A Handcrafted Christmas: Five Gorgeous Gifts You Can Make From Leather

A Handcrafted Christmas: Five Gorgeous Gifts You Can Make From Leather

When it comes to presents, the old adage almost always rings true - it’s the thought that counts. Presents are a chance for us to show how much we know and care about the people we love and what better way to do that than with a handmade gift?

If you’ve got someone in your life who loves authentic craftsmanship and beautiful, stylish accessories, then this year is the perfect opportunity to show off your leatherworking skills with some gorgeous handmade gifts.

Today, we’ve put together a list of five easy gifts for beginner leatherworkers to try their skills at. Don’t worry if you don’t have much experience, because we’ve made sure to include a variety of skill levels. As we move through this list we’ll go from fun and simple to intermediate, and even more challenging projects, so whatever your level, this list should have something for you.

With all that out of the way, let’s get to the list.

1. Jewelry

Now, if you’re new to the skill, jewelry might not be the first thing you picture when you think of leatherworking. If so, then you ought to check out some local craft fairs. From experienced artisans to DIY workshops, craft fairs are packed with fun, innovative uses of leather in the form of jewelry.

Of course, you don’t need to go traveling to find tutorials. A quick trip to YouTube will find you all kinds of fun, easy tutorials for how to make leather jewelry. If you’re looking for something super simple, then we recommend earrings as a great place to start.

2. Keyrings

Another easy place for beginners to get their start is with keyrings. A simple, single-piece leather keyring is quick to make and easy to replicate. And the real advantage here is that once you make one it’s easy to make more. They require very little leather and as you develop your skills they can be customized with embossing.

Before long, you’ll be giving a named keyring to everyone in your family.

3. Belts

Moving into a more intermediate-level project, belts are a simple way to push your skills a little further whilst also making something practical. While you will need a firm grasp of the basics, belts are an excellent chance to introduce a little more complexity into your projects without going overboard.

Also, who doesn’t want a gorgeous, handmade, leather belt?

4. Purses/Wallets

Now, at this point, we’re getting into the really advanced stuff. Purses and wallets are generally quite small items and, as a result, they can require intricate craftsmanship and good attention to detail.

That being said, if this doesn’t sound daunting to you, then you should definitely give them a go. A handmade purse or wallet is one of the nicest leather items a person can own and provides a great opportunity to show off your skills.

5. Handbags

Last but not least, if you’ve got a few years of leatherworking under your belt and you’re really wanting to impress then a leather handbag is one of the best ways to go. Although difficult, a nice leather bag would be a beautiful, high-quality gift, showing dedication and effort on the part of the maker. Not to mention, by adding a few personal touches, this is a great chance to make something you couldn’t buy on the high street.

Ultimately, whatever you chose to make, we’d like to wish you good luck, happy crafting, and a very merry Christmas!