES
Punch the stitching holes indicated on the pattern using a 1 mm diameter round leather punch.
3. PUNCH THE OTHER HOLES
Punch the holes for the stud button or the snap button using a 3 mm diameter round leather punch. For the stud button, remember to make the 3 mm incision for the head of the stud button.
If you have a punch of about 20 mm, cut a circle out of a leather scrap to make the dog's eye. If you have a 35 mm punch, you can also cut out the circle for the bear's nose and mouth.
4. MARK THE FACE
Using an awl or a silver pen, mark the leather at the location of the animal's eyes and mouth to facilitate the painting step that will come later (step 7). Also punch the two Ø 5 mm holes corresponding to the bear cub's eyes on P1.
5. CUT THE LEATHER
Following the lines, cut out the different pieces with a utility knife.
6. OPTION: SMOOTH THE BACK OF THE LEATHER
Apply Tokonole (burnishing gum) to the flesh side of the leather (the back) to smooth it and obtain a nice finish on the ears.
7. FORM THE ANIMAL FACES
Before sewing the card holder, form the animal faces.
For the bear: glue and sew the 35 mm circle.
For the dog: glue the 20 mm circle for the eye and punch small holes to make the jowls.
For the cat: sew on lace scraps to create the cat's whiskers.
For the added pieces, remember to finish their edges before gluing/sewing them onto the card holder.
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8. PAINT THE MOUTH AND EYES
With black Angelus leather paint, draw the animal's eyes and mouth. For the eyes, we recommend using a cotton swab to make a neat circle. For the mouth, we used a toothpick for more precision.
9. INSTALL THE FASTENER
To close the card holder, install a stud button or a snap button.
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10. Sew the card holder
Cut a thread 5 times longer than the length to be sewn. Then, wax the linen thread with beeswax. Thread a needle onto each end of the thread.
To start sewing: pass the thread through the 1st hole and even out the lengths. Sew by passing each needle one by one through each hole. Finish the sewing with 3 double stitches (locking stitches) and cut the thread flush.
To learn more about "simplified" leather sewing, check out our guide:
SEE THE GUIDE >
11. FINISH THE EDGES
Finish the edges of the card holder with edge paint.
You have finished your card holder!
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