Let’s be honest, real leather can be extremely expensive. Although you may wish that amazing leather bag could be yours, it could have a price tag you’re not wanting to splurge on. Luckily, innovations have allowed the look of faux leather to be very similar to actual leather. And the bonus is you don’t have to pay that hefty price tag. And why buy if you can make it yourself and save even more money?
So, if you are the creative type that wants to start from scratch when it comes to creating a beautiful leather bag or any other accessory you may find learning how to sew faux leather extremely beneficial. You don’t need to go out and buy an expensive piece of real leather to get the look you want. Also, you don’t have purchase a specific piece of equipment to sew faux leather.
Let’s go through the uses of faux leather as well as some tips on how to sew faux leather.
Faux leather Trusted Source Artificial leather - Wikipedia Artificial leather, also called synthetic leather, is a material intended to substitute for leather in upholstery, clothing, footwear, and other uses where a leather-like finish is desired but the actual material is cost-prohibitive or unsuitable. en.wikipedia.org is basically an artificial form of leather, also known as fake leather and pleather. It is now so widely used that you’d be surprised by how many products are actually faux leather instead of real leather. There are a lot of items that can be made with faux leather such as:
Of course, there are many other things you can create with faux leather. Keeping this in mind let’s move on to how to sew leather by hand. If you know how to sew fake leather you can make these items and more for your own use.
Learning how to sew pleather—which is also another name for faux leather—is definitely helpful for those who don’t have a sewing machine because you can sew it by hand. Maybe you’ve found yourself wishing you had a sewing machine because you feel as if it’s what you need to sew. There’s no denying that a sewing machine would be great but sewing by hand can be just as efficient.
To sew faux leather by hand there are a few things you’ll need:
I’m sure you’ve noticed that pins were not listed above and this is because they will leave unwanted marks on your piece of material. The material is thin enough that a pin can not only leave a mark but also puncture a hole, ruining the end result.
Instead of pins, you will need pattern weights. The name is pretty explanatory these are weights that hold down your material. This ensures that it is kept in place while you get to cutting.
You’ll first want to measure and cut your piece of faux leather. While weighing the material down on your cutting mat with the weights, use your rotary cutter to cut the shape or design you’re going for. The Fiskars Classic Rotary Cutter comes highly recommended so if you’re struggling to choose which one to buy definitely look into it!
Once you’ve done those steps, you can then start sewing with the sewing technique you’ve chosen. Make sure you have a thick enough needle so it can go through the faux leather without breaking.
The best part about sewing with a sewing machine is the fact that much of the job is done for you. With the many options out there you’ll be able to purchase a sewing machine that can do simple tasks as well as being able to sew thicker materials. For example, the SINGER Heavy Duty 4432 can do your heavy-duty tasks but can still be used for normal sewing.
These days you can purchase a sewing machine for different types of projects starting from simple hemming to heavy-duty sewing.
Of course, when it comes to a sewing machine, you need a few pieces of equipment to make sure it works properly and does the job without any issues. This list includes:
After positioning the right needle, changing the stitch length, threading the thread, and changing the footer, your sewing machine is ready to go. There’s not much else you really need to do when it comes to setting up your machine. It’s similar to your usual setup, which is fortunate because you can then get sewing right away.
The main thing to watch for when sewing faux leather is making sure that it stays straight. It can sometimes go a little off track so holding it in place is key. Apart from that, you can just let the machine do all the work for you.
The items you can create are endless. Even upholstery can be an option for you with the right sewing machine.
When it comes to today’s fashion, sometimes you may not find a leather item that you love or you simply can’t find something that’s in your budget. You want something that you would use as much as possible, but it must suit your pocket too. As we’ve shown, you can buy faux leather and create something unique and completely your own, and you’ll love the cost too!
Knowing how to sew faux leather can be a skill that you can use when it comes to sewing other materials too. Everyone should know the basics of sewing and when you can have the opportunity to broaden your skillset, why not jump at the chance? Sewing faux leather isn’t hard, nor will it be something you’ll struggle with—simply see what you need so the right resources help you get the best possible outcome.
Now go grab what you need and get sewing!