Small Leather Goods Workshop

Learn to create your own unique leather goods.
Join my workshops and you'll go home with a brand new skill in handcrafted leather goods. Hand made and stitched.

1) Small Leather Goods - Level 1

    Item : Coin purse/passport case/name card case

    Time : 4 - 5 hours (Approx.)

    

    Includes : Drafting paper pattern, cutting leather

    pieces, assembling, burnishing edges, installing

    hardware and hand stitching.

   

    

2) Small Leather Goods - Level 2

    Item : Spectacle case/simple clutch

    Time : 5 - 6 hours (Approx.)

    Includes: Drafting paper pattern, cutting leather

    pieces, assembling, burnishing edges, installing
    hardware and hand stitching

This workshop is suitable for participants who prefer to make smaller items to get a feel of the craft and completing in just a few hours. 

Please contact me for further details. 

Dao's Leather Messenger..complete.

 

At last! Here is your Leather Messenger Bag ดาว ดาว.
Hope your hubby will like it as much as I have enjoyed making it :-D

 

 

 

 

 

Dao Ban's Leather Messenger (finale)

As Dao's date of arrival drew closer by the day, I moved on to preparing the shoulder strap. The shoulder strap consist of two different lengths with one side longer than the other. The shorter strap is attached with a buckle while the other has holes for length adjustments depending on the wearer's preference. 
Endless stitching and lots of burnishing work!

The drop lining. I've use thick strong canvas for the internal lining which is durable and holds the shape of the bag well. 
It also has a zip pocket trimmed with the same leather which was hand stitched onto the canvas. 

The top is also trimmed with leather which will then be stitched onto the bag.

Almost there..

Dao Ban's Leather Messenger (cont.2)

For some reason or another, making the handle this time seems trickier than before. A few adjustments later, I was finally able to move on to another area.

Now that the handle is in place, next is attaching the flap to the back panel. 

Dao Ban's Leather Messenger (cont.)

 

 

The front slip pocket is burnished and ready. Here, it is placed in position before stitching onto the main panel.

 

 

Stitching the slip pocket in place with the help of the saddler's clam. An original saddlers clam made of beech wood was carried back with me from the UK and later had reproductions made due to demands from my workshop participants.
I rely on it for all my works whether small or large items and find it very helpful when stitching.

In the process of burnishing the edges after assembling the gusset onto the front panel of the bag. The difference in appearance before and after the process of burnishing can clearly be seen here.
A lot of elbow grease needed and the process is painstakingly slow but the result is worth the effort.

 

Dao Ban's Leather Messenger

My dear friend Dao Ban from Korea is getting married and has asked me to make for her fiancé a leather messenger bag. Initially she had chosen the tan brown which I have used a few times but a visit to the leather supplier had found the new batch of tan brown too bright and rather flat so I opted for this dark brown instead which has turned out better than expected.
I sent Dao pictures of the bag in progress and she's eagerly anticipating for it's completion.

Here are some of the pictures of the bag in progress.

 

Position markings on important points using the paper pattern and preparing the straps for the flap and D rings holders for the handle.

The straps are double layered for durability, hand stitched together and edge, burnished.

 

 

 

 

Placing the D ring holders for the shoulder strap in position on the side gusset.

 

  

 

 

Sewing is done using the saddle stitch method also known as double-needled. Time consuming but the durability is unquestionably far superior than machine stitched.

 



 

 

Every stitch by hand using strong waxed thread. No machine. Just leatherwork tools.