FREE SHIPPING ON ORDERS OVER $149*
FREE SHIPPING ON ORDERS OVER $149*
Store Locator Leather Classes Customer Service Wishlist
Leather Cuts & How To Use Them

Leather Cuts & How To Use Them

Leather has the unique distinction of being a material that is sold without consistent measurements. If you have ever purchased fabric, rope, wood, or other crafting materials you go in with an idea of how much you need and what questions to ask to get it without having much in the way leftovers. Leather is a different ball game. So lets go over the most common cuts and what they're best for, so you can get what you need with confidence. 

WHOLE HIDE

  • Approximately 45-50 sq. ft. 
  • Comes in lighter weights, most of the time
  • Usually available as chrome-tan or hair-on
  • Great for upholstery, clothing, bags and other large projects requiring seamless cuts

SIDE OR HALF HIDE

  • Approximately 21-26 sq. ft. 
  • Wide availability in chrome-tan and veg-tan
  • Extremely versatile in terms of what can be created due to the size of the piece and cost effective "bulk buying" prices
  • Comes in all weights, colors, finishes and qualities
  • Ideal for just about any sort of crafting you can think of!

DOUBLE SHOULDER

  •  Approximately 11-15 sq. ft. 
  • Wide availability in chrome-tan and veg-tan
  • Features both of the shoulders, affording good length especially for belts or straps

DOUBLE BEND

  • Approximately 22-26 sq. ft. 
  • More consistently shaped
  • Great for belts, straps, reins, stirrups, etc. 
  • Includes areas of the neck and back for durability and minimal stretch

SINGLE BEND

  • Approximately 11-15 sq. ft.
  • Attributes the same as the Double Bend

SINGLE SHOULDER

  • Approximately 7-12 sq. ft.
  • Typically only available in veg-tan
  • These are somewhat oddly shaped, coming from one shoulder and including the neck
  • Can have some stretch marks and blemishes
  • Tend to be low cost with much less left over for single or small projects

BELLY

  • Approximately 4-7 sq. ft. 
  • Great for small projects and testing
  • Weight is inconsistent and the fibers are soft, causing more stretching
  • Super inexpensive!

SMALL SKINS

  • Approximately 3-7 sq. ft. 
  • Can be found in veg-tan, however, more common in chrome-tans
  • Great product for jewelry, accent pieces, fashion statements, wallets and other accessories

CRAFT CUTS

  • Range in size from 8 1/2"x11" to 24"x24"
  • Can be veg-tan or chrome-tan
  • Like the small skins, these are a great product for jewelry, accent pieces, fashion statements, wallets and other accessories
Filed in: education, leather
Previous article Getting Started In Tooling: Florals & Beyond

Comments

Juan Arroyo - December 27, 2024

Learning about leathers

A Sarm - August 29, 2024

I’m in my fortys and have never had any training in leathercraft. I love the media and have made a few embarrassingly bad bracelets I can afford much in supplies yet but I would love to learn more and have leatherwork as a hobby /pastime. I’m a oef/oit veteran with sometimes brutal PTSD or complex – ptsd. And it helps to have a nice decent good natured positive hobbies. Only I need a mentor or mastercraftsman to pour their knowledge into me so that I may become proficient. Online can only provide so much in the way of info before you must get hands on as they say. And I’m California I’ve yet to run into too many men or women leatherworking like I seen in the midwest and the south… y’all count your blessings for His Grace is unmatched and unending. Praise the lord.

Anonymous - August 5, 2024

My dad taught me leathercraft in a craft shop he ran on Ft Bliss, Tx. Couldn’t have had a better teacher and am sad to have lost him 8 years ago. Tandy has always been my go to for supplies.

steve blake - August 5, 2024

I was pleasantly surprised to so many old leather crafters in my same situation. I started back in school as a craft, got hooked and started shopping at Tandy in Dallas,Tx. I’m now 80 and started once again. I still enjoy the craft.

Robbie Rowe - July 5, 2024

I started leather working in the late 1960s in school, & my Mom would take us to Tandys. for supplies, it was glorious! As one other reviewer said I got a job, house, family and lost the time for projects. Now I am retired & ready to jump back in. Thank you Tsndy for still being here!!!

Kimberly - June 27, 2024

Thank you Steve for being so patient with me, and answering my myriad questions when I dropped in the Berlin store today. I was so excited to see all the leather crafting supplies…like a kid in a candy store!

Damian - June 21, 2024

I’m considering making a holster and this is a great place to start the research aspects. Solid information for a beginner.

David Gregory - June 14, 2024

I started leathercraft in 1955. I was 10 years old and a master craftsman on my paper route got me started beginning with a trip to Tandy Leather Store. By 12 I was making gun holsters, rifle scabbard, and small items like wallets, belts, key fobs, etc. I went to work and retired and returned to leathercraft after retirement. It’s been 15 years in retirement and leathercraft and my favorite passtime is in a Tandy store browsing everything.

David Rodriguez (Little Bear LEther Shop) - May 28, 2024

Tandy Leather had been my leather and components supplier for years. I began doing leather wallets at a young age for Father’s Day for the family. After some time I stop working leather to concentrate on my career. Now as an adult and close to retiring I wish to start one more time with something that impassons me and give a lot of satisfaction after every project is finished. Thanks, Tandy, for being my favorite leather supplier.

Anonymous - May 7, 2024

Been going to Austin store for a few years. Always on top of their game. Especially in helping a novice leather crafter like me. My primary articles are holsters, from light weight to heavy weight. I’m not very artistic, so haven’t started carving yet. Hopefully will take some classes.
Keep up the good work and good education.
Thanks, Tom

Leave a comment

Comments must be approved before appearing

* Required fields

All Leathercraft Library patterns and projects are property of Tandy Leather. Projects and patterns available are a part of the Tandy Leather Archive and may contain outdated product information or service offerings. Projects and patterns can be reproduced for personal use by printing, but Tandy Leather cannot guarantee the quality of reproduction or printing due to the image quality available. Some project and pattern themes or motifs may not be representative of Tandy Leather’s current views.

Leather Education

Leather Education

Dive Into Leathercraft with Tandy's Library of Leathercraft Knowledge
Learn More