Leather Worker Notes on iPhone: Hide Grades, Dye Formulas & Commission Notes
How leather workers use Nemos to track hide specifications, dye formula iterations, stitching technique observations, and commission details between bench sessions.
Note-Taking for Leather Workers
Leatherworking spans belt making, bag construction, holster fabrication, saddle work, and custom leather goods. Each project involves material selection, cutting and skiving technique, tool work, dyeing and finishing, and hardware selection — all requiring decision-making that improves with documented experience.
Nemos captures that experience layer between projects.
What Leather Workers Track
Material and sourcing: - Hide grade and tannage notes by project type (vegetable tanned for tooling, chrome tanned for garment, bridle leather for straps) - Leather supplier contacts and quality observations per hide lot - Hide thickness notes by intended use (8-9oz for belts, 4-5oz for bags, 2-3oz for lining) - Exotic leather sourcing notes and legal compliance reminders
Technique and construction: - Edge beveler bevel sizes for different thickness combinations - Skiving angle and technique notes for specific joints - Saddle stitch spacing and thread size notes by project type - Tooling moisture notes (ideal dampness for specific carving techniques)
Finishing: - Dye formula notes (alcohol-based vs. oil-based vs. water-based for specific applications) - Finish layering notes (conditioner → dye → finish coat, or dye → conditioner order) - Burnishing technique for specific edge profiles - Wax and conditioner observations by leather type
Commission and production: - Commission specifications (dimensions, hardware, intended use, client preferences) - Pricing structure notes by complexity level - Pattern notes for recurring custom pieces
Building a Personal Technique Reference
Leatherworking technique is learned empirically — what dampness level produces clean tooling impressions, which dye penetrates vegetable tanned leather best at room temperature, how much overstitch wheel spacing looks right at 3oz weight. These observations don't transfer perfectly from books. They come from your hands on your materials in your conditions. Notes compound them into expertise.
FAQ
What material notes matter most? Tannage type and thickness for specific applications. The wrong leather choice wastes significant time and material; documented good choices prevent repeating bad ones.
Should I track dye formula iterations? Yes — especially for custom colors. Dye formula notes with brand, product names, ratios, and outcome (including photo note if possible) let you repeat a match months later.
How do I handle notes on commissions? Client contact, exact specifications with dimensions, hardware choices, leather selection, delivery timeline, pricing, and deposit status. A missing commission detail causes an expensive redo.
What edge finish technique notes are valuable? Different thickness leathers and different leather types burnish differently. Notes on what combination of slicking, wax, and heat produces the result you want by material type are immediately reusable.
Is Nemos useful for pattern notes? Pattern measurements, seam allowance notes, and cut sequence notes for recurring piece types allow you to reproduce successful work without re-measuring from scratch.
How do I organize notes by project type? Tags: `#belt`, `#wallet`, `#bag`, `#holster`, `#saddle`, `#tooling`, `#finishing`. Cross-reference with material tags.
Related Reading
- Cobbler Notes on iPhone
- Saddler Notes on iPhone
- Upholsterer Notes on iPhone
- Craft Trades iPhone Workflow
Sources
- Leather Industries of America technical documentation
- Stohlman and Al Stohlman leathercraft technique standards
- Traditional and contemporary leatherworking construction methodology
Taha built Némos after years of losing screenshots and voice memos across a dozen apps. He writes about on-device AI, personal knowledge management, and building privacy-first tools for iPhone.
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