Measure Thrice Press
Get Set Up
Everything you need to make your first leather notebook cover. Trusted tools and materials we use ourselves — nothing unnecessary, nothing missing.
What You Need
Three levels of setup. Start with what you have — upgrade as you go.
The Kitchen Table
Under £15Everything you need to make your first cover.
- Stanley knife or box cutter£3–5
A fresh, sharp blade is essential. Don’t try this with a dull one — it’ll skip and tear rather than cut cleanly.
- Metal ruler (30cm min, 60cm ideal)£3–5
Must be metal. A plastic ruler will last approximately one cut before you slice through it. A cork-backed ruler is even better (see Tier 2).
- Cutting mat (A3 minimum)£5–8
A self-healing cutting mat protects your table and keeps your blade sharp. A4 will do for passport and Field Notes sizes.
- Rotary hole punch£3–6
The revolving kind with a wheel of different hole sizes. Simple, effective, and available from any craft shop. Not strictly required — can cut holes with the sharp knife.
- Biro or pen£0
For marking on the flesh (suede) side of the leather. Any ballpoint pen works — the marks won’t be visible on the finished cover.
- Lighter£1
A standard disposable lighter for sealing the cut ends of the elastic cord. Brief touch — just enough to melt the fibres.
Top Tip — Sharp Blades Are Safer Blades
This sounds counterintuitive, but a razor-sharp blade is significantly safer than a dull one. A sharp blade goes exactly where you direct it, with minimal pressure. A dull blade requires force, and force is what causes slips. Start every project with a fresh blade.
The Committed Crafter
£15–£40The upgrades that make you wonder how you managed without them.
Additional cost on top of Tier 1.
If the Stanley knife is a bicycle, the rotary cutter is a car. Long, straight cuts become effortless. The 45mm blade is the most versatile.
- Cork-backed metal ruler (60cm)£8–12
The cork backing grips the leather and stops the ruler sliding mid-cut. Once you’ve used one, you’ll never go back.
- Japanese screw punch£10–15
Also called a bookbinding punch. Makes cleaner, more precise holes than the rotary punch, with interchangeable tips for different sizes.
More on this in Chapter 7. Runs along the cut edge of the leather and slices away a tiny strip, rounding the edge for a professional finish.
- Bone folder£3–5
A smooth, flat tool for creasing fold lines cleanly. Also useful for burnishing edges. Traditionally made from actual bone, now often Teflon or plastic.
The Workshop
£40+For when this has become more than a weekend project.
Additional cost on top of Tiers 1 & 2.
- Dedicated leather knife (round or head knife)£15–30
Beautiful, sweeping cuts with practice. Not essential for notebook covers, but if you’re branching into bags or belts, this is your next tool.
- Self-healing cutting mat (A2 size)£15–20
Large enough for the biggest covers (B5, A4) with room to spare. The grid lines help with alignment and squaring up.
- Leather skiver£10–15
Thins the edges of leather for neater, flatter folds — particularly useful if you’re working with thicker hides.
- Mallet + drive punch set£15–20
A rawhide mallet and a set of drive punches (the kind you hit with a hammer) give you the most consistent, cleanest holes.
Leather
Vegetable-tanned leather in 2mm thickness is ideal for notebook covers. 1.2mm and above works fine — thinner leather is easier to fold, thicker leather gives more structure. Full grain gives the best patina over time. Start with a panel — you don’t need a full side.
Leather Care & Finishing
Condition and finish your leather for a professional result. Edge finishing is what separates amateur work from craft-grade covers.
Renapur Leather Balsam
All-in-one leather treatment. Cleans, conditions, and protects in a single application. The easiest way to maintain your cover.
£8–£14
Fiebing's Leather Conditioner
Restores moisture and prevents cracking. Apply lightly after the leather has fully dried.
£8–£14
Beeswax Leather Finish
Natural water-resistant finish. Gives veg-tan a warm patina over time.
£6–£12
Tokonole Edge Burnishing Gum
Japanese edge finish. Apply to bevelled edges and burnish with a slicker for a glass-smooth result.
£8–£15
Find Your Notebook
Which template fits your Hobonichi? Your Traveler’s Notebook? Your Moleskine? See the full compatibility guide and buy the notebooks themselves.
Browse notebooks →Personalise Your Cover
Monogramming, decorative stamps, and custom logos. Techniques and tools for making your cover uniquely yours.
Personalisation guide →This page contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support the site and allows us to keep creating free tools like the cutting optimiser. We only recommend products we genuinely use and trust.