Leather Crafter’s Journal
September/October 2026 Issue
Vol 36 No. 5
Artwork by: Lin Wu
LEATHERCRAFT
8 The Leather Dance – Making a Hand Stitched Card Case: Hand Stitching, Part 3: Sharpening the Awl Blade
Gordon Andrus
19 How to Choose the Best Thread for Finer Leather Work: Stitching Consistency is the Most Important Thing
Sean Aquino
22 M.C. Escher: A Portrait in Leather
Karin Bentvelzen
28 Monkeying Around in a Lifelong Journey: A Wanderer’s Notebook Stitched in Leather, Where Hometown and Stories Meet
Lin Wu
35 Do Thread Diameters Leave You Cross-Threaded?
Karla Van Horne
36 Exotic Inlays, Part 3: Saddle Back Cinch Charm with Stingray Inlay
Kata Fay
51 The Pocket Series: Smiley Welt Pocket
Leandra Martin
59 Advanced Floral Drawing: Part 3
Gabor Pinter
SPOTLIGHTS
2 About the Cover
47 Behind the Ribbons: Judging Leathercraft at the 2026 Sydney Royal Easter Show
Ann-Marie Ager
70 A Stohlman Artwork Restored
Jurgen Volbach
72 Tannerie Ictyos: From Landfill to Fish Leather
Aurore Cachera
74 Year One is Survival
Dennis Forrester
SADDLERY
63 From My Bench to Yours – Reflections of My Life in a Saddle Shop, Chapter 16
Pete Gorrell
TIPS
66 Hints & Tips: Oiling Dauber and Shearling Holder
Steve Meloling
67 Shop Hacks: The TS-Boy — Old Friend, New Fame
Serge Volken
68 Scrolly & Scratch 5/2026
Gabor Pinter
79 The Skinny, 05/2026
Dave Skinner
DEPARTMENTS
4 From the Editor
6 Contributors
75 Leather Industry News
75 Leather Guilds
76 Classifieds
77 Subscription/Renewals
78 List of Advertisers
Editorial
By: Charil Reis
I made something from a bit of shark skin recently – yes, hard to believe I made a thing from leather, I know. It was merely a very simple cover for a carbon fiber paddle tip, folded over and sewn up both sides by hand. I won’t include a picture of it, for not only was it black thread on black leather, it truly wasn’t much to look at. The process is what drove me to write.
It started out as an idea sparked by a cover I saw that was made from faux leather. The guy making them was super proud of his product. Truth be told, they looked well-sewn and durable, but…faux leather? It went against the grain. I decided I would have a look in the corners of my basement for something better.
My daughter, who loves crafting, was immediately on board. She helped me measure and mark the leather, and cut it out herself. Next, we headed to the basement to punch stitching holes. I held the diamond stitching chisel while she whacked it with a dead blow hammer, praying she wouldn’t miss. Then I, as Head of Assembly, directed her to prepare for me two saddle stitch needles with strong, nylon thread. I knew inherently that my stitching would be less than perfect, so the black thread choice was obvious. Also, I was too proud to admit I needed readers to thread my own needles, so her 19-year-old eyes became indispensable. She snickered – with more than a little teenage smugness – at my presumed elderliness. No matter; I was on a mission. But, why are basements so dark? I adjusted the lamp to its brightest setting.
I was left alone, without glasses, to stitch the spongy leather, whose holes I could barely find, much less match front to back. I straddled my dad’s giant stitching horse (a real Clydesdale – IYKYK) and locked in the leather. Grabbing an awl, I tried to widen the holes, then quickly inserted the needles before forgetting where I had just used the awl. I believe I had to restart both seams three times, squinting as I re-threaded needles, having unknowingly pierced the thread, resulting in knots. Dinner couldn’t have come at a better time; I was “hungry” (my eyes needed a break). Afterwards, I finished up the other end of the cover and cleaned up the edges.
I gave this cover to my coach, who is retiring this season after ten years with my dragon boat team. Last weekend, at our race in Chicago, he showed off his new cover proudly to the gentleman making ones from faux leather. The man held it, gave it a sniff, and declared with hubris it wasn’t real shark skin. Coach and I looked at each other. It was our turn to laugh – smugly.