Leatherwork is an old craft that's still useful today. You'll learn about leather and tools, then make something real, like a wallet, key fob, or braided lanyard. It's satisfying to use something you made with your own hands.
Why it's worth it
A leather wallet or belt you make yourself can last for decades and get better looking every year. Leatherwork is a hands-on craft that people have practiced for thousands of years, from saddles to shoes. You'll learn to cut, stamp, dye, stitch, and braid, and to care for the leather gear you already own. It's patient, quiet work, and the result is something useful you can carry every day or give as a gift.
Start this week
- Gather leather items from around your house, like shoes, a belt, a baseball glove, or a bag, and look closely at how each was stitched and finished.
- Ask your Scoutmaster for the name of a Leatherwork counselor, and send them a short message with a parent copied to set up a first meeting.
- Pick your first project for requirement 3, like a key fob, a coaster, or a simple wallet, and ask whether your troop or counselor has tools you can borrow.
- Practice a four-strand round braid with paracord or string while you watch TV, so you're ready for requirement 4.
Stay safe
- Use knives, swivel knives, and punches only with an adult nearby, always cutting away from your body on a stable surface.
- Wear gloves and work in a well-ventilated area when using dyes, finishes, and cement glue.
Requirements · 5
Every official requirement and part, numbered to match Scouting America, in plain language. Sign off against the official wording (opens in a new tab).
- Requirement 1
Safety and first aid
Tips for this section: Learn to handle sharp knives and punches safely, and know first aid for small cuts before you start.
Example for this section: Before you start, show your safety setup: a cutting mat, a sharp knife (dull ones slip), cutting away from your hand, a mallet only on stamps and punches, and dyes used with gloves in a ventilated space. Know first aid for small cuts.
- Requirement 1a
Explain to your counselor the hazards you're most likely to face with leatherwork tools and materials, and how to anticipate, prevent, reduce, and respond to them
- Requirement 1b
Show you know first aid for leatherwork injuries and illnesses, including small cuts and scratches, puncture wounds, swallowed poisons, and reactions to dyes, cements, and finishes
- Requirement 2
About leather
Tips for this section: Look at leather items around your house, like shoes, belts, and bags, and talk about which kinds of leather they might be.
Example for this section: Explain that most leather comes from cattle hides that are a byproduct of the meat industry. Compare vegetable-tanned leather, which is firm and good for stamping, with chrome-tanned leather, which is soft and used for jackets and shoes.
- Requirement 2a
Explain where leather comes from
- Requirement 2b
Explain which kinds of hides are made into leather
- Requirement 2c
Explain five types of leather
- Requirement 2d
Explain what each type of leather is best used for
- Requirement 3
Make leather articles using five or more steps. Choose 5 of 8
Tips for this section: Start with a simple kit project so you learn the basic steps, like cutting, stamping, dyeing, and stitching.
Example for this section: A key fob in five steps: trace a pattern on the leather, cut it out, dampen and stamp a design, dye and seal it, then punch a hole and set a rivet for the key ring. Keep notes on what you'd change next time.
- Requirement 3a
Lay out a pattern and transfer it to the leather
- Requirement 3b
Cut the leather
- Requirement 3c
Punch holes
- Requirement 3d
Carve or stamp a design into the surface
- Requirement 3e
Apply dye or stain to the project, then a finish
- Requirement 3f
Assemble the pieces by lacing or stitching
- Requirement 3g
Set snaps and rivets
- Requirement 3h
Dress (finish) the edges
- Requirement 4
Braid or plait an item from leather, vinyl lace, or paracord
Tip: Practice a braid with paracord first, since it's forgiving and cheap, then make a lanyard or bracelet.
For example: Braid a lanyard from paracord or leather lace using a four-strand round braid, or a bracelet with a three-strand flat braid. Finish the ends neatly with a knot or a clasp.
- Requirement 5
Tanning, leather care, or a business visit. Choose 1 of 4
Tips for this section: Bring old leather boots or a baseball glove back to life with cleaner and conditioner, or visit a saddle or shoe repair shop.
Example for this section: Recondition an old pair of boots or a baseball glove: brush off dirt, clean with saddle soap, let it dry, then work in conditioner. Take before and after photos to show your counselor.
- Requirement 5a
Learn how leather is tanned commercially and report on it to your counselor
- Requirement 5b
Tan a small animal's skin, then tell your counselor what safety precautions you planned and which tanning method you used
- Requirement 5c
Recondition, or show you can properly care for, leather items such as your shoes, a baseball glove, a saddle, or furniture. Discuss with your counselor the pros and cons of leather compared with synthetics
- Requirement 5d
Visit a leather-related business, such as a leathercraft supplier, tannery, leather goods or shoe factory, or saddle shop, and report on your visit to your counselor
Places to visit
Ask an adult to set it up, and go with your family, den, patrol, or crew.
A saddle, boot, or shoe repair shop
You can watch a craftsperson cut, stitch, and repair leather with professional tools.
How: Have an adult call ahead and ask if the owner would show a few Scouts around during a slow time of day.
A history museum or living history site
Old saddles, harnesses, and clothing show how people made leather goods by hand long ago.
How: Check the website for demonstrations by craftspeople, and go with your family or patrol.
Where it can lead
- Saddle makerBuilds and repairs saddles and tack for riders; often learned through apprenticeship.
- Shoe repair technicianFixes and resoles shoes and boots, a skilled trade many learn on the job.
- Leather goods designerDesigns bags, wallets, and belts for small shops or big brands.
- UpholstererCovers furniture and car seats with leather and fabric.
Ask yourself
- What leather item do you own that you'd like to make or repair yourself someday?
- Which step of your project took the most patience, and how did you handle it?
- What mistake did you make, and how did you fix it or work around it?
- How does it feel to use something you made with your own hands?
- What would you like to make next, and who could you make it for?
Good questions to ask a leather crafter or saddle maker
- How did you learn leatherwork, and what was your first project?
- Which tools would you buy first if you were starting over?
- How do you choose the right leather for a project?
- What's the hardest thing you've ever made?
- How do you keep leather gear in good shape for a long time?
Helpful reads
- Earning a merit badge, step by step, From picking a badge to getting the final signature: how to find a counselor, set up meetings safely, work the requirements, and keep your progress., Youth · Families · 6 min read
- Contacting counselors, experts, and organizations, Email and phone scripts, who to ask for, how to follow up, and how to say thanks, with a parent copied every time., Youth · Families · 7 min read
- Choosing your next merit badge, How to pick a badge you'll actually finish: start with what you care about, balance Eagle-required and just-for-fun badges, and make the most of camp., Youth · Families · 6 min read
For leaders & parents
- Host a craft night where scouts work on leather projects together with an adult watching tool use.
- Ask a local leather crafter or shoe repair shop if they'd show scouts how they work.
People & places that can help
- Merit badge counselor — Talk with them early; they can explain what's expected.
- Craft and hobby store — Beginner kits, tools, and lace.
- Shoe, saddle, or leather repair shop — A real-world look at leather care and repair.
- Public library — Books, videos, and a librarian who can help you dig deeper.
- International Federation of Leather Guilds (opens in a new tab) — Find leather guilds and learn about the craft from experienced makers.
Pairs well with
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Tips, examples, and questions are ideas from experienced leaders, not extra requirements. Your unit leader or counselor decides when a requirement is complete.