How to Make a Leather Journal

How to Make a Leather Journal: Materials, Tips & Stitching Ideas

I love making leather journals—especially those with decorative stitches along the spine. After teaching several leather bookbinding classes in the Handmade Book Club, I’ve gathered a collection of tips and tricks that make the process smoother, cleaner, and more enjoyable. Whether you’re new to leather bookbinding or looking to refine your technique, these ideas will help you create a sturdy and beautiful handmade journal.

Choosing Leather for Your Journal Cover

For soft, flexible covers, I like using calf leather that’s about 1.5–2 mm (3.5–4 oz) thick. This weight is easy to fold, cut, and pierce, yet durable enough for everyday use. Some makers prefer thicker hides, so feel free to experiment and see what feels best in your hands.

If possible, buy leather in person so you can feel the texture and flexibility before committing. In the United States:

• Tandy Leather has many retail locations.
• Pergamena offers excellent hides and even sells scrap packs on Etsy.
• Talas and Hollanders also carry high-quality bookbinding leathers.

If you know alternative sources—especially outside the U.S.—share them in the comments to help other makers.

Budget-Friendly Options

Leather doesn’t have to be expensive. Keep an eye out for:

• Old leather jackets at thrift stores
• Vintage bags or skirts
• Worn furniture at yard sales (I once sourced leather from a discarded sofa!)

If you prefer not to use leather, you can make beautiful journals using cork fabric, felted wool, Kraft-Tex, or heavy canvas. Many Etsy sellers offer cork in a wide range of colors and prints.

Selecting Paper, Thread, and Supplies

Your choice of paper depends on how you plan to use the journal. Will it be a sketchbook? A writing journal? A mixed-media art book? If you need guidance, check out these YouTube videos:

• How to Choose the Right Paper for Your Handmade Journal
• My Best Paper Tips

For stitching, I recommend:

• 3-ply or 4-ply pre-waxed linen thread
• A #18 blunt needle
• An awl or screw punch suitable for leather

These materials hold up beautifully through repeated handling and make for clean, strong bindings.

Cutting and Shaping the Leather Cover

For cutting leather cleanly, I reach for:

• A rotary cutter
• A quilting ruler
• A self-healing cutting mat

The rotary cutter glides through leather more smoothly than a craft knife, and the quilting ruler helps keep every edge square.

Cover height: Make your cover about ¼ inch taller than your signatures—this leaves a neat ⅛ inch at the top and bottom.

Cover width: Wrap the leather around your stacked signatures, then add extra length if you want a flap closure.

Punching Sewing Holes

To create even sewing stations, I use a Japanese screw punch with a 1 mm or 2 mm drill bit. It’s clean, quick, and makes consistent holes through leather.

Extra Tip:
If your leather is very soft, place a piece of cardstock or thin chipboard underneath to keep it stable as you punch.

Designing Decorative Stitch Patterns

One of the best tools for designing decorative bindings is surprisingly simple: grid paper. I use sheets with 4–5 squares per inch, which makes it easy to sketch stitch patterns and keep hole spacing consistent.

Use the grid to:

• Lay out your stitch design
• Align punch marks on the leather
• Transfer evenly spaced holes to your pages

Stitch Pattern Resources

The ultimate reference for decorative bindings is Keith Smith’s Non-Adhesive Binding, Vol. 2: 1- 2- & 3-Section Sewings. It walks you through dozens of spine-stitch patterns.

A few ideas to try:

• Repeated chain stitches: For example, the pink journal below uses a 1-signature chain stitch repeated three times.
• The Alpha stitch: You can follow my tutorial here.
• Long stitch with packing: In this variation, each signature is sewn individually, allowing you to use different thread colors.

These bindings work beautifully on leather and give the spine eye-catching texture.

Extra Tips for Making Leather Journals

Here are a few more details students often find helpful:

1. Condition Your Leather (Optional)

A light conditioner—used sparingly—can make stiff leather more pliable. Test on a scrap first to ensure it doesn’t darken the hide.

2. Use Binder Clips Carefully

If you need clips to hold pages or leather in place, add scrap paper under the clip jaws to prevent dents.

3. Pre-crease Your Leather

For soft hides, gently crease the spine area with a bone folder before stitching. It helps the book open more smoothly.

4. Use Templates You Can Reuse

Once you fall in love with a stitch pattern, create a cardstock template so you can reproduce the layout easily for future books.

5. Test Stitching on Scraps First

Leather thickness varies—test your drill bit size, hole spacing, and thread ply on a leftover offcut.

Final Thoughts

Making a leather journal is such a satisfying process, especially when you add decorative stitches that make each book truly one-of-a-kind. With the right tools, a few sheets of grid paper, and a stitch pattern you love, you can create a handmade journal that’s both functional and absolutely beautiful.

If you have favorite leather suppliers or resources—especially outside the U.S.—I’d love for you to share them in the comments so other bookbinders can discover them too.

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