The Required Materials
- 1 piece of SATINLYS or NAPPA CALFSKIN - 0.35m² (at minimum). We invite you to contact customer service for the size of the leather piece. For nappa calfskin, you can slightly reinforce the leather with a 0.4 mm thick Salpa reinforcement.
- 1 piece of SATINLYS leather - Brown - 15 x 20 cm - 1.2 mm thick
- 1 NYLON #4 zipper - Brown - 25 cm long
- 2 sliding buckles - antiqued brass - 30 x 13 mm
- 2 half-round rings - antiqued brass - 30 x 25 x 3 mm
- 2 DESIGN strap ends with prongs - antiqued brass - 29 mm
- 2 meters of beige nylon webbing - 30 mm wide
- 1 spool of braided and waxed polyester thread - 0.8 mm diameter - brown
- 1 NOISETTE edge finish - Colorcut - 30 ml
- 1 tube of special leather contact adhesive
- 1 kit of 24 double-cap rivets (T4) and setting tools - 9 mm - antiqued brass
- 1 set of 25 saddler's needles - round point - size 1/0 - d=1.1 mm
- 1 GRAND CHAT cutout for a customizable natural leather keychain (optional)
- 1 round keychain ring - 25 mm diameter (optional)
- 1 round strike-on hole punch - SEIWA Japan - diameter: 1.5 mm
- 1 utility knife and 1 rotary cutter
- 1 mallet
- 1 fine abrasive sponge - 400 grit
- 1 adhesive masking tape
- 1 joiner hammer
- 1 erdalon board
- 1 cutting mat
WHAT IS SIMPLIFIED LEATHER SEWING?
This "pre-punched" hand leather sewing technique makes this tutorial accessible to everyone. You can, of course, choose to do a "standard" saddle stitch.
SEE THE GUIDE >
To get started:
Would you like to practice before embarking on making a leather backpack? Here is a simpler version, the cat coin purse:
SEE THE COIN PURSE TUTORIAL >
 |
 |
TUTORIAL VIDEO
1. CUT OUT THE PATTERN PIECES
Download the pattern and print it in full size (to download in the tab at the top of the page). Cut out the pattern leaving about 1 cm margin at the edge of the different pieces. 
2. POSITION THE PIECES ON THE LEATHER
Tape (using masking tape so as not to damage the leather) the pattern pieces onto the leather piece. Note, pieces no. 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 (cat face) are to be taped onto the small piece of leather (different color from the body of the bag).
 |
 |
To prepare the pieces for sewing: punch the holes indicated on the pattern using a round strike-on hole punch of 1.5 mm diameter.
 |
 |
Then, cut out the different pieces, following the lines, with a utility knife and/or rotary cutter. For cutting the eyes, we used a round strike-on hole punch of 25 mm. 
 |
 |
3. WORK THE FACE SHAPES
Sand the edges of the small face pieces (P5, 6, 7, 8, 9), the rectangle (P4) and the inner rectangle intended for the zipper (P3) as well as the ends of P3.
Work the edges of these pieces by applying edge dye. Apply 2 to 3 coats and sand between each coat.
 |
 |
4. START THE LEATHER SEWING
Start by sewing the cat's whiskers and mouth. For this:
Cut the thread: generally equivalent to 4 or 5 times the length of the sewing line.
Thread a needle at each end of the thread:
- Stitch the thread at needle height then re-stitch 2 times.
- Flatten the end of the thread and pass it through the eye of the needle.
- Pull the thread to tie the knot (see guide).
- Do the same to thread the other end of the thread on the second needle.
Pass one of the needles through the 4th hole and even out the threads (see photo 3). For aesthetic reasons, we started the sewing at the 4th stitch to make 3 double stitches and thus have symmetry with respect to our final stitch (the 3 stop stitches) => to do only if the stitches do not meet (see photo 4).
Sew by passing each needle through each hole one by one.
Then tighten the stitch well.
To finish the sewing: make 3 stop stitches, cut the thread flush then burn it (if polyester).
Finally, hammer the stitches with a joiner hammer.
SEE THE GUIDE ON SIMPLIFIED LEATHER SEWING >
 |
 |
 |
 |
5. GLUE THE LEATHER PIECES BEFORE SEWING
Glue the cat's eyes, nose and ears with contact adhesive. Wait a few moments for the glue to soak in before gluing the leather pieces. Also glue the zipper (see photo 2).
 |
 |
Do the different stitches of the face and that of the zipper. Tap the stitches with a joiner hammer to flatten them.
 |
 |
 |
 |
6. FORM THE ROUNDNESS OF THE BAG
After sewing the zipper, glue the two ends of the strip (P3) to form a circle. Be careful at the time of gluing: check that the holes are well facing each other. Then, sew a rectangle to form the roundness.
 |
 |
 |
 |
7. CUT AND POSITION THE STRAPS
Cut the nylon webbing into:
- 2 pieces of 70 cm
- 2 pieces of 15 cm
- 1 piece of 22 cm
- Pass a half-round ring and center it on each 15 cm strap.
- Fold the strap over itself and place a strap end (and burn the protruding threads for a nice finish).
- Then rivet (T4 rivets) the two thicknesses of the strap to lock the half-round ring.
 |
 |
Position each strap on piece no. 1 at the place indicated on the pattern (blue dots). Then rivet and sew the pieces.
 |
 |
Hold the end of each strap with a T4 rivet. 
Take the 70 cm straps.
To have an adjustable strap: pass the sliding buckle through the strap then pass the strap through the half-round ring. Pass the end of the 70 cm strap back through the sliding buckle (photo 2). Then, close with a strap end (do not forget to burn the threads).
 |
 |
 |
 |
To properly hold the strap, rivet the two thicknesses of the nylon strap together (be careful to rivet the right thicknesses).
Burn the ends of the nylon straps so they do not fray. Then, glue the ends of the 70 cm straps into the rectangle provided on piece no. 1. Finally, attach the straps with rivets (see the position of the holes on the pattern).
 |
 |
Take the 22 cm strap.
Glue the ends of the handle into the rectangle, then rivet*.
*If you wish, you can place the rivets after gluing piece no. 4 to prevent the leather from "warping". 
To finish, glue the P4 rectangle then sew it on piece no. 1.
 |
 |
8. FORM THE BAG
Before starting the sewing, hold the pieces together with sewing clips.
Sew edge to edge, right sides together, piece no. 1 and piece no. 3, then piece no. 2 and piece no. 3. Pass each needle through each hole and tighten the stitch well.
 |
 |
Passing the needle can be more difficult at the straps (too thick). Use a round awl and clips to force the needle through.
 |
 |
Finally, hammer the seams with a joiner hammer.
9. WORK THE EDGES
Sand the edges of the backpack, then apply edge dye. Repeat the process 2 to 3 times if necessary.
 |
 |
10. MAKE THE NAME KEYCHAIN (OPTION)
Moisten the cat-shaped keychain. Then, stamp the name with alphabet stamps.
Thread the half-round ring through the hole provided in the leather cutout, then attach the keychain to the backpack zipper. The keychain will make it easier to open the zipper.
SEE THE GUIDE >
 |
 |
YOUR CAT BACKPACK IS FINISHED!
 |
 |
FEEL FREE TO PIN THE PHOTOS ON PINTEREST TO SHARE THE ARTICLE!
