Poh Huat's Leather Carry All

These pics were sent by Poh Huat after completing the leather carry all by himself back home in Singapore. During his last workshop with me upon completing the Intermediate Leather Bag Making Workshop, Poh Huat took up an additional workshop to 
create the paper pattern for this carry all.                             

However, due to the time constrain, after cutting the leather pieces with the carry all paper pattern, Poh Huat assembled and hand stitched the carry all by himself back home and this is the result of his lovely work complete with hand dyed edge finish. 

Awesome work Poh Huat. The carry all looks amazing!

Customised Leather Bag

Recently I was approached by the managers of a Malaysian logistics company to make leather bags for their newly purchased Lenovo tabs. The tabs are heavy despite the size so I've used the firmer vege tanned leather and dyed it to tan brown and finished with protective oils for a matt look. The result is a combination of multi toned light and dark brown which look rather interesting and nicer than I first imagined. 

Intermediate Leather Bag Making Workshop with Poh Huat

2 months ago Poh Huat from Singapore participated in the 4 days Beginners Leather Bag Making with Bangkok Leather Workshop.  

He contacted me again early this month raring to learn something more challenging and complicated to complete his leather working skills. He participated in the Intermediate Leather Bag Making workshop. 
I suggested the men's leather messenger as it covers more areas like the slip pocket, internal pocket lining, handle and shoulder strap which was too challenging for the Beginners level. 

Being available only on limited days in Bangkok, I came out with a smaller version of the messenger but still covers all the same processes to meet his demands. 

Poh Huat came well prepared by practising and honing his skills upon completing the Beginners level workshop earlier. Hand stitching and finishing edges was completed smoothly. 

The result is a well handcrafted sharp looking leather messenger complete with leather trimmed internal lining. Poh Huat agreed it was truly a very intensive workshop but the hard work and the long hours are worth the effort and he just couldnt wait to start on more leather bags back home.

Risna and Emmie - 4 days Beginners Leather Bag Making workshop

Meeting Risna and Emmie for the 1st time who participated in the 4 days Beginners Leather Bag Making workshop feels like having friends over from Malaysia. The ladies are colleagues as well as the best of friends who often travel and learn new things together. They requested for a more feminine bag so I came up with a different shape to suit their preference but still covers all the fundamentals of creating a 100% hand crafted leather bag. 
While Risna is calm and collected despite certain challenges normally faced by most beginners new at the craft, she never broke a sweat, Emmie is detailed and strived for the best she could be. Nevertheless, the two ladies are truly fun to be around with.

#Leathercraft #Leathercraftworkshop #Workshop #bangkok #leatherbagworkshop #handcraft #bagmakingworkshop #leatherbag

Having just completed their paper pattern and
cutting the leather pieces, Risna and Emmie
is waiting to begin the next process.

Risna is fixing the hardware onto the flap.

Emmie's hardware is done.

Saddle stitching for the first time using
a saddler's clam.

Assembling the bag

Emmie admiring her very 1st hand crafted
 leather bag

Risna proudly holding up her leather bag.
100% hand crafted!

Awesome job ladies. Well done!

Beginners Leather Bag Making Workshop with Poh Huat from Singapore

I am delighted to have met Poh Huat who recently participated in the Beginners Leather Bag Making workshop. Huat showed so much passion in leather work and was so quick to readily absorb every process during the workshop.

Well mannered and humble, Huat hails from Singapore and is already creating handcrafted leather watch straps back home which explains the wide knowledge he has in the art.

On the final day of the workshop, after 4 days of sheer concentration and hard work, Huat beamed with pride and joy as he held up his first handcrafted leather bag. The smile on his face is unforgettable. Marvellous work Huat! Hope to see more of your work soon.

Poh Huat learning to cut paper pattern 

Cutting leather with the paper pattern

Stitching the center piece

Stitching the handle with the help of the saddler's clam
to hold it in place.

Attaching the flap in place

Installing the hardware

Poh Huat's first handcrafted leather bag
made entirely by hand

Leather Clutch Workshop

Early this week I've had the pleasure of meeting a fellow Malaysian,the lovely Saran. With her cheerful and bubbly personality, my day couldn't have been any brighter! Saran was a lawyer and is now a humanitarian working for the UN and on top of that she is also the Co-Founder of DIYKL promoting DIY fashion accessories among other things to hip and creative Malaysians.

Saran participated in the leather Clutch making workshop which took almost the entire day. Here are some of the shots taken throughout the day.

Saran learning to make the paper pattern.
Couldn't emphasize more on the importance
of getting it right 

Practise cutting using leather swatches

Transferring paper pattern to cut leather

Attaching hardware 

Now that the hardware is done,
its time to begin stitching

Saran learning to saddle stitch for the first time.

Saran proudly holding her handcrafted leather clutch.
Good job girl!

Saddle Stitch vs Machine Stitch (lock stitch)

The above illustration is by the pioneer in leathercraft,  Al Stohlman. It explains very simply the difference between hand stitch (Saddle stitch) and lock stitch (machine stitch). I have been asked many times by the participants from my workshops on this and I'd like to share and explain very briefly why leather artisans prefer to use this method instead of using sewing machine even though the later would save plenty of time.

In a lock stitch, when a thread breaks, the seam will come apart and will continue to do so until the entire seam is repaired by sewing the whole stretch again. The Saddle Stitch is a method using 2 needles at each end and every stitch is done by hand. If one side of the thread breaks, the piece is still held on together by the other thread. It can then be repaired with a single needle and thread.

To leather artisans, time isn't so much the main issue. It's the quality of both the leather as well as the quality of the workmanship that matters. Machine stitching no doubt cuts back on time but as explained in the illustration, when it comes to durability, saddle stitch (hand stitch) is definitely more superior. 

Join my workshops and you will learn this wonderful way of hand stitching your leather creations unlike any other.