Hand stitching leather requires us to pre-punch the leather before the stitching process. The needles used in hand stitching leather have dull tips. This protects the leather from scratching and is safer for the leather crafter. Also leather is a strong material and even the sharper needles can’t penetrate the leather too easily.
Another reason we pre-punch leather for stitching is that it is much easier to get a consistent stitching line with punching tools. Consistent stitching can help make the finished piece look much better.
“Another reason we pre-punch leather for stitching is that it is much easier to get a consistent stitching line with punching tools.”
There are 3 frequently used options to punch the leather for stitching:
1. Stitching Punches
These tools create a round hole in the leather and some of the material (tiny round pieces) is being removed from the leather during the process. Round holes for stitching are useful while trying to get straight stitches along the stitching line. It is easier to get a consistent stitch with round holes since diagonal stitches require more muscle memory and precision. With round holes in the leather, you can easily move the needles back and forth and stitch quickly.
2. Pricking Irons
Pricking irons usually leave slits on the leather at a 45-degree angle. Some people use pricking irons to just mark the stitching holes and then pierce the leather with an awl during the stitching. But most people use pricking irons to go all the way and pierce the leather. Pricking irons enable the crafter to create diagonal stitches and they look very good when done correctly.
Pricking irons have different styles. For example, Japanese-style pricking irons have diamond shape tips and create diamond shape slits while French-style pricking irons create narrow slits.
3. Round Dent Punches
These tools are similar to stitching punches but round dent punches create a smaller round impression in the leather surface without removing any material.