Awl Basics and Uses

Awls are essential tools for piercing, marking, and stitching materials like leather, wood, and fabric, making them a cornerstone of crafts across New Mexico and beyond. In this category, Nicolas, with 20 years of crafting experience, shares everything you need to know about awl tools in 2025. Whether you’re a beginner learning to stitch chrome tan leather or a pro creating coptic-bound journals, our guides explain what awls are, how they work, and their practical applications. Discover uses like Pueblo leatherwork, kachina carving, or luminaria crafting, tailored to New Mexico’s rich traditions.

A lineup of five different awl tools, including a black Crain, a yellow Gundlach, a black and yellow Klein, a black TEKTON, and a blue DASCO PRO awl. Awl Tools Designed for Specific Crafting Techniques

Awl Basics and Uses

Are There Awl Tools Designed for Specific Crafting Techniques? 2026

Nicholas N. Goforth / August 26, 2025

Yes, there are many awl tools designed for specific crafting techniques. Each type of awl, whether for leatherworking, bookbinding, woodworking, […]

A collection of different awl tools on a white background, including ones with a wooden handle, a black and yellow plastic handle from Klein Tools, and blue and black plastic handles from Dasco Pro.

Awl Basics and Uses

What Material is the Awl Made Of? A Comprehensive Guide 2026

Nicholas N. Goforth / August 24, 2025

What are some common materials used to make awls? Awls typically use high-carbon steel for sharp, durable blades and wood

A side-by-side comparison of an awl tip, showing a dull, un-sharpened tip on the left and a shiny, sharp tip on the right after being sharpened.

Awl Basics and Uses

How to Sharpen an Awl: 6 Step-by-Step Guide for Crafters (USA)

Nicholas N. Goforth / August 24, 2025

How do I sharpen an awl if it becomes dull? If you’re dealing with a blunt scratch awl, leather stitching

A close-up of a person's hands using an awl tool to carefully punch a hole through a piece of brown leather on a workbench.

Awl Basics and Uses

Awl Tool Uses Guidelines & 7 Safety Tips (USA – 2026)

Nicholas N. Goforth / August 18, 2025

Over the last 20 years here in New Mexico, I’ve used awls for everything from stitching a saddle bag to

A collage of photos showing various vendors and attendees at the Riverfront Craft Fair in Portland, Connecticut, with stalls selling different handmade items and art.

Awl Basics and Uses

Riverfront Craft Fair 2026 – Portland CT Event & Vendor Guide

Nicholas N. Goforth / August 13, 2025

📍 Address: Riverfront Park, Portland, CT & ☎️ +1 860-342-6757 The Riverfront Craft Fair is one of Portland, Connecticut’s most

A collection of labeled awl tools arranged in a circular pattern, including a Heavy Duty Awl, a Bookbinders Awl, and several numbered awls with different handles. 18 Types of Awls and Their Uses A Complete Guide (2025)

Awl Basics and Uses

18 Types of Awls and Their Uses: A Complete Guide (2026)

Nicholas N. Goforth / August 11, 2025

I stood at the Santa Fe Artisan Market with five awls in my hands, palms sweaty, wondering which one was

An array of awl tools, including both center punches and scratch awls, displayed with their dimensions to compare and differentiate the tools.

Awl Basics and Uses

What Kind of Tools Are Center Punch and Scratch Awl? 2026

Nicholas N. Goforth / August 7, 2025

Which tool is better for marking or drilling? center punch or scratch awl? A scratch awl is perfect for marking,

A collection of four awl tools with wooden handles and several loose blades, including straight and curved types, displayed on a white background.

Awl Basics and Uses

What Is the Job of the Worker Who Uses a Tool Called an Awl? (2026)

Nicholas N. Goforth / August 7, 2025

Have you ever seen someone use a sharp tool to poke holes in leather, wood, or even paper? That tool

A man holding a wooden piece in a woodworking workshop, surrounded by various tools and wooden projects, illustrating practical uses for an awl tool.

Awl Basics and Uses

What Is The Main Purpose Of An Awl? 10 Practical Uses for New Mexicans

Nicholas N. Goforth / July 14, 2025

An awl is one of those overlooked tools that often gets dismissed as just a pointy metal thing. But if