How to skive leather

Skiving leather is an essential technique for any leathercrafter looking to achieve a professional, finished look. While it might seem intimidating at first, with the right tools and a little practice, you can master this skill. This guide, based on the expertise of Tony See from the Tony See Patterns YouTube channel, will walk you through the process and explain why it's so important.

Why Skive Leather?

Skiving is the process of thinning a piece of leather, usually along an edge, to reduce bulk. The main reason you would want to do this is to create a seamless, non-bulky finish when joining two pieces of leather. When you stitch two un-skived pieces together, the seam can become thick and clunky. By thinning the edges beforehand, the stitch line becomes much cleaner and less noticeable, resulting in a more refined product.

Another common use for skiving is to hide an edge. When folding a piece of leather over, skiving the edge allows for a clean fold without adding extra thickness, as seen on the pocket of an apron (1:53). This technique is crucial for creating smooth, folded edges on wallets, bags, and other items where a neat finish is desired.

The Most Important Tool: A Sharp Knife

Before you even begin, you must ensure your skiving knife is incredibly sharp. As Tony explains in the video, skiving is easy with a sharp blade but "extremely frustrating with a dull one" (0:23). A sharp edge allows the knife to glide through the leather, giving you clean, consistent results. If you don't know how to sharpen your blade, invest in having it professionally sharpened.

Step-by-Step Guide to Skiving

1. Prepare the Groove: Using a groover tool, create a small groove that is parallel to the edge you want to skive. This helps guide your skiving knife and ensures you maintain a straight line.

2. Angle Your Knife: Hold your skiving knife at a consistent, low angle. Maintaining the same angle throughout the process is critical for achieving an even thickness.

3. Take Your Time: Slowly run the knife from left to right in small, controlled increments. Do not try to take off too much leather at once. Patience is key to a successful skive.

4. Practice: As Tony emphasizes, skiving is an advanced skill that requires practice (2:28). Use leather scraps to perfect your technique before working on your final project.

Remember to constantly check your blade and re-sharpen it before it becomes dull. This will save you time and prevent frustration.

By following these tips and understanding the purpose of skiving, you'll be well on your way to creating beautiful, professional-looking leather goods.

How to skive leather and what makes it easy