Essential Skills: Understanding Leather, the Basic Processes & Hand Stitching

18th September, 19th October, 12th November, 5th February & 16th March

Spend a day learning the essential skills of working with leather with our master craftswoman Becky Brewster who has been designing and creating all things leather for nearly 35 years, many of those working with and for Woodlore.

With a class size of just 2 students working at Becky’s own bench, this one-day course is aimed at giving a basic understanding of the processes involved in making leather belts and straps whilst learning the essential skill of hand stitching with 2 needles. These skills are the very basics of working with leather and will carry you forward with the confidence to practice and experiment with more detailed forms of the skill. 

This course is for beginners or those who have experimented with leatherwork but not previously received tuition. All tools and materials will be provided so it is an opportunity to gain understanding before investing in your own but you are welcome to bring any tools that you already have. As part of the course, you will learn how to prepare and maintain a diamond hand stitching awl which is yours to take home at the end of the day. 

The focus is on understanding the choices, processes and construction so that the student can leave the course knowing what to look for when purchasing leather and understanding how to size and make strapwork using different types of buckles but you should leave the course with a useable item too.

Choose to make a simple dog collar, basic lead or a belt in best British bridle butt. If you are making a belt that is not for you, or a dog collar, you will need to know the ideal fastening size in advance, and we will give you guidance to do this.

The course will cover:

• The basic division of animal hides to give different cuts of leather, different tannages and the suitability of these for various purposes.
• Different dyeing techniques, treatments and finishes to leather and how this affects their suitability for certain purposes.
• The essential tools, how to use them safely and very importantly how to keep them sharp, prepare and care for them. (Please do bring your own if you have any, especially if you would like advice on their use).
• Cutting strips from the hide.
• Marking out, including sizing and how to determine placement of fittings and fastening holes.
• The sequence of processes.
• Edge bevelling.
• Edge dyeing and finishing.
• Applying the crease line.
• Sizing and punching holes for the buckle tongue and fastening.
• Stitch marking.
• Sizing and making fixed and running keeper loops including splitting the leather thickness using a bench splitter.
• Hand stitching using 2 needles, a diamond awl and the saddler’s clams.
• Blocking the keeper loops for a crisp finish.
• Leather Care.

*There will be plenty of scrap on which to practice these techniques before committing them to your project.

Details of your Experience

This course takes place at Woodlore’s HQ in a beautiful rural location in East Sussex with onsite parking and adjacent to woodland with footpaths and a view of the River Rother. We will start at 9.30am and finish at 4.30pm.

Please bring a packed lunch and any cold drinks you might want; we will take a lunch break around the middle of the day. Tea and coffee available.

This course is not suitable for those under 16 years of age and takes place in a location accessed only by stairs; we regret that it is not suitable for wheelchair users. 

East Sussex

Full joining instructions and consent form will be sent to you 9 weeks before the commencement of this course. Consent forms are available to download from the website.

Have you ever looked at our leather goods and wondered ‘how is that done’ or ‘why is it like that’? Whether you are a complete novice or you have had a go and need guidance, here is your opportunity to learn the basics of working with leather at our one-day course in Sussex. Spend a day at the bench with our in-house leather worker and you will leave with an understanding of the basic processes needed to turn a piece of leather into a finished article, created by your own hands. All tools and materials are provided and you will take home a diamond stitching awl in addition to your finished article. This course will start at 9.30am and finish at 4.30pm with a break for lunch.