Leather And Leatherette

Sewing a fabric that remembers every needle

Leatherette is a coated fabric, so it behaves less like cloth and more like a sheet: it does not fray, so edges can be left raw, and it wipes clean, which makes it practical for bags, purses, upholstery, chair seats and craft trim.

The one rule that matters is that every hole is permanent. Do not pin inside the finished area — use clips, or pin only in the seam allowance — and get the seam right first time, because unpicking leaves a line of visible holes. A longer stitch, a leather or denim needle and a walking foot or tape on the foot will stop it dragging.