How to Lace Leather?

Do you need a leather lace to complete a project or repair a product? If so, then you’re in the right place as what we have below are the techniques that you can utilize in lacing with and on leather. As you may know already, leather lacing is very similar to sewing a certain type of fabric. However, because leather is more durable and a lot thicker than fabrics, you will be required to punch holes before you can start lacing. Therefore, let’s answer your most important question of how to lace leather!

Punching Holes

You can use your lacing chisel or leather punch in creating holes in a leather material. Make sure that the holes are wide enough that the lace can pass through. Of course, it shouldn’t be any wider than what’s necessary.

You can lace using waxed thread that use small holes or leather strips which normally need holes that are about 1/8 inch in diameter. You may be utilizing a stitching pattern, which passes a lacing material through holes that you’ve made more than once. If so, then take that into consideration when you’re determining the appropriate hole size.

It’s important for the holes to be spaced evenly along the leather’s sides. Also, leave little space between your leather’s edge and the holes you’ve made. Create holes on both leather pieces that you’re lacing together. Be extra careful when you’re lining up the holes. Depending on the leather’s thickness, you may create holes with just a single punch.

Different Types of Stitching

You can choose from different types of stitching when you’re lacing leather. Different stitches give different strengths and appearances. Below we cover two most common stitching methods: a running stitch and a double running stitch.

Running Stitch

The simplest stitch that you can do is the running stitch, which you may know already. With this type, just line the holes that you’ve made on both leather pieces, then run the lace through your 1^st set of holes. Then, run the lace back through another batch of holes. Make sure you go the opposite direction from where you went through with the first holes. Next, you’ll just have to keep repeating the pattern until you’ve gone through every single set of holes.

Double Running Stitch

The second type of stitching is the double running stitch, which adds strength to the running stitch pattern we’ve discussed above without adding too much complexity. As soon as you are done with the running stitch, just go back through the holes and start lacing in the direction that’s opposite to your running stitch.

Other Methods

To lace leather, you can also opt for a loop stitch. After you’ve passed the lace through every single hole, take the lace around to one side and let the lacing pass through the following hole. Your lace should go through each hole using the same direction as to the running stitch. This pattern creates a different aesthetic compared to the running stitch.

There are different types of loop stitches: single loop stitch, double loop stitch, and triple loop stitch. The single loop is suitable for lacing edges of lightweight leathers as the lace is required in covering the raw edge. A single loop stitch is great for small coin purses and key fobs.

As for the double loop, it covers a wide area so it’s used on a heavy leather like wallets and small bags. The last but not the least is the triple loop which is often used on thicker leathers that require thicker accents like large bags and belts.

If you’re unsure as to which stitch you should use, you can try all of the stitches and stick with the one that you prefer based on the strength and appearance it offers.

How To Lace Leather

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