Leathersmith​/Archer

A Tooling Example

Step 1

 

Tooling is also known as lether carving.  You will actually make cuts in the leather then use tools to raise that pattern/design out of the leather.

 

As with most leather projects, begin up wettng the leather.  This is called casing.  The leather is dampt but not dripping wet.  In this state leather becomes nearly claylike and takes stamps and tooling very well.

 

So to begin I traced the pattern onto leather working tracing paper.  This is paper with a slightly plastic like feel to it.  It does not become a soggy mess when placed on the damp leather.  I then took a modeling tool with a pointed but blunt end and traced the pattern on the tracing paper which then made a mark on the leather.  That is what you see, the pattern traced onto the leather.