How to use a Leather Pricking Iron

Hello, leather lovers! Welcome to my blog, where I share my passion for leather crafting and all things related to it. Today, I want to talk about one of the most essential tools for any leather worker: the pricking iron.

What is a pricking iron, you ask? Well, it's a metal tool with sharp teeth that is used to mark and punch holes in leather. It's different from a stitching awl, which is a single-pointed tool that pierces through leather. A pricking iron creates neat and even holes that make your stitching look professional and beautiful.

Why do you need a pricking iron, you wonder? Because it makes your life easier and your work faster. Imagine trying to stitch leather without any holes. You would have to use a lot of force and time to push the needle through the thick material, risking damage to your leather, your needle, and your fingers. Not to mention, your stitches would look uneven and sloppy.

With a pricking iron, you can mark and punch holes in one go, saving you time and effort. You can also choose different sizes and shapes of pricking irons to suit your project and style. For example, you can use a diamond-shaped pricking iron for a traditional look, or a round-shaped one for a modern look. You can also use different numbers of teeth to create different spacing between the holes.

How do you use a pricking iron, you inquire? It's simple and fun. First, you need to mark your stitching line on your leather piece. You can use a wing divider, edge creaser, a ruler with awl, or a stitching groover for this. Then, you place your pricking iron on the line and tap it lightly with a mallet or a hammer. You don't need to hit it too hard, just enough to make an impression on the leather. You repeat this process along the line until you have marked all the holes. The hole is then ready to be fixed to another piece of leather and with your stitching awl you can push through the holes to the other side.

And voila! You have prepared your leather piece for stitching. Now you can thread your needle and start sewing your leather masterpiece. Isn't that easy and satisfying?

I hope you enjoyed this post and learned something new about pricking irons. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below. And don't forget to subscribe to my blog for more leather crafting tips and tricks. Until next time, happy leather working!

You can purchase your leather pricking iron, and other leather craft tools, right here on my website.