🧵 So You Wanna Work Leather?

In a world that says you need the best tools, the fanciest gear, and a $1,000 starter kit to try something new — I’m here to tell you: you don’t.

Our ancestors made leather gear with bone fragments and sinew. Today? You can get started with less than $100 and a little bit of time. The basics are simple:

• Leather

• Something to cut it

• Something to poke holes

• Two needles

• Thread

That's it. Everything else is bonus.

If you want a solid beginner setup that won’t kill your wallet, here’s what I recommend — the same stuff I’ve handed to students and even used myself in pro builds:

• Leather: 3–4 oz veg tan with some body – $20

• Knife: Snap-off utility blade – $10

• Stitching Punches: Aiskaer set – $10

• Sewing Kit: Needles, thread, awl – $6

• Cutting Surface: HDPE punching board – $5

• Cutting Mat: Self-healing – $6

• Mallet: Affordable and solid – $9

• Adhesive: Contact cement – $9

• Edges: Burnisher + Glycerin soap – $11

Total? About $75.

What people usually overthink is perfection. They stress over every stitch being straight or every edge being smooth. That’s not the point — not at the start.This craft is about enjoying your time on this planet. It’s about getting creative, filling your cup, and feeling productive outside the grind.

So if you’ve been waiting for a sign, this is it. Whether it’s leatherworking, sketching, painting, or stacking rocks — get out there and ignite your creative fire.

And if you ever want to bounce an idea off someone, or you’re curious about a no-pressure leatherworking class, I’m always here.

Let’s make something.