About
What this site is
An independent reference for hand leathercraft. No shop, no sponsored picks, no affiliate links.
Why it exists
Most leathercraft information online is written to sell you something. Tool reviews are affiliate links, "beginner kits" are bundles of the tools you least need, and the safety advice is a single line at the bottom.
This site is the opposite. We describe what each tool does, which leather it suits, what it costs in effort, and what can go wrong. There is nothing to buy.
How it is organised
Tools are grouped into five families, and every family maps to a stage of the work: pattern, cut, punch, stitch, finish. If you are stuck, find the stage you are in and read across.
The database covers materials rather than tools. The 3D Studio covers motion — the things that are much easier to understand when you can turn them around.
Editorial policy
- Nothing for sale. No products, no cart, no prices, no affiliate links.
- No brand endorsements. We describe classes of tool, not specific makers.
- No invented credentials. No certifications, no awards, no testimonials.
- No promised outcomes. We describe practice, not guaranteed results.
- Safety is stated, not buried. Every hazardous tool or chemical carries its warning.
Materials and ethics
Leather is a by-product of the meat industry, which reduces but does not eliminate its impact. Tanning is chemically intensive, and the difference between a responsibly run tannery and a careless one is real. Ask your supplier where the hide came from, how it was tanned, and whether the tannery can document it.
We also say plainly that some people prefer not to work with animal leather at all. The techniques on this site transfer to heavy vegetable-tanned alternatives, though the finishing behaves differently.
About the 3D tools
Four simulations run entirely in your browser using WebGL. Nothing is downloaded beyond the site itself, nothing is uploaded, and there is no account.
They are models, not photographs. Geometry is exaggerated so that small changes are visible, and the numbers they produce are estimates for planning. Use them to build intuition, then confirm on scrap.
Accessibility
The site targets WCAG 2.2 AA. Text is set for high contrast against a dark ground, every interactive element is reachable by keyboard, the 3D views degrade to static diagrams, and animation is disabled when your system asks for reduced motion. If something does not work for you, please tell us.
Educational use only. Hide & Stitch is an independent, non-commercial reference. Nothing here is for sale and nothing here is a substitute for competent in-person instruction. Edged tools, dyes, solvents and adhesives can cause serious injury — read and follow the manufacturer instructions and safety data sheets, and work with ventilation and appropriate protection.