DIY Leather Back Quiver

By Jack Moran in Craft Leather

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Ever wanted a leather quiver but thought you could never make it? This was my first leather project and I had not much past experience with leather and it was pretty easy to make! Great for costumes or a sturdy leather back quiver. This was my first instructable so any comments would be appreciated. Also Vote if you want!

Go reclaim the outdoors, like in the good o'l days

Step 1: Gather Materials

For this project I challenged myself only to use leather offcuts I had bought at a stock show in Denver. The main piece was a 30cm by 60cm which was the basis for the projects main body. I used 3mm thick leather, which was probably to thick for the tooling. The leather can be bought from Tandy or any other leather dealing place.

Step 2: Cut the Materials

Cutting

I found for the cutting the best way was to use a swiss army knife and steel ruler to score and sharp scissors to cut it out. I'm new to this stuff so could if you have any suggestions.... Anyway, the quiver was made from 7 pieces of leather which were then hand sewed in the end

Main body, the base.
Bottom piece
Strap
Bottom piece
Top Piece
Pocket
Pocket top

Sorry I didn't take take all measurements but it's all based on what you want.

Drilling

I did not have access to a leather punch so I got one of my Dads sharp drill bits and got all holes drilled in around half an hour. It would have been much better if I had punched them.

Great method for drilling the holes perfectly if to use a peice of footlong mecano or other building set. (the holes are perfectly spaced and even)

Step 3: Punch Designs

Designs

For this quiver I wanted the designs to be natural and not man made. I settled with a deer on the bottom piece and my initials on the top. these were all done with 3 punches that came with the Tandy Leather starter kit. I totally forgot to soak the leather before tooling, so my imprints were not very deep. This step was probably the most fun. The imprints were on the bottom piece, top piece, pocket and strap.

Step 4: Sew Together

Makes time go Fast!

This was definitely the most painful step! the way I did the stitching I think was wrong. I went in and out a, missing every second gap. Then back through the other way. If anyone has better ideas you know what to do. I stitched on the bottom and the top reinforcement first. I then proceeded on to do the pockets. I was going to use thonging but realised that I didn't have enough for the whole project. Next I did the middle stitch, for this I was originally going to only do 1 stitch for this but did 2 in the end.

Bottom

Same for this, I was going to use thonging. I researched and found that the way I did it was the best way of attaching it to the quivers body.

*NOTE* If you are going to use broad heads then glue another layer of leather to your bottom as reinforcements.

Step 5: Straps

Straps

I found that putting on the straps depended on how much weight you were going to carry.

I just criss-crossed some lace in and out of 4 holes that I punched.

Step 6: Step Back and Admire!

Now that you have finished your quiver add it to your costume or go out bow hunting with it. Really up to you!

Go and reclaim the outdoors!

First Prize in the
Leatherworking Contest

Participated in the
Green Design Contest

1 Person Made This Project!

jesper.naslund.10 made it!

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19 Comments

thegoldenjackal

8 years ago

it looks awsome.but heres some tips from what i learned. tin scizors are good and easy to use with all thickness of leather. but those drills are lot faster. burners can make nice black penstipe desyns. melting bees waxs into the leather with a heat gun. will make it darker but it will make it completly waterproof. i would like to an extractable of all ive found out leather but havent yet. but you have a better eye then mine for making patterns!

mje

8 years ago on Introduction

Excellent piece of work.

BethAnne93

8 years ago on Introduction

You made this look very realistic and possible for beginners - thank you! My quiver will also be my first leather project, and the way you did it every thing looked very clear. Main trouble I'm finding is knowing how much leather to buy, want to make this as inexpensive a project as possible but also don't want to pay through the nose for leather buying it in the wrong place.

jan.a.nerone

9 years ago on Introduction

The issue with the leather tooling is the type of leather, not the moisture. The leather you used is not for tooling. It is pre-finished. Tooling leather is unfinished and looks flesh-toned. Thickness is also not an issue, unless the leather is quite thin (1-2 oz. thickness).

Good luck and nice work - this looks functional!

The Rambler

9 years ago on Introduction

Awesome job. I like it a lot.

As far as any pointers, I would say that the issue with the leather tooling is definitely not wetting it. That thickness of leather should be fine as long as you get it nice and wet. Also, the way you sewed it is the same way I sewed my top hat. If you wanted to do it more "efficiently" you could put a needle on each side of your thread, put one needle through the first hole, and then sew with both needles from opposite sides. I probably haven't explained that very well but you could probably find the method explained on some leather working forum or something.

Noodleworks

9 years ago on Introduction

Great job on a very ambitious project! Details like the sewing and tooling will get easier with practice, but I'd consider this a very successful build.
One tip about cutting leather: I like to use a metal ruler and box cutter/craft knife. If the blade is razor sharp, you can cut through in one pass.

Veluthurk

9 years ago on Introduction

not bad for a first try. Check out leatherworker.net, there's a lot of good info and resources on there for leathercraft. For attaching the bottom, if you're going to use thread, I would suggest using a saddle stitch or a butt stitch. The buck stitch you used is generally intended for leather lace rather than thread. Just my two cents.