Tools & Leather

A groover cuts leather away and a creaser presses it down. What each tool does to a stitch line, where each one fails, and which one belongs on the bench first.

A scratch awl marks and a stitching awl cuts the hole. Buy the marker first, then learn where that advice breaks on thick bridle, curves and closed holes.

A hand-crank leather splitter earns its bench space only for some makers. When to buy one, when a pull-through tool does, and when to order leather to weight.