I love how it turned out!....Now here's how I did it.......
What you need:
- - Print out this passport holder PDF pattern. Make sure you un-check the print option to scale to the paper.
- - one square foot of leather (NOTE- if you want to stamp the initials in the leather, then you need vegetable tanned leather-- I just bought bags of scrap leather that had pieces large enough for the project. You can buy them at Michaels or Tandy leather factory and I lucked out that one of the pieces was veg tanned leather so I could stamp it)
- - Waxed thread
- - scissors
- - cutting board
- - stitching awl (I didn't use this-- I used the sharp part of a compass -- yes that tool from elementary school math! I just hammered that through the leather-- I dont recommend that technique though. Tandy leather factory sells tools for punching the holes I'm going to try that for the next project)
- - Ruler/ tape measure
- - old t-shirt/soft cloth
- - leather conditioner and protectant
- - 2 leather sewing needles (you need ones with big eyes for threading the thick waxed thread)
Tutorial:
I saw a few tutorials online and some youtube videos on leather making, but Jepsen Leather Goods Blog has the full tutorial for this project.
Advice:
I followed that tutorial but decided I wanted to personalize mine with initials and the studs.
I bought a leather craft stamp set at Michael's for around $10. You just dampen the leather in water, then hammer the stamp on the leather and it makes a permanent mark. Mine weren't that straight. Next time I will probably use a ruler to help me keep the lettering straight.
After I Stamped the initials, I used a staining technique called SHARPIE MARKER to color the stamped initials darker. Then I added studs by placing small holes in the leather and folding the metal clasps around on the back.
Now time for sewing. The sewing part was much harder than I expected. For sewing leather you are supposed to use a saddle stitching technique. This is difficult to explain without showing it, so I would suggest watching videos of it on youtube if you decide to try this project.
I sewed the personalization plate first.
Then I began sewing the inside pockets:
 |
| Note: the eyelashes you are seeing are the back of a magazine. You can punch holes better if you work on a porous surface like a telephone book or a magazine. I had to use pliers to pull my needles through the leather, I think if you punch good holes you shouldn't have to do that, but I need to try this project again with a slightly different technique. |
Here is one pocket done!
AND HERE IT IS!!!
Sorry for the sideways image-- I can't figure out how to rotate it in here yet!
