GLOSSARY

How to cut with a leather knife or skiving knife (bettachi)

Hold the handle lightly with your thumb on it. Angle the blade, insert the corner of the blade as if pushing it slightly forward, then pull it toward you.

Punching holes at corners 2 (round awl)

Punch the holes with the diamond chisel, leaving the corner hole, then make the corner hole alone with a round awl.

Finishing linen thread (knot 2)

At the end of the backstitch, bring the thread out between the leather layers, tie a knot, pass it back inside between the stitches, pull the knot in, and cut.

How to apply sandpaper

Keeping the beveled edge surface in mind, hold the sandpaper at a slight angle and sand in a single direction.

Preparing the needle

Western-style sewing needles have sharp points and tend to pierce the thread or the leather outside the punched holes, so the point is dressed.

How to backstitch

Backstitch at the start and end of a seam, and wherever extra strength is needed.

How to glue and apply white adhesives (such as Saibinol)

It dries fast and will not bond once dry, so apply two or three thin coats, keeping glue off the edges, then press the pieces together with the edges aligned.

Points to note when using a leather knife or skiving knife (bettachi)

The blade of a leather knife or skiving knife (bettachi) is beveled on one side, so tilt it slightly as you cut to keep the cut surface at a right angle.

Punching holes at corners 1 (diamond chisel)

At corners, where the direction changes, punching the chisel as you would on a straight line will leave messy holes, so take care.