Creating Saddles

• 1). Trace the pattern onto vinyl fabric and cut with razor blade or scissors. This will allow you to keep your original pattern intact and gives leeway for mistakes when using the vinyl template with leather.
  
  
• 2). Arrange vinyl pattern pieces on leather. Make sure leather is approximately the same thickness for the whole project. Leather should be thick enough for durability, but thin enough to flex when wet. Leather will have to wrap around certain parts of the saddle tree as well.
  
  
• 3). Score leather with the razor blade. Use the ruler to allow extra room for stitching and wet forming. When making a saddle, leather is dipped in water and then wrapped in wool blankets overnight to fully soak in water. As the leather dries, it will shrink slightly.
  
  
• 4). Cut leather pieces out of the scored pattern. Use an awl and mallet to punch holes in leather to attach leather to the saddle tree. Lightly nail or tack cut leather pieces and arrange before permanently attaching.
  
  

Tooling Leather

• 1). Draw pattern or trace over existing pattern with pencil and tracing paper. If you are just starting out, choose simple designs to carve onto leather. Flowers, checks and geometric patterns are common designs used on saddles.
  
  
• 2). Prepare cut saddles pieces with damp sponge. Leather works the best when damp. Continue to wet leather as it dries while carving. Arrange pattern over leather.
  
  
• 3). Score leather pattern through the tracing paper onto the leather with the leather stylus tool. Do not move leather during this step as it can destroy the design.
  
  
• 4). With swivel tool cut into leather. Cut into the leather about halfway through the thickness of the leather piece. Cut leather border first and then continue to the rest of the design. Carve slowly to avoid puncturing leather. Allow leather to dry.