Leather cover for notebook

Step 1

Sketch out your template using a leather marking pen on the grain side of the leather.

A: 22.5 cm x 32.5 cm

B og C: 9 cm x 22.5 cm

Step 2

Round all four corners with a corner punch on template A. Align the white line on the punch with the corner of the leather. Use a plastic hammer for punching the punch through the leather. On template B and C, you are only supposed to round two of the corners on the long side.

Optionally, you could dye your pieces of leather.

Step 3

(Sketching before sewing)

Adjust the setting on the wing divider to 4 mm. Outline the entire edge on the grain side of template A.

Step 4

(Glue)

Make a marking with a leather marking pen 9 cm inwards from the edge of the short side of template A.

Repeat this process on all four sides.

Apply glue to the back 4 mm from the edge, and inwards on both short sides and the long side with rounded corners on template B and C.

Apply glue on template A as well by the two short sides and by those long sides, where you have made a marking with your leather marking pen.

Let the glue dry a bit and assemble template B and C with template A. Make sure that the edges align.

Step 5

(Strap for the pen)

Cut a piece of leather measuring 1.5 cm x 5 cm. Make the leather thinner with your safety beveler by scraping off some of the leather on the back. The outermost centimeter in both ends should beveled to half of its original thickness.

Step 6

Attach the small leather piece with glue.

Place the cover with the front of template A facing down on the table.

Measure where the small strap for the pen will be placed. On the right side of the back, glue on the strap 6.5 cm down (see the picture in step 8).

Step 7

(Puncturing with chisels)

Puncture holes for stitching in the crease, you made with the wing divider. Use the plastic hammer to punch the prongs of the chisels through the leather.

Start off by using your 4-pronged chisel. When puncturing the corners, use a 2-pronged chisel to make the corners look nicer

Once you have only 5 holes left from having punctured all the sides, you must measure if the last bit will fit with the prongs of the chisel. If it doesn’t fit, you will have to make it either a couple of stitches longer or shorter.

Step 8

(Stitching)

Cut a piece of thread measuring 2.5 metres (you will have enough thread to stitch all the edges in one go).

Put a needle in each end of the thread and lock the thread by sticking the needle through the thread twice.

Begin stitching by sticking one of the needles through a hole. Make sure that the thread is of same length in both sides.

The front of template A must face you and you should stitch towards yourself.

• Take the needle from the back and through the next hole out the front.
• Hold down the thread tightly in the corner of the hole to the right.
• Stick the other needle from the front through the same hole and pull down to the left.
• Repeat this process.

Once you have sewn all the way around, you must make three stitches backwards to secure the stitching.

Step 9

Smooth out the seems with the lace roller.

Step 10

(The edges)

 Sand the edges with sandpaper to get rid of glue and bumps.

Step 11

Apply Gum Tragant with a wool dauber.

Apply a bit at a time and polish the edge with a wood slicker. Continue all the way around. Treat the cover with some leather grease.

Step 12

Place your notebook in your new leather cover.

Step 13

You have now finished making your notebook cover in leather :)