Nerdy Kitten

The Workshop

You know, where the magic happens!

You can see my workspace in some of my crafting & how-to videos. Below is a list of all the tools I use and recommended leather suppliers as well. Happy crafting!

My Suppliers:

Recommended Leather Suppliers

I have personally found that anyone I work with at any of these stores are very friendly and awesome. They are also very helpful if you need some advice for a project.

  • Tandy Leather – Good supplies. Great deals. Lots of brick & mortar shops to go in and shop, get help with projects, etc. If you’re just starting out, this is a great first place to shop.
  • The Leather Guy – Based out of MN, once sold at Bristol Ren Faire. Occasional “Dibs” sales on their Facebook page. Great deals happen often!
  • Maker’s Leather Supply – Also check out their “Odd Lot” sales on their Facebook page!
  • Peggy Sue Also – Especially great for “fashion” leather pre-cuts.
  • Southern Grace Leather – Especially great for “fashion” leather pre-cuts.
  • BuckleGuy – Great supplies shop (Weaver is too), also where I get my Giardini edge paints (highly recommend).
  • Weaver Leather Supply – Great leather and tools, on the more expensive side. Made-in-the-USA machinery/equipment. Higher quality items in general.

My Tools:

Ranked in order of what I use the most to the least:

  • GLOVES – Wear them! Especially when handling dyes!
  • Air Purifier – Because the fumes… the fumes!!! (Combine with open window. Fan is good, too.)
  • This little portable electronic fan is amazing. Great for when you need to cool off from working hard at the workbench or at a vendor stall! The battery life on it is crazy long – lasted me a whole multi-day music festival without needing to recharge – and even has a really nice flashlight on it. 10/10 recommend.
  • Tokonole – This stuff is awesome for burnishing leather edges.
  • Punch Pads – To be nice to the neighbors. Lol – also for jeweled rivets and more delicate tasks.
  • Weaver Stitch Punches – 4 mm. My favorite hole punches for sewing leather.
  • This Scratch Awl – Affordable and great for sketching out designs to carve on the leather and widening punch holes.
  • Spray Bottle – Fine mist, for wetting your leather.
  • Barry King Swivel Knife – Very comfortable. The blades cut like butter. Highly recommend, worth the cost. Started with an ergonomic Tandy swivel, there is a huge difference.
  • Weaver Carving Spoon – This is my favorite of my carving spoons. The off-brand spoons are usually rounder on the edges, but this Weaver one leaves a little bit more of a “crisper” finish.
  • Angelus Acrylic Leather Paints – Great brand, great to use, great durability. Well-known and popular brand.
  • Angelus Paint Brushes – Love these brushes for painting leather.
  • Carving Tools & Spoons – For use when carving leather.
  • Probably my favorite knife to use. And it’s affordable. And it’s pretty.
  • Polishing Compound – Use this on some scrap leather to have a strop. Sharpen your knifes before use every time to ensure the best cut.
  • These round knives by the same company are also great.
  • These Scissors are pretty great for cutting leather.
  • This Rolling Cutter is sharp and dangerous but can be very helpful when handled with caution and care. Be advised some people don’t use this at all due to the injuries sustained from misuse of this tool.
  • Barge Cement (Small) or Barge Cement (Large) – I swear by this stuff. Just make sure you have air ventilation.
  • These Glue Spreaders are awesome-sauce and make your Barge last longer, and makes a more even coat.
  • E6000 – For adhering leather to non-leather things.
  • Compass – Lots of uses. I mostly use this for quick measurements, also great for making circles and rounded bits.
  • This maul from Tandy is awesome.
  • Weaver Brand Strap End Punch – I have tried cheaper versions of strap end punches, and quite honesty, they are a waste of money. These Weaver punches are amazing.
  • These Positioning Needles – Fantastic when you’re sewing a project and don’t want the pieces moving all around.
  • Leather-Covered Binder Clips – For holding leather pieces together without leaving marks – especially useful when wet-molding.
  • Yarn Needles or Leather Sewing Needles – Pretty much any brand is good honestly. I advise getting a set with a convenient reusable storage container.
  • Mandala Crafts Waxed Thread – Not the highest quality but good and relatively affordable.
  • Thread Burner – Easier to use than a lighter and more precise with the burning/melting of threads (less damage to surrounding leather).
  • Sandpaper – For smoothing edges (and stuff).
  • Giardini Edge Paints – Amazing product. Can buy as a set or individually. Be sure to use the Giardini base coat product and a Giardini finishing product on top for protection.
  • These “Coaster Holders” are great for propping work up on its end when edge paints need to dry, recently-painted artworks need to dry, etc.
  • Edge Paint Pens – A nice set of 3. I use the rolling bit (left one) the most, but the others come in handy, too.
  • Wool Daubers – For use with dyes.
  • Canvas – For polishing leather and other uses.
  • Mink Oil – There are various ways to condition your leather. I mostly use this stuff.
  • T-Square – For straight lines and corners.
  • Carpenter Square (L-Shape Ruler) – Great for straight lines and corners.
  • Edge Burnishing Tips for Dremel – Wrist-friendly tips to make burnishing easier.
  • Seam Rollers – To make your sewn bits look nicer! Also great when adhering leather to a liner to get nice adhesion.
  • Glass Slicker – For burnishing leather and smoothing it especially after gluing bits. A wide “seam roller” works too but if you test things out, you’ll find what works best for you.
  • Tandy Strap Cutter – A lot of different brands will work, I just happened to get the Tandy one.
  • Beeswax – Can be melted for adding to leather, or good for preparing punches to go through leather (for easier glide)
  • Creaser – Great for getting crisp edges when making bracelets, 3-D effects, and wet molding.
  • Stitch Groover & Knife – A decent set. Cheap and works great for the $. Great starter knife. Be sure to sharpen.
  • OWDEN 6 Pieces Hollow Hole Punch Set
  • [A Literal] Cutting Board (usually used under leather when punching)
  • Leather Prong Punch Set – Was replaced by a Weaver prong punch set, but this IS a good set. I just got annoyed with the tips unscrewing during use.
  • Bendable Bracelet Thingamajig