| Time required | Complexity | Tools & Supplies |
|---|---|---|
| 1 hour | Easy | Common for leathercraft |
I have been trying to design items around leaves lately, and more specifically to design smoker’s accessories incorporating a tobacco leaf. After player around with the idea of a cigarette case this time I wanted to make a tobacco pouch. I’ve also been very interested in leathercraft projects that require no sewing and I am fiddling with a few origami wallets ideas so this was the perfect opportunity to start working with this kind of design.
Requirements
Skills
- Leather dyeing
- Edge burnishing
Tools
- X-acto knife or scissors
- Some kind of applicator for the dye (cotton swab, rag…)
- Stylus or awl to carve the leaf
- Lace-cutter (optional)
Bill of Materials
- 3/4oz vegetable tanned leather
- Leather dye
- Leather finishing product
- Oil
Pattern
The free pattern can be downloaded here.
Walk-through
Printing and cutting the pattern
The PDF for the pattern can be found here.
Print it on A4 paper and cut-out the body of the pouch.
Make sure that the pattern is not resized by checking your print settings. You can check if it was printed properly by measuring the test box on the pattern to ensure that its sides are 5cm long.
Print on thick paper to make it easier to trace the shape on the leather. 200g/cm2 and above is ideal (as long as your printer can handle it)
Tracing the pattern onto the leather
Trace the outline of the pattern onto the leather with an awl.
Dampen the leather below the area of the leaf before tracing over the lines of the leaf.
Dyeing the leather
I first used a very light layer of diluted blue before moving on to the hazelnut and green layers.
Apply some oil after dyeing to protect the pigments and re-hydrate the leather.
Cutting-out the pouch
Cut-out the pouch and the 3 slots.
Burnishing the edges
I used some Tokonole and an wooden edge slicker.
Cutting the lace
This step could be done with scissors as well.
Folding the pouch
Wet the edges where the pouch will be folded.
Fold and thread the lace through the slots. Knot inside to secure it.
Final result
There you go! I hope you enjoyed this tutorial.
Footnotes
The following online content provided some assistance and/or inspiration during the making of this project: