Tips for Sewing with Leather, Faux Leather, and Vinyl - DIY Craft Tutorial

I remember the first time I tried to sew vinyl. It was a mess! Wonky seams, uneven stitches, a rat’s nest of thread wadding up in the bobbin case. But once I learned a few tips and tricks, it was smooth sewing from there!
In this video, I share 10 tips for working with leather and vinyl. Do you have a tip of your own? Share it in the comments!
A text/photo version of this tutorial is available here:
whatthecraft.c...

[@BuhlouBear]

I was just looking for tips for working with faux leather, I didn't count on the humor, subscribed.

[@smarmyclothes]

I don't like to half-ass these things!

[@rach7669]

Same! ❤️

[@EmoDramaDork]

Did you read my mind? I was JUST Googling what I needed to sew leather, and this video popped up in my subscription feed.

[@yamiletviloria747]

precise, righ to the point, didn't extend the video unnecessarily...exactly what I needed. No matter how long ago it was posted. 😊

[@sharonjones7138]

New to working with leather. Been sewing 55 years and have wanted to make a simple leather tote. Have made many using all kinds of fabric….except leather. Thanks for your video and your tips. I’ll definitely follow them. I’m a quilter, and I have a walking foot, so I’ll use that. Thank you a bunch for your info 😊.

[@smarmyclothes]

Thanks, Sharon!

[@evepaludan7713]

This is awesome. I have also used wax paper instead of tissue paper. It makes less of a mess when you tear it off than the tissue paper and wax helps the leather glide smoothly.

[@normajolliffe5791]

Thanks for this. I sew doll clothes and the tips on vinyl/leather have gone beyond my expectations. AND you are very entertaining.

[@smarmyclothes]

Thanks, Norma!

[@aldouspabon2387]

Thank you. I love the way you teach. So real, clear, and entertaining!

[@janiceekarr]

This is just what I was looking for. Thank you! Going to try my hand at a pair of coasters. Starting easy =)

[@lindseyasher1982]

You’re my favorite sewing channel. Please post more videos more often. ❤️

[@alandreareynolds]

Machine oil works perfectly for feeding the faux leather under the presser foot. Just oil the top of the leather where you’re sewing and it feeds right through like regular fabric 😊

[@amaanat.]

Thank you for this tip. It works like magic! I

[@glowmilk7948]

Wonderful, useful tips taught in a clear and fun way! Thank you so much for this video

[@kittybrowning]

This is a brill vid Ty I've been using a Teflon foot but it's not helped but I have a roller foot and a walking foot So be trying those today ty again. I use a heavy denim needle this seams to work a lot better

[@debbieroney4560]

Thank you so very much for this video. I have and older machine and a small project and did not want to go to the expense of a new foot. THE TAPE WAS A GREAT AND SUCCESSFUL IDEA

[@elizabethdiffley]

Great tips!

[@skasow17]

Thank you so much! I’m working on a project where I’m sewing a textured pvc-coated fabric to a lighter one and your tips will solve problems I’ve already had. Subscribed!

[@luckychucky3426]

short and to-the-point just the way I like it love your video also the sound of your voice I am a newbie two sewing need all the help I can get

[@MsHighpeaks]

Perfect timing!! Just making my first leather bag. Thank you

[@tittyrino]

I have buckskin that I’m sewing into Cambium Savers.Using for my recreational tree climbing ropes. Great video thanks

[@s.e.7564]

This video is gold. Thank you very much

[@She-RaPOP]

I love how you get straight to the point, no time for fluff! Subscribing.

[@smarmyclothes]

Woohoo! Thanks, She-Ra! 😁

[@thefilipinalatina]

I'm so glad in found this video! I'm working on some faux leather for a cosplay(1st time!) And was going to blindly start sewing per the usual 😅 thank u!

[@Wrightn221]

Thanks sew much! One of my friends want a bag made out of vinyl. I had a lot of questions, and you answered them.

[@EthanDoezYT]

I usually do a surgeons knot for everything I see just because it’s easier but I’ll usually do it four to five times in one area, then I knot it off like a normal knot to finish it and make sure it doesn’t come loose. This probably isn’t as pretty looking as some other stuff would be but it works really well.

[@normajolliffe5791]

Sorry, forgot this. Roller Feet! OMG! Gotta get me one. It looks like heaven, especially when the Teflon foot doesn't always work.

[@jannine.s.jenkins]

Love this

[@vcalibur1]

Awesome because I only want to sew and sell genuine leather. This was a great presentation. You gave lots of updated information especially knowing about various weights of leather and using my various machines.

[@drdisrespect3000]

TIP: thicker thread with the longer stitch length always makes it look better!

[@babesplugofficial9786]

Except you - you’re sworn to secrecy. Yes mam 😂

[@kimhandy1861]

Great tips! Thanks!

[@gcbrosgamingcreativebros7416]

Thank you sooo much! Right to the point. Awesome tips for if you don’t want to wait for specialty foot.

[@orinnoco2919]

I love your channel. Sworn to sewing secrecy! I love that. Only crafters themselves are privy to their own dirty little secrets! I might wanna add that if you have a wadding or thicker backing, you will have to adjust the tension disc/dial. If not, the bobbin threads might bunch up into nests. We are so similar, have the same tastes, and note down meticulously everything we experiment with.

[@smarmyclothes]

Thank you! And that's a great tip to keep an eye on your tension!

[@Elizardc]

Thank you! That’s exactly what I needed and more!

[@GrammaPatriot]

Im wanting to try a faux leather and cotton tote...great tips here, thank you!

[@laurajulien9605]

ahh this was so helpful thank you!!!! i used the tape on the presser foot method, and this worked wonders :)

[@simonethomas4888]

This was so helpful

[@kynserwahwahsuck3682]

Best video I’ve seen ever

[@elliemarcotte8856]

Good tip using the sharpie.

[@lsandercock7164]

I have a roller foot! Thank you for showing us it's use haha

[@realrealtv7806]

Great tutorial lots of tips and tricks

[@Febiza919]

Knit foot is a great budget option with similar mechanics to a walking foot.

[@mioangel1227]

Learning something today! Great tips! TFS! ❤️

[@sophiereiher1857]

Good humor.

[@shanmarie4122]

I subscribed just for the cute commentary at the end.

[@naominardi8295]

Thanks! very helpful

[@znycelondon5313]

Love it.......the best......the sharpie tip🥰 New subscriber 🤗🤗🤗

[@johnnielsen5933]

Quick and informative video how to sew in pu leather. Thanks!

[@yeaz0317]

thank you so much, love the pipe thread tape idea!

[@smarmyclothes]

You're welcome, but please note that the pipe thread tape is the wrong kind of teflon tape. You need something adhesive, and every pipe thread tape I've ever used was not adhesive.

[@mbcalderwood]

Great tips! Im glad i checked it out!

[@carolinerobert1370]

Thank you!

[@MKANDRESTINPEACE]

Very useful thankyou

[@withdebbyqte4225]

Great tips 👍

[@helendurow8211]

Wonderful ! Thanks !!❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@nancychandler7289]

I just sewed a trial coin purse with faux vinyl and used sewing machine oil along the edge. It worked pretty well. Luckily it did not spot.

[@Ashland.appliances]

I use Aquaphor and it never stains my faux leather or real leather. Love it.

[@charlottejohnson3714]

Thank you soooooo much

[@dianeradtke8638]

Thanks a million

[@carolynlfarlow3635]

Thank you for these tips. Want to make a keyboard cover with vinyl lined with foam, am I crazy?

[@smarmyclothes]

Hey, we're all a little crazy. Why not? If you find the vinyl and foam together are too thick to sew, you might be able to sew them separately and fasten them together at the end.

[@farrenrohana]

Some Wonder Clips have "nobs or teeth" which can leave marks. I file them off with a metal nail file! No idea why they would ever need to put them on in the 1st place.

[@cbizkit84s61]

Do you offer any tips for hand sewing? I do not have a sewing machine.

[@maxcross-tuff4616]

I am not experiencing any problems actually sewing the faux leather, but am seeing the gaps between the stitches when I look at the seam sideways. Any stretching and the gaps show. Have adjusted the stitch size and the tension - nothing helps. Any tips??

[@natasharose6889]

Do you have any suggestions for top stitching around a curve, like an iphone case ...?

[@smarmyclothes]

On tight curves, I like to advance the hand wheel by hand instead of using the foot pedal. This video is old so the quality is kind of crappy but it shows this technique while I'm topstitching an applique: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sIC7ZYqZi6dnn7s Advancing the wheel by hand will allow you to do 1 or two stitches at a time. Then you can adjust the angle, sew another stitch or two, rinse and repeat. (You can't actually see the wheel in the frame, but every time I reach over to the right, I'm turning the hand wheel.) So it kind of goes: Stitch, stich. Pivot. Stitch, stitch. Pivot. Stitch. Pivot, etc. And remember to keep the needle in the down position when you pivot!

[@natasharose6889]

@@smarmyclothes perfect thank you! I will practice this technique!

[@farrenrohana]

Presser feet including a walking foot are super cheap on eBay but they usually come from China which can make for a long wait but it's worth it if you can.

[@ivonnejimenez4328]

How you place the patterns onthe fabric?

[@moscato07]

Hi, thanknyou so much for sharing these tips. I wanted to know if I should be using a certain type of thread because when I use the extra strength upholstery thread for the vinyl, my stitches are not coming out good. Thank you.

[@smarmyclothes]

I'm using regular All-Purpose thread (100% poly) in the video. If you wanted something thicker, you could also try topstitching thread. Are you using the upholstery thread in both the bobbin and the top thread? Sometimes that makes a difference. You might also need to adjust the tension up or down with different threads/fabrics. I like to do some tests on a piece of scrap fabric before I start.

[@moscato07]

@@smarmyclothes Thank you so much for replying! I love your work!!! So, I tried the upholstery thread in the bobbin too but it didnt go well even after adjusting the tension. These machines are so temperamental at times but I will try the thread you use and see what happens. Thank you so much!

[@deefromcanada5894]

Is there a certain type of thread to use?

[@smarmyclothes]

I'm using regular thread in the video, but if you want something more heavy duty, bonded nylon upholstery thread will do the trick. If the stitching is visible, you can also use topstitching thread, which is the golden thread you often see on jeans. It comes in a wide range of colors so you can either match your leather or use a contrasting color to stand out.

[@hilltop9098]

Have you any ideas for making cording on vinyl?Every time I change to a cording foot and try to make handles for my bags the lower stitches are loopy. ❤️🇬🇧

[@smarmyclothes]

Have you tried the "matte tape" or tissue paper trick with the cording foot? I would try those first. If neither of those tricks work, there are a few things you can try for loose lower (bobbin) stitches depending on how your machine is set up. 1. Older machines (say, 90's and earlier) usually have a "bobbin case." It's a little metal contraption that holds the bobbin and then the whole thing is inserted in the machine. If your machine has a bobbin case, there is a tiny screw that controls the bobbin tension. Photo of bobbin case screw in this post: whatthecraft.com/sewing-machine-troubleshooting-guide/ Find yourself a tiny screwdriver and tighten this screw a bit to increase the bobbin tension. Make small adjustments and then test on some scraps until (hopefully) the bottom stitches tighten up. Important note: remember to decrease the tension on your bobbin screw when you're finished with this project! 2. Lots of newer machines seem to have ditched the bobbin case for a "drop-in bobbin." The bobbin gets popped into the machine all by itself. Check your sewing machine manual to see if there's a way to adjust the bobbin tension, but if there isn't, you can try decreasing the upper thread tension in hopes that it will counteract the loose bobbin thread tension. Again, remember to put the upper thread tension back to its previous setting when you're finished.

[@marysuperbarnes8722]

Super

[@iscrazierthanU101]

I wish I would’ve watched this earlier today before I put pins in my fabric 😭

[@Rmart60]

Can I use my 44S heavy duty machine

[@smarmyclothes]

I'm not familiar with that machine, but I don't see why not. Most heavy duty machines are made to handle things exactly like leather and vinyl.

[@joycelundell615]

I used a needle for leather and thread with a long stitch but it stll cut the vinyl which I didnt know until about 6 months of use HELP

[@smarmyclothes]

Both vinyl and leather can crack and split with wear and as it ages. It's not uncommon for this to happen at weak points, like seams. You can condition leather and some types of faux leather/vinyl to reduce the chances of cracking/ripping.

[@joycelundell615]

@@smarmyclothes it didn't crack the vinyl ripped along the stitching

[@KitschyClay]

What kind of thread works best for these fabrics?

[@smarmyclothes]

I always use polyester thread since cotton can shrink. There are also tannins in real leather that can weaken cotton fibers. You can use standard weight thread or heavier weight topstitching thread depending on the look you're going for.

[@delords3337]

Can I use my singer talent 3323 sewing machine

[@Ahjanea]

Is there a certain type of thread you use?

[@smarmyclothes]

I used all-purpose thread for the seams and topstitching. But if you want the topstitching to really stand out, you could use topstitching thread (what you often find on jeans).

[@OwOUwUOnO]

4:39 Bu-Bu-But what would happen if I accidentally tell someone that I decided to use a marker to hide the (* Gets pulled in to the sewing bag *)

[@smarmyclothes]

MWAHAHAHAHAHA!

[@resabecker45]

ahahahaaa!!!! and i love your avatar tooo *ccracking up*

[@Craftbags33]

Where did you get the rolling foot? Not sure it will fit a vintage machine though!

[@smarmyclothes]

I got it on Amazon, and it fits my vintage Kenmore!

[@smarmyclothes]

P.S. Figure out what style of "shank" your machine is, and that will help determine what feet will fit. Most are either high, low, or slant, but there are some that are "super high."

[@Craftbags33]

Found out it’s a low shank and all they have it snap one which is fine for my other singer but looking for whole piece for vintage machine and couldn’t find it 😢

[@smarmyclothes]

@@Craftbags33 You could try sewingpartsonline.com or Ebay. Sometimes they have stuff I can't find anywhere else.

[@Craftbags33]

Thanks ! Any chance you can recommend a good thread nylon isn’t working and cotton broke on the hunt I have Gutterman cotton which works but wanted something else!

[@maddnd9721]

Do people stitch much without a machine?

[@BeachPeach2010]

A walking foot is worth every penny.

[@daygriego9554]

if anyone sees this, masking tape wlll leave residue if u leave it on for long periods of time! made that mistake

[@smarmyclothes]

Good point! You can use drafting tape or painter's tape instead -- these shouldn't leave a residue. Washi tape might also work, but it's probably less sticky than the other two.

[@KathleenGoggins]

both of my walking feet were under $10

[@nytcat925]

Can i make sexy body harness out of these faux leather?

[@BuffaVita]

Rule #1 You don't talk about craft code. Rule #2 You Don't Talk About Craft Code