Methods, sources & editorial standards

What the numbers mean

Unit conversions and geometry follow the formulas shown on each tool page. Workshop estimates use editable assumptions. Yield describes usable area, not a guaranteed cutting layout; stitch travel is a planning model, not a universal thread multiplier. Dye use should be calibrated on a measured sample, and drying times come from the chosen product instructions.

Design examples and verification

The belt, card sleeve and tote planners are original dimensional studies. Their arithmetic can be reproduced from the input list. We have not built or load-tested these designs. Paper mock-ups, leather samples, buckle fit and attachment tests remain necessary before making a finished piece. A quantity estimate does not establish safe working load.

Editorial process

The Leather Bench publishes explanatory synthesis and worked design examples, with AI-assisted drafting and code development. We distinguish manufacturer statements from our own numerical assumptions, link relevant primary references in articles and revise calculation examples when the underlying tool changes. No article claims first-hand workshop trials or independent laboratory findings.

Illustrations and references

Journal covers are original vector construction diagrams made for these articles. They are explanatory drawings, not photographs or manufacturing patterns. Product names identify sources and do not imply endorsement. Source links support only the specific material or product points stated alongside them; examples and prices remain editable planning assumptions.

Primary references include Tandy Leather's Leather Craft ABCs, Fiebing's product support, Julius Koch's braided leather-sewing thread information and Leather Working Group's tanning definitions. Each article identifies the relevant reference and its scope. Public references were checked on 4 November 2026.