I've hand-stitched it, and pre-drilling and cutting a groove with the dremel is very helpful, if not necessary. With my new Cobra P4, I had absolutely no issues sewing a pouch sheath for a knife together - 2 layers of SR, and about 3/8" veg-tan in the middle with #277 thread. I did groove it first with a dremel, though, but that was because I didn't want the thread sticking out too much.