• A baseball is made of leather and can actually be sewn by hand.old baseball image by Richard Kane from Fotolia.com
  
  Sewing machines seem to make sewing easier and faster, but they're not always the best choice for leather projects. Leather is a thick and inflexible material, which makes working with it difficult. Sewing by hand when constructing something out of leather is most effective. Sewing leather is unlike any other fabric and since it doesn't come cheap, you want to do it right the first time.
  
  

Thread

• Use heavy waxed thread for sewing leather. The waxed coating helps the thread glide through the thick fabric more easily. The thicker the leather you choose, the thicker the thread should be to hold the leather together without breaking. Linen thread with a waxed end is another option.
  
  

Types of Leather

• There are several different types of leather that can be used for projects. Make your decision based on the size of the project and the thickness you require, as well as your budget. Lambskin is extremely soft and thinner than most leathers--it is also very expensive. Cowhide is available in multiple sizes as well as fat and medium thicknesses.
  
  

Needles

• Purchase a specialized leather needle for sewing. A leather needle has a sharper point than other needles. The needle also has a three-surface chisel head, which allows it to better puncture the leather.
  
  

Pinning

• Do not pin pieces together prior to sewing as it leaves holes in the leather. Instead use leather tape or fabric tape to hold the pieces in place.