The leather we used is very thin, only 3 to 4 ounce.  You find it as 'Garments' or 'Glove' leather.  It is also called 'Belly Lether'.

First the leather is cut to a size which will wrap around the cement mold.  Then it is soaked in water.  It really only takes a few minutes to soak the leather enough to make it very pliable and easy to work with.  Once that's done, it is wrapped around the cement mold and tacked into place with panel nails into the wooden blocks which were initially set into the cement.