Valkenburg/Castleford style caliga step by step

[Martin Moser]

Cutting out the pattern is fairly obvious I think. For all the corners and sharp angles I prefer to use a small circular punch (1-2 mm diameter) rather than cutting those as it often happens that you cut to far into the leather at one side which might later be the starting point for the material to tear apart. I also use wood carving knifes with rounded blades for all the narrower curves as I find this easier and faster than a straight knife.
Here is the most convenient method I found for cutting out all those little bulbs that decorate the pattern:

First cut a pine cone shape with a rounded blade,



then round off with a narrower curved blade