Awl & Hide

Cutting & Stitching

The two skills the whole craft rests on. These guides cover cutting clean straight lines and smooth curves with a sharp knife against a steel rule, marking and punching even stitch holes with a diamond chisel or pricking iron, and sewing the saddle stitch by hand. We walk the saddle stitch slowly because it is the one that matters: done right, it holds long after a single line of machine stitching would have unravelled, and it is genuinely satisfying to do. You will also learn thread choice, needle handling, and how to backstitch and finish a seam so it does not pull loose.

Cutting & Stitching

5 guides

Cutting & Stitching

How to Mark and Punch Even Stitching Holes

Learn how to punch stitching holes in leather with perfect spacing: marking the stitch line, using pricking irons, and handling corners cleanly.

August 19, 2026

Cutting & Stitching

What Thread to Use for Hand-Stitching Leather

Choosing the best thread for leather stitching: linen vs polyester vs nylon, waxed vs unwaxed, size charts, and how much to cut per seam.

August 5, 2026

Cutting & Stitching

Pricking Irons vs Stitching Chisels: What to Buy First

Pricking irons vs stitching chisels explained for beginners: how each tool works, which spacing to choose, and what to buy first.

July 22, 2026

Cutting & Stitching

How to Hand Stitch Leather: The Saddle Stitch Explained

Learn how to saddle stitch leather step by step: the two-needle method, thread length, punching, and locking off for a stitch that outlasts a sewing machine.

July 8, 2026

Cutting & Stitching

How to Cut Leather Cleanly: A Beginner's Guide

Learn how to cut leather cleanly: the right knives, cutting surfaces, technique, and the common beginner mistakes to avoid.

June 24, 2026

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