This guide will show you how to build yourself a nice & sturdy leather armor for LARPs. You won't need any advanced leatherworking ability: if you know how to use a cutter and a hole punch, you know everything you need.

Supplies

You'll need:

- Vegetable tanned leather (5-6 oz)

- Thin suede leather (used as underline)

- Leather dye (I've used Avana color)

- Leather rivets (single cap)

- Hole punch & rivet setter tool.

Step 1: Square Them!

Cut the leather in square pieces (5cm side), and make holes in the four corners in each of them.

For my armor I've needed approximately 300 of them.

Step 2: Dye the Pieces

Apply the leather dye to each of the square pieces.

During the process, use different dilutions of the dye, so that you'll end up with pieces with different coloration.

The mix them all up. This will give you a nice final effect, when you attach them to the suede.

Step 3: Put the Pieces on Place

For each new row of square pieces, outline their position with chalk (leaving approx 0.5 cm between them).

Then select the next square to be attached (remember to choose one with different coloration from their neighbour), mark on the suede the position of the holes.

Make the hole with the punch tool, and then set the rivets.

Rinse and repeat!