Q&A for How to Make Leather

The type of animal leather you choose will depend on your project and desired outcome. Cowhide, the most popular option, is durable and versatile, which makes it ideal for furniture, clothing, and bags. For smaller items like wallets or journals, goat leather is softer and more flexible. And calfskin is thinner and more delicate and is often used for gloves or shoes. Lastly, Kangaroo leather is lightweight but very durable and is perfect for sports gear and fine accessories. So you really have to think about what you’re making first before deciding on the type of leather to use.

The brain contains oil called lecithin that serves as a natural tanning agent to lubricate the skin. Native Americans first practiced this method of brain tanning and continue to tan hides with it today. Ironically, deer have just enough oil, or lecithin, in their brains to adequately tan their own hides.

Yes. Dyes can be used to give the leather color. If you are going to dye all of your leather the same color, you can add the dye during the tanning process. Smoking with different kinds of woods adds a natural color to your leather. Aspen or cottonwood can create a golden color.

This is a surprisingly complex question with some nuanced answers. Some people, namely ethical vegans, would say that it's never even morally permissible to kill an animal. Many others would probably want to know what you mean by personal gain. If you're talking about killing animals for food, many people would be completely okay with it. If you're talking about making some kind of monetary gain, many would say it's highly unethical, and they would be supported in a lot of cases by anti-poaching law.