- 1). Lay a piece of leather smooth side up on a table.
- 2). Case the leather by placing a small sponge in water and wringing out the sponge so it is barely damp. Rub the sponge over the leather until the top layer of the leather absorbs the water. Let the leather dry for a minute and wipe again with the sponge.
- 3). Place a metal or rigid plastic ruler on one side of the leather. Draw a line against the ruler with a stylus to form a border for the basket weave work. Hold the ruler firmly in place and apply the stylus with the blade straight down onto the leather. Pull the stylus across in one stroke from one end to the other. Repeat this process on the other three sides of the leather.
- 4). Place the ruler diagonally from one side of the leather outline to the opposite corner and mark with the stylus in the same way.
- 5). Measure the center of the diagonal line with the ruler and mark with a dot by pressing the stylus lightly on the center mark. Place a basket weave stamp on the centerline with legs pointing diagonally so that one side of the stamp with two legs rests on the diagonal line.
- 6). Strike the stamp with a wooden mallet while firmly holding the stamp flat onto the leather.
- 7). Remove the stamp and place it on the opposite side of the diagonal line in the same way you did on the other side. Strike the stamp with the wooden mallet.
- 8). Remove the stamp and place it on the side of the diagonal line with the first impression. Place the stamp on the diagonal line with the legs overlapping and strike with the mallet. This forms on each line a pattern of alternating stamps with the legs overlapping for a basket weave pattern.
- 9). Continue this process along the diagonal line in the leather to the other end of the piece. Place the last impression on each side of the line so that it does not go outside of the border. There will be a blank space between the last stamp and the border.
- 10
Move the stamp toward one side of the impressions and line it up on one end so the legs overlap one impression on one side and one on the other side. Strike with the mallet. Continue each row in this manner working to one corner and stopping without overlapping the border. - 11
Repeat this method on the opposite side of the diagonal line toward the opposite corner.
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