You can sew leather on a machine, just make sure you get a leather needle, instead of the normal all-purpose needle you're probably using. It cuts through the leather, instead of just trying to separate threads.

Here's some more tips:
www.ehow.com/how_2038402...machine.html

I'll be doing the same very shortly myself, but I already have scraps (and a bunch of full hides) from garage sales and the like.
Mmmm...... patchwork leather skirt and top.......

Or........ you can purchase something fabulous from someone who does this all the time and is reasonable in price ???:)
at www.saadja.etsy.com. I actually have a lot of skirts, just not much time for listing, ask and I'll submit more photos.

Leather is flame retardant and will last forever if you take care of it. All cured animal hides are leather but there are district differences in how they wear and feel, deer for example is buttery , yummy soft but cowhide will last longer.

Leather is wonderful to work with if you love to experiment by all means have fun, if you are out to save money, sometimes it costs more to do it for your self, especially if you are not super happy with it .