Select your clothing's design. Take your body measurements for the cloth you are sewing. Draw out the pattern on a pattern paper and note the amount of fabric you need.
Select your leather fabric. Choose fabrics closest in texture and color; leather fabrics come in square feet, unlike other fabrics that are sold in yards 45 inches wide.
Trace out the pattern on the underside of the fabric with leather chalk. Hold the leather and the pattern paper firmly together with two-sided leather tape. Pins leave holes on the leather spoiling the fabric.
Cut out the fabric with a sharpened rotary cutter or heavy-duty shears. Normal scissors leave rough edges. Tape the fabrics to hold them firmly when sewing.
Load your sewing machine with polyester thread and leather needles. Cotton thread is not strong enough for leather.
Set the machine to sew with long stitches. Short stitches will perforate the leather, making it split and tear.
Run an extra piece of fabric on the machine to test the stitches and needle strength. Stitch your pieces together to make a complete cloth. The tough fabric bunches while stitching; crank the sewing machine by hand instead of the pedal.
Sew the buttons or zippers by hand. Make the holes with a fine awl and use an embroidery needle to stitch.