How to Make Leather Gloves in OSRS A Step by Step Guide

Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is packed with skills to master, and Crafting is one of the most accessible for new players. If you’re just starting out, crafting leather gloves is a fantastic way to dip your toes into this skill. Not only do leather gloves provide a small defensive bonus, but they’re also super easy to make, requiring minimal resources and just level 1 Crafting. In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to craft leather gloves in OSRS, from gathering materials to maximizing efficiency. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned player looking to train Crafting on a budget, this post has you covered!
Leather gloves might seem like a humble item, but they’re a great starting point for several reasons. They’re quick to craft, offer decent Crafting experience for beginners, and can even be used or sold for a small profit. Plus, they’re a low-risk way to get familiar with the Crafting skill before moving on to more complex items like leather armor or dragonhide gear.
Benefits of Crafting Leather Gloves
- Low Requirements: Only level 1 Crafting is needed, making it perfect for new accounts.
- Cheap Materials: Cowhides, needles, and thread are easy to obtain and inexpensive.
- Experience Gains: Each pair grants 13.75 Crafting XP, a solid start for leveling up.
- Utility: Gloves provide a slight defensive bonus, useful for low-level combat.
Who Should Craft Leather Gloves?
This method is ideal for:
- New players looking to train Crafting without spending much gold.
- Ironman accounts that need to gather their own resources.
- Players wanting to complete early-game quests requiring crafted items.
Gathering Materials for Leather Gloves
To craft leather gloves, you’ll need three key items: leather, a needle, and thread. Let’s break down how to get each one efficiently.
Obtaining Leather
Leather is made by tanning cowhides, which you can get by killing cows. Here’s the process:
- Kill Cows: Head to the cow field east of Lumbridge or near the Crafting Guild. Cows are low-level and drop cowhides every time.
- Collect Cowhides: Pick up the hides until your inventory is full (28 if you’re efficient).
- Tan the Hides: Travel to the tanner in Al Kharid, located just north of the furnace. It costs 1 gp per cowhide to tan into soft leather.
Tip: Use the Lodestone Network to teleport to Al Kharid for faster travel, especially if you’re a free-to-play player.
Getting a Needle and Thread
Needles and thread are easy to find:
- Needle: Buy one from the Crafting shop in Al Kharid or Varrock’s general store for about 1 gp. Needles are reusable, so you only need one.
- Thread: Purchase spools of thread from the same shops for around 4 gp each. One spool lasts for multiple crafts, as thread is consumed every fifth item.
Pro Tip: If you’re an Ironman, check ground spawns like the one in the Lumbridge Castle basement for thread, or kill low-level monsters like goblins for a chance at needles.
Step-by-Step Guide to Crafting Leather Gloves
Now that you have your materials, crafting leather gloves is straightforward. Follow these steps to make your first pair:
Step 1: Prepare Your Inventory
Ensure you have:
- At least one piece of soft leather.
- One needle.
- At least one spool of thread.
You don’t need a crafting table—leather gloves can be made anywhere as long as you have these items.
Step 2: Start Crafting
Here’s how to craft:
- Right-click the needle in your inventory and select “Use.”
- Click on a piece of leather to open the Crafting interface.
- Choose the “Leather Gloves” option from the menu.
- Your character will craft the gloves, consuming one leather and granting 13.75 Crafting XP.
Step 3: Repeat for More Gloves
To craft multiple pairs, keep leather in your inventory and repeat the process. Thread is consumed every fifth pair, so you won’t need to restock it often.
Note: If you’re aiming to level up Crafting, craft as many gloves as possible in one go to minimize trips to the bank or tanner.
Efficiency Tips for Crafting Leather Gloves
Crafting leather gloves can be tedious if you’re not optimized. These tips will save you time and make the process smoother.
Optimize Your Route
To craft efficiently:
- Bank Near the Tanner: Use the Al Kharid bank to store cowhides and withdraw them in bulk for tanning.
- Craft While Moving: Since no crafting table is needed, you can craft gloves while walking between locations to save time.
- Stockpile Materials: Gather 100+ cowhides before tanning to reduce trips.
Maximize Experience Gains
If your goal is to level Crafting:
- Combine glove crafting with other low-level Crafting tasks, like making leather boots or cowls, to vary your grind.
- Use the Crafting Guild (requires level 40 Crafting to enter) for faster banking once you’re higher level.
- Track your XP with a plugin like RuneLite’s Crafting tracker to stay motivated.
Table: Crafting Leather Gloves vs. Other Early Items
Item | Crafting Level | XP per Item | Materials Needed |
---|---|---|---|
Leather Gloves | 1 | 13.75 | 1 Leather, Needle, Thread |
Leather Boots | 7 | 16.25 | 1 Leather, Needle, Thread |
Leather Cowl | 9 | 18.5 | 1 Leather, Needle, Thread |
This table shows that leather gloves are the easiest to craft but offer slightly less XP than boots or cowls. If you’re past level 7, consider mixing in boots for better XP rates.
Using and Selling Your Leather Gloves
Once you’ve crafted your gloves, you have a few options for what to do with them. Let’s explore how to make the most of your efforts.
Wearing Leather Gloves
Leather gloves provide a small defensive bonus (+2 to stab, slash, and crush defense), making them better than nothing for low-level combat. They’re especially handy for:
- Training on low-level monsters like goblins or chickens.
- Completing early quests with combat, like Witch’s House.
- Free-to-play players who need cheap gear.
Selling for Profit
If you don’t need the gloves, you can sell them:
- Grand Exchange: Leather gloves typically sell for 50-100 gp each, though prices fluctuate. Check the GE price before selling.
- General Stores: If you’re in a pinch, sell to a general store for a lower price (around 10-20 gp).
Tip: Crafting gloves for profit isn’t the best money-maker, as the margins are slim. You’re better off using them for XP or personal use unless you’re mass-producing with excess leather.
Other Uses
Beyond wearing or selling, leather gloves have niche applications:
- Upgrading: At level 42 Crafting, you can add steel studs to make studded leather gloves for better stats (40 XP).
- Quests: Some quests, like The Dig Site, allow you to grab gloves from tool racks for free, but crafting your own ensures you’re prepared.
- Fun Fact: You can fish leather gloves with a big fishing net, but crafting is faster!
Crafting leather gloves in OSRS is a simple yet rewarding activity that sets you up for success in the Crafting skill. By following this guide, you’ll be able to gather materials, craft efficiently, and decide what to do with your gloves—whether that’s equipping them for combat, selling for a bit of gold, or using them to climb the Crafting ranks. Got any tips for crafting in OSRS? Share them below, and happy skilling!