Tips and tricks for working with leather

• Always work with clean hands! Don't put on any hand lotion prior to working with the leather, it will leave greasy marks and attract dirt.

• An all- polyester thread works best when stitching through leather. The cotton wrapping on ordinary thread tends to shred about half way through a seam. The brands I have found that hold up the best are Gutermann 100% polyester and Mettler Metrosene plus polyester.

• A triple knot works best at the end of your stitching. Go through your loop three times instead of two and pull it tight.

• Sink your knots. Put the needle back into seam you just finished, between the threads and out the other side, pulling the knot inside and sinking it into the stuffing; then clip the thread close to the bear where the needle has exited.

• Use a permanent, pigmant marker to sign leather pawpads or footpads. I use a number 005 black Micron by Sakura. It doesn’t bleed or fade like other permanent ink.