GETTING STARTED

Welcome to a craft with centuries of history, infinite possibilities, and more tools than you’ll ever fully master (but we try anyway). This page offers a beginner’s guide to the tools, suppliers, and learning resources we recommend most.

This isn’t a definitive list—it’s a practical one. These are the tools we personally use and love. We’ve marked which ones are truly essential for getting started, but you’ll likely want everything shown here eventually (plus plenty more).

If anything feels overwhelming, don’t worry: just show up to a Guild meeting and we’ll help you get going. You don’t need a full workshop to begin—just a few solid tools and the patience to practice.

MEASURING

GETTING STARTED

MEASURING

Start with a simple metal ruler for quick marks and measurements. Upgrade to one with a safety edge to protect your fingers while cutting. For precise right angles and larger patterns, a carpenter’s square is very useful.

ESSENTIAL

Basic Ruler

UPGRADE

Ruler with Safety Edge

OPTIONAL

Carpenter’s Square

MARKING

Accurate marks are the foundation of clean cuts and even stitches. A wing divider helps space lines consistently, while a scratch awl scores leather cleanly. Upgrade to a premium awl for better grip and finer control.

ESSENTIAL

Wing Divider

ESSENTIAL

Scratch Awl

UPGRADE

Premium Scratch Awl

CUTTING

A rotary cutter makes quick, clean cuts in straight lines, while a utility knife handles corners and curves. For traditionalists or advanced cuts, a round head knife offers power and precision in one sleek blade.

ESSENTIAL

Rotary Cutter

ESSENTIAL

Utility Knife

OPTIONAL

Round Head Knife

HAMMERING

From driving punches to flattening seams, leatherwork needs the right kind of hammer. Use a nylon maul to strike tools without damaging them, a cobbler’s hammer to set edges and folds, and always protect your tools (and table) with a sturdy punch board.

ESSENTIAL

Nylon Maul / Mallet

ESSENTIAL

Cobbler’s Hammer

ESSENTIAL

Punch Board

SKIVING (THINNING)

Skiving helps leather fold cleanly and layer neatly. A basic skiving knife gets you started, while a premium blade improves control and edge consistency. Add a French edger for thinning small spots or carving shallow channels.

ESSENTIAL

Skiving Knife

UPGRADE

Premium Skiving Knife

OPTIONAL

French Edger

PRICKING IRONS

Pricking irons create evenly spaced holes for stitching. Round irons are a great all-purpose starter. Diamond irons give a strong angled look, especially on thicker leather, while French irons offer a refined, classic stitch line—perfect for fine goods.

CHOICE 1

Diamond Pricking Irons

CHOICE 2

French Pricking Irons

CHOICE 3 (DEFAULT)

Round Pricking Irons

STITCHING

Saddle stitching is strong, beautiful, and surprisingly fun. You’ll need harness needles, a stitching pony to hold your work, and an awl to open the holes as you go. Together, they make every stitch satisfying.

ESSENTIAL

Needles (JJ 004)

ESSENTIAL

Stitching Pony

ESSENTIAL

Stitching Awl

BEVELING & CREASING

Clean edges elevate your work from handmade to high-end. Use an edge beveler to round sharp corners before burnishing. Add a creaser for decorative lines, and an alcohol lamp to heat the tool for crisp, professional results.

ESSENTIAL

Edge Beveler

OPTIONAL

Edge Creaser

OPTIONAL

Alcohol Lamp

BURNISHING

Burnishing smooths and seals raw leather edges for a polished finish. Pair a wood slicker with burnishing gum to round and shine edges. For a luxe touch, a surface slicker can gloss the entire flesh-side.

ESSENTIAL

Edge Slicker

ESSENTIAL

Burnishing Gum

OPTIONAL

Surface Slicker

EDGE FINISHING

Sanding smooths the edge for burnishing, ensuring an even surface to work with. Edge dye adds color and contrast, while wax seals and protects the edge for a polished, long-lasting finish. Great edges take layers—and patience.

ESSENTIAL

Sanding Blocks

OPTIONAL

Edge Dye

OPTIONAL