How to Repair a Gash on Leather

Trim frayed edges from the gash in the leather so it is clean and easy to work with. Discard the trimmed edges of the leather or keep them for color comparison when selecting a leather dye.

Place a sheet of paper over the gash in the leather. Trace the approximate size and shape of the gash with a pencil. Cut the shape from the paper with sharp scissors.

Set the paper cutout on the leather patch. Trace around the cutout, increasing its size by 1 inch on all sides. Cut the shape from the leather patch with scissors.

Apply patch adhesive around the border of the leather patch, about 1 inch in from the edges. Slide the patch into and under the leather gash while the adhesive is wet. The adhesive must stick to the back of the leather, not its surface, for the patch to be successful. The patch should cover the gash in the leather from below completely.

Place a heavy, flat-bottomed object over the patched gash and leave it to dry for 12 hours. Alternately, leave the patch to dry for the time specified by the adhesive's manufacturer.

Remove the heavy object and soak a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol. Clean the leather surrounding the gash with the cotton swab, removing debris that could interfere with the leather filler.

Apply leather filler gel to the gashed area per the manufacturer’s instructions. Fill the exposed area, completely covering the leather patch beneath the surface. The filler gel should be even with the leather’s surface. Dip a fingertip in water and lightly smooth the gel to make it flush with the leather. Allow the gel to dry for the time specified by the manufacturer.

Dip a paintbrush in leather dye that matches the color of the leather’s surface. Brush the dye over the filled area, applying a thin layer. Allow the layer to dry for the time specified by the manufacturer and apply a second coat, if necessary. Let the patched leather dry for an additional 24 hours before returning it to normal use.