Best vegetable-tanned cowhide leather for leathercraft

Start with a full veg-tan side or shoulder if you're making more than one project. A natural, unfinished veg-tan cowhide side gives you the most usable square footage and lets you cut around flaws — the natural veg-tan cowhide side is the most versatile base for wallets, belts and bags, and the shoulder is the same leather in a smaller, firmer cut.

Who the others suit:

• Tooling and carving: a single shoulder in 8/9 oz — thick enough to hold stamping and wet-forming for belts, sheaths and holsters.
• Small first projects: pre-cut panels and pieces in 3–4 oz, so you're not buying a whole hide to learn on.
• Straps and handles: pre-cut veg-tan strips, sold by the length.
• Thin linings and small goods: 2–3 oz sides and pieces.

Look for full-grain, natural (undyed) veg-tan with even thickness — that's what takes dye, tooling and burnishing well.