Today we’re bringing you a special guest post by master shoemaker Sara McIntosh. We met up a while back when I was visiting Chicago and I was impressed by the organization she founded, the Chicago School of Shoemaking. Sara is a master teacher there and has built up an impressive facility and student following. In […]
Nigel Armitage: A Wealth Of Leatherworking Knowledge Both Close And Far From Home
Shortly after Stevie Bea graduated with a degree in fashion photography, she found herself at a pub in Tooting, London discussing leatherworking with a young man. While she was quite familiar with the craft, it wasn’t something she was focused on at that time in her life. As the conversation continued, the young man described […]
Leather Thickness Conversion Chart
I keep this chart handy for myself and thought I would share it with all of our readers. Converting between oz, mm, and inch can be a pain, and this reference chart makes it a lot easier. Most leather in the US is measured in ounces, and one ounce equals 1/64 of an inch. Remembering […]
The Big List of Leather Trade Shows
I started collecting dates for these trade shows and thought you all would find it useful too. There are some well-known shows like Lineapelle and the Rocky Mountain Leather Trade Show but I’ve found a few lesser-known shows like Kingpins, which is for denim but is attended by companies like Riri and other leather related […]
Videos: Making Watch Straps
This is a fairly detailed video by thewatches.tv shows the Hermes watch strap making process. It takes you on a journey from clicking out the leather all the way to sewing, edging and final fitting. Part One Part Two
Pinterest Highlights – Key Chains and Coin Pouches
I can’t help myself lately when I see keychains and small accessories. Something about the small details of these pieces are very enthralling and I end up saving a ton of pictures likes these. I think it’s in knowing how hard it is to make pieces this small, look good. Keychain Coin Pouch
Improving How Your Design Wears
Last week I wrote about experimenting with design. I focused mainly on how a design ‘looks,’ but that a design also encompasses how your creation functions. In the case of leather goods, this includes how the piece stands up to regular use and how it wears over time. A good design effectively accomplishes its purposes. […]
Experimenting with Leather Sandal Builds
10pm Saturday night. I try to publish a post every Friday morning for the Fine Leatherworking blog. On most Thursday nights I am doing final edits and then queuing the post for our newsletter and our blog. Two days later, I have long since blown that deadline. I will eventually end up posting a week […]
Videos: Making Leather Gloves
(photo: www.merchantandmakers.com) When I think of leatherworking today, I mostly think about bags, shoes and wallets. I had never considered making gloves but after watching several videos on the subject, it got me intrigued. I rounded up a few of my favorites and posted them below. Gantier – Glove Maker While browsing for other leatherworking […]
Pinterest Highlights – Technical Drawings for Handbags, Making Moccasins, and Leather Jewelry
This week’s round-up of our more popular Pinterest pins includes several how-to’s from the past and present as well as some unexpected ways of using leather. Leather Jewelry Graphic designer, mom and leather crafter Olivia runs Sokeen.fr, a French blog which includes a simple tutorial on making leather jewelry. Moccasins One potential project I’m […]