Description
Learn professional pattern making, bag construction, leather craft and sewing techniques. Experience a comprehensive week-long leather craft and sewing masterclass, combining theory with hands-on learning to create a finished bag. Dates/times: Five consecutive days - Mon-Fri 10am-5pm. When you book, you just need to select the starting date. - Explore essential techniques for working with soft chrome leather, the most common leather for bag making. - Proficiently handle hand tools and operate industrial machines correctly. - Cover material selection, finishing, and construction methods for bags and smaller accessories. - Gain insights into the technical aspects of leather-working, including preparation, marking, cutting, gluing, reinforcing, skiving, and more. Learn the use of reinforcements, stabilisers, and stiffeners in bags and fashion accessories. Participants will receive thorough instruction in professional sewing techniques on diverse industrial machines and understand how this differs from sewing other materials. Along with the final project, they will also create reference samples to bring home. Conclude the masterclass with the ability to craft a completely handmade, simple leather bag, showcasing acquired skills and techniques. Facilitated by a prototype maker and manufacturer, the course offers a professional journey into common leather-working practices. Participants also receive valuable handouts and curated lists of leather and tool suppliers for ongoing reference. LEATHER AND HAND TOOLS: - Overview on leather types, tanning, finishings and best use. - Understanding the use of chrome leather and why it is the most popular choice for commercial leather goods. - Importance of choosing the right materials and tools for projects. - Leather preparation, pattern placement and marking. - Understanding how to correctly cut leather using various tools. - Using and maintaining leather skiving knives. - Finishing leather edges: painting and inking. - Utilising leather glues, tapes and reinforcements. - Exploration of prototyping and manufacturing leather goods, encompassing varied working methods, machines, and tools. MACHINE AND HAND SEWING: - Understanding industrial sewing machines and their differences. - Selecting the right sewing machine for specific materials and constructions. - Operating a lock stitch walking foot machine. - Threading industrial sewing machines. - Achieving correct tension in sewing. - Understanding thread types and needle sizes. - Learning to sew leather, distinguishing it from other materials. - Correctly sewing various leather types, ranging from thin to thick. - Sewing straight lines, curves and creating parallel seams. - Producing various seams and seam finishes. CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES: - Sewing and finishing a simple zip on leather. - Cutting, assembling and sewing simple straps. - Incorporating basic lining types in projects. - Constructing and sewing a gussets. - Comprehending the use of reinforcements and stabilisers and their application in the craft of accessory making. LEATHER BAG MAKING: - Understanding the principles behind drafting patterns and constructing a pattern for the final project. - Creating a simple leather bag from our designs, choosing colour, materials, reinforcements, hardware and trimmings. BY THE END OF THE TUITION, YOU WILL HAVE: – Developed confidence in utilising specific tools for leather preparation, marking, finishing, cutting and fastening fittings. – Acquired an understanding of working with diverse leather types and thicknesses, with the ability to source and select appropriate tools and materials for your projects. – Mastered essential leather sewing techniques, troubleshooting common sewing issues and handling challenges such as curves, multiple layers of leather and various surface textures. – Learned to sew fundamental bag components like simple zips, straps, and gussets, along with reinforcing specific areas of a bag. – Built confidence in sewing with industrial machines and gaining the skills to independently create simple leather items.
What's included in the price?
Materials included and tools provided. You will be provided with useful paper handouts which contain: – A list of tools and materials used during the lesson(s), including a description of what they are and how they are used. – A list of recommended suppliers for both leather and fittings (physically in London and online). – A glossary containing essential key words related to the topic of the lesson. – A glossary containing information about leather types and characteristics. – A glossary containing information about needle and thread types.
Duration
5 days
Cancellation policy
Non-refundable - Refunds are not available
Maker
The London Leather Workshopis a design, prototyping and manufacturing studio founded by Italian designers and makers Sara Battiston and Melissa Bruscoli. With 20 years of experience in the fashion and accessory industry Sara and Melissa work with both local and international customers ranging from start-ups to established brands. Their studio is able to offer a range of services from design consultancy to product development and from prototyping to manufacturing of handbags, accessories and soft furnishings. Their practical classes will teach you the fundamental techniques of working with leather or vegan leather, how to sew these materials to a professional standard and how to create customised goods. The theoretical classes will provide you with the foundation for designing bags and accessories as well as insights and essential information about the industry.
Suitable for
- Adults
- Advanced/pro level
- Parking provided
- Suitable for beginners
- Intermediate level
