Other

General Fiction

The Leatherworking Starter Handbook

By Stephen Fleming

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Length2h 53m

About this audiobook

Suppose, you have to appear for an exam next week, who would be the go-to person for seeking help and guidance? Option 1: A Subject Matter Expert (SME) who studying/teaching the subject for several years and often assumes while explaining that the basics are covered or looks it from their frame of reference. Or Option 2: Someone who also started from scratch as you have and passed the exam just last week. He/She knows the exact process, challenges, doubts, and roadblocks you may be facing and can think from your perspective. If your option is 2, you are in the right place. I am a Technology Consultant by profession, and started my leathercraft journey in the year 2014. I started by going through multiple YouTube videos, courses, Facebook groups, and finally completed my first project after four months. I was confused and was lost in the magnitude of information available online. I firmly believe that while starting, you need exact, necessary, minimalistic information to start your first project, pardon: Complete your first project! So I started writing this book to provide a minimalistic approach to information required to start your first leather project. It covers: - History of leather - Basics Tools and their usage - Making Patterns - Cutting Patterns - Gluing - Beveling, Embossing, Stamping - Stitching basics - Coloring and Finishing - Tips, Techniques for the beginner -Leather Crafting, Physical Pain & Ergonomics * (New Chapter added!) - Appendix: List of online resources available for free patterns, tips, and techniques. I still remember the initial doubts I had and the tips which helped me. This book is for people who are in their first lap (0-3 years) of Leather crafting journey and want to have a holistic idea of processes, tools, and need help in their initial projects. I have included photographs of realistic projects of beginners explaining the process and standard operating procedure while starting. So, what are you waiting for? Get this updated edition of the book with 22 chapters and start your Leather Crafting Journey Today!!

Audiobook details

GenreOther, General Fiction

Length2 hrs 53 mins

Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices

FormateBook with Audio

Publish dateMay 20, 2020

LanguageEnglish

1Beginner’s Roadmap

27GOUGING AND FOLDING NATURAL LEATHER

2TOP 3 BEGINNER PITFALLS: DON'T FALL INTO THEM!

28Gouging

3History of Leather Crafting

29Folding

4Leather Categories

30HOW TO THREAD A NEEDLE FOR STITCHING NATURAL LEATHER

5Leather Kinds

31Saddle Stitch

Show all chapters

6Hide Dimension as well as Component

32COMPLETING SADDLE STITCH THROUGH BACKSTITCHING

7Picking a Veg Tanned Leather/Leather Grading

33NATURAL LEATHER HARDWARE: RIVETS

8Introduction to Basic Tools

34RINGS

9List of basic tools required for a beginner:

35BUCKLES AND HOLDS

10Sample Tools

36Grommets

11Setting Up a Leather Workstation

37Among the first things you need to do is find out just how to get it sharp and also maintain it sharpness. Keep it polished to make sure that when you're working, it's not dragging in the leather and making it harder to manage.

12A sample workstation illustration

38Natural leather is tanned with a range of oils and minerals, which can cause an accumulation on the knife and create rubbing when attempting to pull the swivel knife along the leather. By stropping the knife consistently with jeweler's rouge, you are brightening the blade to keep it working efficiently.

135 Tools for the Beginner Leather Crafter

39The thing to note is that this is a fingertip-controlled device. When you're holding this device, what we teach to beginners is how to hold it; you hold it with just your fingertips. You position your forefinger right into the yoke with the very first knuckle and your thumb on one side. Your other fingers get on the opposite side. I have my ring finger on the side of the blade here. That's pretty much the grasp.

14A Good Knife

40I let the side of my hand rest on the table or on the leather so that I obtain excellent equilibrium with it. You make the cuts by sticking just the corner of the blade right into the natural leather and drawing the knife in towards you. It gets its name, swivel knife because the body of the knife turns. That's what helps you in making nice, smooth, curving cuts. When you're making these swivel cuts, you do all of the revolving with your fingers that are along the side of the knife, and then you do all the lowering with the yoke, with the first finger that remains in the yoke.

15Job Surfaces

41I wish someone had told me that early, too. I've practiced a lot over the months, but if I’d had put in a lot of time and effort into practicing just how to use this tool properly, it sure would have made it a lot simpler. It would have made my projects better. It would have saved me a lot of frustration if I had practiced much more regularly on some scrap leather. Earlier leather instructors would have their trainees exercise swivel knife control as much as 30 minutes a day. After some experience, I understand why they began their trainees this way.

16Rulers

42If you’re not experienced enough, then work at it until you can make the knife cut the design it’s supposed to. The technique of holding a swivel knife is more important than the quality of the device itself. You have to invest time practicing.

17Burnishers

43Swivel Knife Maintenance

18How to make leather Patterns

44Now let’s take an example of embossing an elephant picture:

19Patterning in Two Dimensions

45Dyeing

20Patterning in Three Dimensions

46Using Antique Finishes

21Sample Pattern Design for Leather Money Holder

47Ending Up Natural Leather Edges

22CUTTING LEATHER

48What should be my first project/ which factors should I consider for my first project?

23Cutting Leather with Scissors

49My First Project: Knife Sheath Explained

24Cutting With X-Acto, Utility, or Craft Knives

50Start the stitching by using two-needle saddle stitches. In saddle stitch, a needle is held in both the hands, and it passes each time you make a stitch. This creates a very strong stitch. Before we fold it, we give the welt loop area special attention and apply burnishing gum to the flesh side of the welt loop. Then buff it with a cloth and burnish it again to look cleaner and polished.

25Using a Cutting Wheel

51Five skills you must know for leather crafting

26Cutting straight lines freehand

52Ergonomics for the Craft Expert