Haha admire your determination though having gone full on plier to pull the needle through!! Next time,if you have the tool to make holes in belts, they usually have different size heads, the smallest size is still big compared to a hole punch, but can be used to pre-make the holes for stitching leather, I've made a wallet using that for the holes, it's actually aesthetically not that bad of a look :)
RE: I have Grown some very Alien Roses - Petals made of Leather.