My leather skills are rudimentary at best- made a couple knife sheaths in the past. I was thinking of making a checkbook cover and wallet. I have a dog’s breakfast of leather scraps I’ve accumulated over the years- my question is do I have what I need and how would I know? I can mic the thickness but beyond that - no idea?
C’mon Kyle… enlighten me.

Glue and a sewing machine ! Make a tiny start.

My Thick leather skills come from a High school leather class 42 years ago.

cut out your Shape x 2 with a new razor blade , line up to check for sure it matches. Trimester if needed.

Use Elmers rubber cement 1/4" along stitchable inside pieces let it dry a minute or two.separately; put together.

With a board underneath - use hole punch/ chisels and hammer to punch in stitching holes.

Cut 4x the length of your stitchable surface length or more of Sinew...or preferred material. put sinew in needle Eye and starting on the inside leaving 3/4" tag end - Come out through first hole. Stitch around project.

Open for ideas but as of now, I plan to use 4-5oz for exterior and 2-3oz for interior cardholders. I need to sort through what I have and what would work best, easy to distinguish buckskin and cowhide but there's some obscure stuff, I'm not sure of what the leather originated from- maybe sheep? Watched a couple YouTube videos from Weaver Leather Equipment- that was helpful.
Here's the chart I'm going to work off of- I have a lot of leather carving/working tools. I need to pick-up needles and the proper thread- need to research that- I like the sinew idea.

I should've also mentioned that I plan on tooling/carving the leather- I assume I have to select a Veg Tan vs Chrome Tan for that? Further assumptions on my part are the stiffer shinny piece on the bottom shown is Veg Tanned? Are there other characteristics to consider? - I wasn't certain when I made the knife sheaths but I ordered the leather then because I didn't want the chromium in contact with the steel.

That's my motto- I'm going to save money on this- no matter what it costs

tooling requires a thicker leather

my leather skills are rough at best , mostly knife sheaths , pouches , belts , sling part and such

done a few tooling projects over the years the scouts and 4-H had the tools and I did it with the kids.

took a basic class with my wife at the school of leatherwork and shoemaking she went on to make a pair of shoes in a class.

I am not up on all the thicknesses and such , checkbook covers and wallets tend to be mighty thin leather and I think it is generally machine sewn

all my sewing is with the heavier waxes thread mostly keepers and such

you are not all that far from the school of leather work they offer a number of classes and then you can use all thier tools and figure out what you need to buy for home work.

the only down side is the school is in Chicago watch for deals on classes they offer them from time to time otherwise they can be a little $$

Pete who needs classes when I can get a set of these 16MM instructional films

Sounds like some great advice so far. I have very, very little experience with leatherwork like that. It has always interested me and I have all the tools. Just have never taken the time to try it out.

Look forward to seeing your projects.

[quote=Eagleye]Pete who needs classes when I can get a set of these 16MM instructional films

mostly to go try out all their tools to see which ones I want to buy

my wife's thing is coffee and making crafts mostly fiber crafts so we hit some a very nice coffee place before the class , I made a belt , she made a little bag.
she was headed back a month later to take a more advanced class and make a pair of shoes. wanted to get better acquainted before jumping into the bigger project.

you meet some interesting folks at craft type classes

Shake Rag Alley is a favorite of hers out in Mineral Point
I took a class with here there on building bent willow furniture , as I type his I am sitting on my bent willow chair not the one we made in class but my own
I have made a couple pieces , plan to make more