Leatherworking Foundations

The key to getting into leatherwork isn't just learning basic skills. It’s about meta-skills. To be successful, you need to learn how to learn leatherwork.

Our five-day Leatherwork Foundations course will teach you the fundamental leatherwork skills required to successfully complete intermediate level projects. Importantly, you’ll also learn how to avoid wasting money on tools and material and how to choose projects that will end in success and growth. This course is suitable for anyone aged 16 years and up, no prior leatherwork experience necessary.

Leatherwork is a gratifying practical hobby that enables you to affordably craft timeless luxury goods. It’s easy to setup a home workshop and you can even subsidise the purchase of tools and material by selling your creations. With a solid understanding of the fundamentals you can also teach friends, family and children how to do basic projects alongside you.

Our course will provide you with:

• the knowledge and skills to immediately undertake intermediate level projects at home
• an entire side of leather to use during the course, which will leave plenty left over to continue with at home
• a selection of leatherwork tools to use on course and keep for yourself
• the knowledge needed to set up your own leatherwork studio at home
• the ability to choose projects appropriate to your skill level
• the knowledge needed to plan your growth as a leatherworker and attempt ever-more complex projects
• the ability to cheaply source speciality tools, materials and leatherwork patterns
• a huge amount of individual coaching and feedback
• the opportunity to talk to experienced leatherworkers and ask them questions specific to your needs

During this course you’ll make four projects of increasing complexity, culminating in an ambitious final project you choose from our library. Asides from teaching you a wide range of skills, this approach allows you to develop an understanding of your learning style when it comes to leatherwork. Armed with this knowledge, you’ll be able to go home and grow in competency by setting realistic goals and choosing projects that will end in success.

Here’s what you’ll learn day-by-day:

Day 1

• types and characteristics of leather
• reading and following patterns
• cutting and preparing leather
• basic stitch types

1st project: needle cushion

Day 2

• edging and burnishing
• shaping 3D objects
• basic fasteners
• additional stitch types

2nd project: tool bag for leatherwork tools

Day 3

• fitting and sizing
• belts and harnesses
• buckles and straps
• pockets

3rd project: leatherworkers apron

Day 4

• working with complex patterns
• embellishments & decoration

Major project: choose from our range of complex projects including bags, hats, and masks

Day 5

• dying and sealing
• leather care

Finish your major project

At the end of the course you’ll go home with a small selection of leatherwork tools and the left-over leather from the side you started with. This means that after a trip to the hardware store to grab things like a hammer and a Stanley knife you’ll be all set to keep going at home on your own projects.

Cost - $2500 inc. GST

Suitable for anyone aged 16 years and up.

Included: Tuition, insurance, materials, use of tools, workshop consumables, safety gear, morning and afternoon tea.

You’ll need to bring: Lunch, notebook and pen, appropriate clothing and covered footwear

Many of the designs featured in this gallery are from Tony See of Dieselpunk.ro - we have a relationship with Tony and feature some of his designs on this course. If you'd like an idea of the type of projects you'll be comfortable tackling after this course, make sure you take a look at Dieselpunk.ro for some great examples.