Designs for leather may also be applied by means of a perforated pattern and a stamping powder or paste or a transfer pattern may be also used.
The leather for cut-work may be cut with sharp scissors and manicuring scissors for round or curved places or two sharp knives of different sizes. A board of soft wood is the best on which to work.
Fig. 89. A belt of leather of appliqué underlaid
The best kind of paste is one that has been recommended by a successful leather teacher and proves satisfactory to all who have tried it. "Bring to a slow boil a half-pound of flour in two quarts of water. Add to this mixture when cool, an ounce of nitric acid and a dram of boric acid and a few drops of clove oil." The nitric and boric acid, as well as the clove oil, can be obtained from the drug store.
If knives are used to cut out the design, thumbtack the leather before commencing.
The paste is applied lightly on the wrong side of the leather, then the lining placed over it. Lay the article with the right side up and put it under weights until it dries. Any surplus paste that may happen to ooze through can readily be scraped off.
A wide range of articles can be made from leather appliqué, whether underlaid or overlaid, such as table covers, bags, belts ([Figure 89]), medicine cases, card cases, mirror frames, book or magazine covers, portfolios, memorandum pads, waste baskets, pocket books, bill folders, chair covers, besides numerous other articles.