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The Abbey Information Exchange: 5 courses to improve your leather skills.

Friday, 21 August 2020


5 Courses to Improve your Leather Skills.


Since the pandemic, millions of individuals across the UK have faced the prospect of looming redundancies and reduced incomes. On the 11th August 2020, the BBC reported that the unemployment rate stood at 3.9% - nearly the lowest it has been in 40 years. This has meant many things to many people. For some, it has meant having to adapt, learn new skills and think of alternative ways to provide an income for themselves. From our own experience, we have seen an influx of new enquiries from novice leatherworkers who have the desire and need, to set up a side business to help ease their financial situation.

As our creative ways have had time to flourish these past months, has this been the making of us? Well for some, yes. Making small leather goods and selling them online can be a great way to gain extra cash.
With all this mind, leatherwork is a skill which needs to be taught. Here we run through some of the top leather courses for novice leatherworkers which are available in the UK today. We look at location, online v face-to face learning as well as course lengths to ensure our readers have a comprehensive range to choose from.

Armitage Leather - Midlands

Based in the Midlands, Nigel Armitage from Armitage leather offers leather courses for groups, one-to-one and online. His one-to-one sessions extends beyond developing your leather crafts skills and also offers mentoring, consultation, design development, A1 Assessment and support with QEST applications.

If face-to-face learning isn’t feasible then Nigel offers a Vimeo subscription for just £2.99 per month. The channel includes almost 100 skill, technique and project-based videos.

Nigel has been a bespoke maker for thirty years focusing on the longstanding traditions of making leather goods completely by hand.

Contact details:

Armitage Leather
Drakelow Business Park
Walton Road
Burton upon Trent
DE15 9UA, UK
nigel@armitageleather.com

https://www.armitageleather.com/

01283 529981

Diamond Awl Leather Workshop – North West

Diamond Awl leather is run by the BBC’s Made in Great Britain leatherworker, Jason Stocks-Young. Jason’s workshop is based in Saddleworth, North West and offers a variety of classes to suit novices and intermediates.  Choose from either 1 day, 2 day, 3 day or one-to-one training courses.

Diamond Awl’s leather Courses focus on making premium leather goods. The courses are designed to teach you all the core basics of traditional leatherwork, including marking and cutting out leather, preparing the leather for hand stitching, saddle stitching by hand, skiving, bevelling and burnishing.

Below we list what you will make on each of the courses.

1 Day - small leather goods, such as wallets, notebook holders, card holders and passport holders.

2 Day - choice of making either a messenger bag.

3 Day – Leather backpack (this course is more complex and is suitable for people who already have some leatherwork skills)

Jason started making leather goods six years ago, learning from some great leather workers who share the ethos and passion of using traditional techniques, the best fixings and the finest leathers.

Contact details
 
Warmco Properties
Woodend Mill,
1 Manchester Rd,
Mossley, Ashton-under-Lyne
Oldham
Lancashire
OL5 9RR

www.diamondawl.co.uk


JH Leather – North Wales

Based in Powys, Wales, Jo Heard runs JH Leather. Jo uses traditional saddlery techniques learnt though the Cordwainer's Diploma at Capel Manor College and is now a member of the Society of Master Saddlers.

After launching her You Tube Channel, Jo was inundated with messages and requests for training. The courses range from complete beginner to more advance skill sets and cover a wide range of techniques and items. Each of the is a 1-to-1 basis to ensure time is well spent on focusing on the individuals needs.

Contact details
Address: J.H. Leather, Unit 4, Y Dolydd, Llanfyllin, SY22 5LD

Email: info@jhleather.co.uk
Tel: (+44) 7494 654036

https://www.jhleather.co.uk/

GDH Leather - WEST WALES

GDH Leather is operated by the same family business who publish ‘Waxing the Thread’. They provide warm, friendly courses to all individuals no matter what your ability is. At the end of the course you will feel confident to produce a professional finished product worthy of a price tag.

GDH offer several types of courses from one day courses to a seven day intensive leatherwork course. What caught our attention is their ‘Leather Bag Making Course – Beginners Level’. The two-day course how to make and traditionally hand stitch your own beautiful leather tote, messenger or satchel with vegetable tanned leather and waxed linen thread. This course will give you the core basics and the confidence to make your order simple leather bag designs. Sounds ideal for those who have taten up leatherwork since lockdown.

Contact details
The Old Chapel, Penffordd, Clynderwen, Pembrokeshire, SA66 7HX, UK

Telephone: 01437 563110

Email: courses@gdhleathercourses.co.uk

www.gdhleathercourses.co.uk

Kingsley Walters – London

Kinglesy Walters offers 1,2 and 3 day course which all offer comprehensive learning. The aims of each course include:

  • How to work traditional saddlery Tools
  • How to sew using the traditional saddlery technique by hand
  • How to work with patterns and how to mark around and cut leather
  • How to maintain and care for leather
  • How to identify vegetable tanned leathers, and gain an understanding of their qualities & potential
  • How to maintain saddlery tools
  • How to Finish edges 
Kinglsey Walters started as a hobbyist making small leathergoods for family and friends. By word of mouth, he started getting requests for commissioned work. Over the years he has learn invaluable leatherwork and saddlery skills which are now taught through his courses.

Contact details
1 Fashion St
Spitalfields, London
E1 6LY

Telephone: 07495 350098
Email: kingsleywalterslondon@gmail.com
https://kingsleywalters.com/new-page-72 
 
Leather UK is also a great source for reaching out to the leather trade and is a great directory for networking with link minded people. Discover UK leather suppliers, grants and training courses here.