Last week, I posted about a new zippered wallet. What I didn’t say was that it was actually a Mother’s Day gift for my wife. It was an opportunity to make a very nice gift and revisit the last wallet I made for her over 10 years ago. Although looking at old work often makes […]
Expanding on the Zippered Wallet
Last year, we launched an online course, The Zippered Wallet, which helps students tackle the challenge of making this complex project. The most challenging aspects are related to the zipper, including sizing, placement, and alignment. There are other formidable steps, such as cutting all the pieces correctly and in the right sequence, so they all […]
Praise the Sewing Machine Repair Person
I have several machines in my studio: three sewing machines, a skiver, a splitter, and many other smaller machines. If you’re like me, you accumulate a mixture of new and used tools and equipment. You know every moment of use of the ones you get new, but the used machines could have gone through hell […]
Testing Leather on a Home Sewing Machine
Last week, I mentioned that I bought a home sewing machine for our family. My kids expressed interest in sewing, specifically in making stuffed animals and clothes. I have several industrial sewing machines for leatherworking, but they require adjustments for sewing thinner fabrics and can be a little intimidating for children. These sewing beasts in […]
Home Sewing Machine Thread vs. Leatherworking Thread
Recently, I bought a home sewing machine to use for some fabric projects and for several other reasons, which I’ll go into in a future post. People regularly ask about using home sewing machines on leather, so it’s an area I can cover more if there’s interest. In my leatherworking studio, I have several industrial […]
Reinforcements for Leathercrafting
In my last posts, I shared some tips and tricks for working with zippers. Reinforcements are another challenge that many leatherworkers find confusing. When do you use them, what thickness do you use, and how do you install them properly? When making the zippered wallet in our in-person course, many students noticed how thin and […]
More How-To’s for Leathercraft Zippers
Last week, I went over some tips for improving how you install zippers. They can be challenging to work with, especially when trying to get them right. Most customers, especially older ones, will say they prefer a bag with a zipper over one that closes with a flap or snap. This desire undoubtedly comes from […]
Tips for Zippers in Leatherworking
Last week, I posted about the idea of (tsudzukete) “keep going.” When sharpening knives for leatherworking, a common mistake is to stop too early, resulting in your knife never getting sharp enough. Knowing when it’s done is why I still teach in-person courses. It’s an eye-opening experience to cut with a freshly sharpened knife. New […]
Moving Beyond the Basics
Last week, in my post on Getting Lost in Translation, I wrote about how you can use leatherworking to unplug and practice being present. When you can focus, you’ll notice more nuance in your practice. You can better master the basics, which later enables you to do more advanced techniques. For example, the process of […]
The Small Details: Threading Your Needles for Sewing Leather
Threading your needles for hand-sewing leather is a simple technique that shows how paying attention to the details pays off. Properly set needles make it easier to sew and help you speed through your leathercraft project. Learn about threading your needles in this short video.