Making a Leather Knife Sheath

The instructor's knife sheath

Recently I was at a SCA event and got the chance to make a leather knife sheath. I've never worked with leather before but I thought this was such a neat thing to give a try. For the class everyone received a steak knife and a leather piece around 3mm thick.

First the process of mapping out the design was explained to us as we were given pre-mapped out leather pieces because of time constraints. This was interesting as our instructor recommended kids foam craft sheets to do the first pattern on as they're about the same thickness of the leather and easily folded around the knife.

Our starting leather piece with outline included

Next we got to look at some designs our instructor already had mapped out for us based on extant knife sheaths as well as some other designs of period sheaths.

My favourite of the period knife sheath designs

The basic design I chose to edit

Then once we decided we could alter the design anyway we wished and get started. You can sort of see my design idea below.

Edited Design

To start it was explained to us that we needed to evenly wet the leather in order to give it flexibility and so that the design would show on the leather after we removed our traced design. He also mentioned not to press too hard and not to go over the lines more than once as you would see the uneven pressure on the leather. We also had the option of using bone carved embossing tools, which were really neat as our instructor had carved them himself.

After the design was traced we then very carefully cut the design into the leather, and if we wanted to emboss we wet the leather again and pressed them hard into leather for the design.

My cut design

Then we placed the leather into the water to wet it further and folded it around the knife. It was time for the difficult part of piercing the holes with an awl in order to sew the knife together. As a perfectionist I can easily say this is the part where I am sure I was a pain to teach as I found I didn't really have the hand strength I would have liked for the task as well as the fact that trying to line up the awl so it's where you want it on both pieces of leather was in no way as easy as it sounds. I found I did enjoy the sewing part however, and it was interesting using double needles in order to hold the leather together securely. 

Once a bit was pierced then those holes would be sewn with the knife in place the entire time- constantly re-folding the leather to ensure a good fit. Afterwards the knife sheath was wetted again and with a razor blade the excess leather cut off. 

The back of my knife, you can see the cut off leather, along the stitch line

The front of my finished knife

Overall I'm pleased with my first attempt at leather working. I'd be interested to try it again, but it definetly was something that requires patience. I'm very grateful I got the chance to try this craft out, so neat. :)