Much good leather is tucked away in Norwegian attics. As for me, I had an old sheepskin jacket hanging up from the 1970s. You can also find similar garments in second hand stores. It can be far cheaper than buying new leather.
Use a sharp knife and open out the seams to get pieces that lay flat. If it’s possible, try to preserve and reuse details such as buttoning and pockets. Use a tape measure and an angled ruler, and consider how you can get the most from the different parts. Mark with a pencil before you cut.
For the brown pillow, I have used the largest pieces from the top part of the jacket. The back piece is made from the back of the jacket and the buttoning in the front is used as front piece. This avoids worrying about how to close the pillow. On this pillow, I lacked a little piece in one of the corners to make it 42 × 42cm (161⁄2 × 161⁄2in), including seam allowance. I therefore had to add more leather.
To sew leather is almost as easy as sewing wool and felt. You do not have to worry about the edges fraying. Place fur side to fur side; fastening with clothes pegs if necessary. Use a regular sharp needle or a small leather needle and buttonhole thread. Secure the thread and tack (baste) a little way inside the edge. If you’re using a leather needle, make sure you don’t cut the fabric.
Pull the fur out if you want it to show or push it in if you don’t, before you sew. If you find it difficult to sew in a straight line, you can use masking tape to help you.