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.
Bund Strap: Remaking an old Watch Band
A customer found an old Paul Frank watch and wanted the band remade. The watch still worked; however, the band was ragged and worn out. He envisioned a new band reminiscent of the old band with superior looks and quality. This was a fun exploratory project where I could replace and refine the old strap. […]
Advice on Craft From a Living National Treasure
Preface: I wrote this newsletter article ten years ago(!) and have revisited the same question a few times since. Why do leatherworking? Are you after a particular style of wallet or bag? You could feasibly buy one in a store, but you don’t. Something inside compels you to strike out and make the thing yourself. […]
An Old Custom Shoe Shop Perseveres
A while back, a reader shared this New York Times article about a football shoemaker in Mexico. It’s a great, though somewhat bittersweet, story about how a custom cleat maker started his business and how it continues. It reminds me that starting a small business is sometimes about capturing a moment or an opportunity when […]
Elegance Can Be Simple
Often, people come to me asking for advanced techniques, but they haven’t mastered the basics. They want to know how to build a briefcase or install the hardware on a doctor’s bag. When I ask to see their most recent work, it’s clear that they are not yet proficient in the basics. I was (am) […]
Details on a Leather Valet Tray
I wanted to make a valet tray, refine the details, and make it my own. I’ve seen others do them stitched together or use snaps so that they can lay flat. While I like the utility, I don’t see myself having stacks of trays that I want to store away when I’m not using them. […]
Not All Leathercraft Projects Are Flat
Not all leatherworking projects are flat. Most are not. I consider flat projects to be mats, journal covers, card cases, wallets, and belts. Yes, they have components requiring true three-dimensional consideration, but they are relatively simple or involve only one project detail. For example, how does the middle of a wallet fold so that you […]
Giving Space for Your Creativity
Giving yourself adequate time is important when exploring your leathercraft style and design. People regularly practice sketching and forming roughs in other arts like drawing and sculpting. In leatherworking, we often try to make a finished product without giving ourselves time to improve our craft and explore our style. As a busy person, I fight […]
The Case For A Simple Leather Case
When people ask me what leatherworking course to take from us, I always recommend the Simple Leather Case Course. Even if they are an experienced leathercrafter, the case course will help them. In old-school French cooking, the omelet is considered the true test of a chef’s skill. There’s a scene in the movie ‘The Hundred-Foot […]
Videos: A Glimpse Into the Leather Tanning Process
Today’s post highlights the leather tanning process and sheds some light on how leather is made. In watching these videos, I really started to think more about the craftsmanship that goes not only into a finished leather piece, but also the artistry behind turning raw materials into beautiful leather hides. In the first video, you […]