Leather coasters with holder

Step 1

(Template)

Step 2

(Sketching the template for the holder)

Make your measurements by using a steel square to get a perpendicular piece measuring 23 cm x 20 cm.

Step 3

(Sketching the template for the holder)

Cut it into two pieces with the following measurements:

Top piece (part A): 10 cm x 23 cm.
Bottom piece (part B): 10 cm x 19.50 cm.

Draw the markings on the back of the piece.

Step 4

Sketch out two lines measuring 11 cm on the grain side of template A by using a leather marking pen. You can draw a small line towards the middle of the leather to help guide you. 

Measure 6 cm inwards from both ends (the two sides measuring 10 cm) and 2.5 cm inwards from both sides (the two sides measuring 23 cm).

Finish off each line with a small transverse line in towards to middle.

Step 5

With a round punch in size 12 mm, you first make a hole by the end of each of the two lines, so you'll end up with four lines in total.

The punch must be placed, so that the hole will be punched between the two lines (the lines measuring 11 cm). Place the punch, so that it touches with the line measuring 11 cm and the small transverse line at the end.

To make two oblong holes, you cut off the excess leather between the holes by using a knife and ruler (see template A).

Step 6

Round the corners on template A by using the corner punch in size 20 mm. The white line on the corner punch must be aligned with the corner of template A.

Step 7

Bevel the edges on the grain side of template A. Don't bevel the edges of the oblong holes.

Step 8

Erase any lines from the leather marking pen. Use a white eraser.

Step 9

Sand the two holes in the middle until smooth by using sandpaper. Wrap some sandpaper 240 grit around the wood slicker and sand the oblong holes. Repeat the process with fine sandpaper in 600 or 800 grit.

Step 10

Dip your wool dauber in some water and apply a bit of water around the oblong holes. Polish the edges with the wood slicker.

Step 11

Apply edge colour with a soft tip applicator or a pipe cleaner. Make sure not to get colour on the grain side.

If you want even smoother edges, you can sand the edges a second time with fine sandpaper, once the colour has dried, and subsequently apply a second coat of edge colour.

Step 12

Take off the guide on the Japanese groover.

On the back of part A, you have to make two markings 3 cm inwards from each of the ends. Connect the two dots (the markings) with a line (see picture).

On the grain side of part B, you must make two markings 3 cm inwards from each of the ends. Connect the two dots (the markings) with a line (see picture).

Step 13

Apply glue to the back of one of the ends on part A, where you have made your markings in step 12. 

Apply glue to the grain side of one of the ends on part B, where you have made your markings in step 12. 

Let the glue become slightly dry and glue the two pieces together. Make sure that the edges are aligned.

NB: at this stage of the process, only one of the two ends of the holder is supposed to be glued together.

Step 14

(Sketching before sewing)

Make markings for sewing on the grain side of part A. Make a line in each of the ends, just like you did in step 11. Measure 3 cm inwards from each side and make a line.

Reattach the guide on the Japanese groover and adjust it to 3 mm. Make a line along the edges, starting from the line, you made first.

You only need to make a marking at the 3 outermost centimeters of the holder.

Step 15

(Puncturing)

Puncture a hole in each of the two corners by using a round awl (see picture).

Step 16

Make stitching holes by using a Japanese 4-pronged chisel. Start by applying a small amount of pressure on the straight line connecting the two holes. Once you have made faint markings, you must find out, where you wish to puncture the first holes. If you finish off your stitch with the same distance in each of the ends, you will end up with a nice result.

Use a 2-pronged chisel in the rounded corners.

Step 17

Install a knife in the Japanese groover. On the back of part B, you need to bevel a line for the stitching holes, you just made. Adjust it, so that the guide touches the stitching holes (see picture 1).

Disassemble the guide and use a ruler to make a straight crease (see picture 2).

Step 18

(Threading your needles)

Cut your thread approximately 5 times the length of the piece, you will be stitching. Put a needle in each end of the thread. Lock the thread by sticking the needle through the thread twice.

Step 19

(Stitching)

Start stitching between the rounded corner and the round hole made with the awl. Stick one of the needles through a hole and make sure that the thread is of same length in both sides.

• Stick the needle on the front through the next hole and out on the back.
• Hold the thread down tightly in the "corner". 
• Stick the other needle from the back and out the same hole and pull upwards.
• Repeat the process.

Once you have sewn all the way around, you need to make three stitches backwards to lock the thread.

Step 20

Repeat step 13-19 to make the other end of the holder.

Step 21

(The leather coasters)

Cut the coasters by using a circle cutter. Attach the knife to the circle cutter in a length, where the knife goes all the way through the leather and slightly touches the cutting board. Adjust the circle cutter to a radius of 5 cm.

Press down lightly at the top, and rotate the circle cutter slowly, until you cut through the leather.

Cut out eight circles.

Step 22

Bevel the edges with a beveler (Osborne size 2) on the front and the back of the coasters.

Step 23

Apply a bit of water on the edges with a wool dauber.

Step 24

Polish the edge with a wood slicker, while the edge is still wet.

Step 25

Apply edge colour with a wool dauber. Make sure not to get edge colour on the grain side.

Step 26

(The edges of the holder)

Sand the edges of the holder using a piece of sandpaper, until the edges of part A and B align perfectly.

Step 27

Apply a thin layer of edge colour with a steel paddle.

Step 28

Let the edge colour dry. Sand the edges with fine sandpaper with 800 grit and reapply edge colour. Repeat this process until the edges are completely smooth.

Step 29

You have now finished making your leather coasters  :)