Handcrafted Deerskin Tool Roll

In these pages, I’ve published a series of articles on making useful, beautiful items out of home-tanned hides. In this article, I’ll continue that series by describing how to make a versatile tool roll from a leather deer hide. (To try your hand at my other projects, see “How to Tan a Deer Hide,” October/November 2016; “How to Make Your Own Moccasins,” February/March 2017; “Craft Your Own Coonskin Cap,” October/November 2017; and “Craft a Better Leather Apron,” December 2018/January 2019.)

For this project, use the middle portion of the hide, from the neck to the hips. The dimensions for the tool roll are 20½ inches tall by as wide as possible. When choosing a hide, pick one that gives you a lot of hole-free leather so you can get the largest tool roll possible.

If this is your first leather-working