Leather

Thanks to a couple of auctions on TradeMe, I’ve just got myself some cheap leather. Some is suede, which should cover my need for weapon grips. But there’s also about 4 square feet of a nice brown leather. I was thinking of trying to make a simple drawstring pouch (since everyone needs places to put their stuff). Any suggestions? Will I need any tools other than hammer, nail, and craft knife?

If the leather is light enough for a drawstring pouch, I’d use scissors rather than a craft knife.

The DIY Guide to LARP has several pouch patterns. Look down the left hand side to the “prop making guide” section.

Drawstring pouches are inconvenient to open.

If you’re going to store anything you might need to get out quickly, try the “box pouch” pattern. It sits on your belt and the top just folds open, so it can contain more stuff and is easier to open.

[quote=“Ryan Paddy”]The DIY Guide to LARP has several pouch patterns. Look down the left hand side to the “prop making guide” section.

Drawstring pouches are inconvenient to open.

If you’re going to store anything you might need to get out quickly, try the “box pouch” pattern. It sits on your belt and the top just folds open, so it can contain more stuff and is easier to open.[/quote]

That looks easy enough to cut (though also quite small, but easily expanded. Any suggestions on where to get thread suitable for stitching leather?

I picked up some from a two dollar shop that was almost the right stuff (for $2.50 – go figure) that was unwaxed linen thread for making shell necklaces, complete with shells. To wax it, you just draw it over a candle stub.

If you want waxed linen thread, I get mine from the saddlery warehouse (saddlerywarehouse.co.nz/) but I think they’re very expensive for what you get. (i.e. $10 / 20m)