It can seem difficult to develop your own style when you are creating your own leather goods. You look at iconic product designs both large and small and think, “I’ll never be able to come up with something that creative.” Great designs can seem like they came out of thin air, fully formed and completely […]
Video: A History of Tools for the Trade
Today’s post is an educational video sent to us by one of our community members that highlights a little piece of leatherworking history. Specifically, it goes into some detail about the tools and techniques that have traditionally been used in making a dog collar. Many of these techniques will be familiar to you. Many of […]
Working Out Design Kinks By Prototyping Your Leather Project
In our last post, I talked a little bit about how creating a prototype for your next leatherworking project can save you time and lend more confidence to the final design. Having a vague notion of how you will build something before actually building it is an easy way to make time-consuming and expensive mistakes […]
Save Time By Prototyping Your Leather Project
I often get reader questions about getting stuck in the middle of project. Something like, ‘I created an edge by gluing these three layers together and now it looks too thick.’ Or ‘I’m almost done with my bag but I’m not sure how to install the feet.’ I also have gotten to this point many […]
What Makes a Good Apron for Leatherworking?
In one of our recent live courses, a participant asked me what apron I used for leatherworking. I use the same apron that I’ve had for years, which was a gift from my wood-carving teacher in Japan. It’s a simple kitchen apron and I really hadn’t given much thought to it. I work in a […]
Videos: Sights and Sounds of Leatherworking
Today’s post is a collection of two videos that really put us ‘in the mood’ to get in the workshop and plan out a new project. There’s something hypnotic about these videos that really captures the flow of what it feels like to work on the various components of a leather-working piece. Watching the blade […]
More Leather Craftspeople to Follow on Instagram
A while back we created a post with some of our favorite leather goods makers on Instagram who continually inspire us to perform at our best. Many of you commented on that post and shared some of your favorites, which we’ve collected and highlighted below. Here are a few highlights from those accounts. Thanks to […]
Kelly Miller: Customer Leather Jacket Maker
photo: Kelly Miller When you dream about doing a thing, sometimes you have to just take a step towards making it happen and see where it takes you. That’s what happened when Kelly Miller stumbled upon an expert patternmaker in Paris and created something she always dreamed about, a bespoke leather motorcycle jacket. She was […]
Leather Craftspeople to Follow on Instagram
Instagram is the place where many leather goods makers find inspiring photos of some of the best artists and designers working today. Some people use it like any other social media account, but I like to use Instagram as my own curated feed of leather goods making. Maybe even more important than the finished product […]
Videos: How to Make a Messenger Bag
Today’s post is a collection of two videos from Nigel Armitage, a well-known figure in the leatherworking world who’s famous for both his craftsmanship and his clear and concise teaching. Nigel is a great go-to resource for leather goods makers around the world and has inspired a great many beginners and professionals alike through his […]