LEATHER CRAFT AND LEATHER CRAFT TOOLS

CHRISTMAS IN THE MAKING

Christmas is just around the corner, and at Abbey England we are working as hard as Santa’s elves to make sure you will have everything you need to make this Christmas one to remember.

So, with all that in mind, we have roped in the help from Jo Heard from JH Leather, to share her top picks and best practices for making Christmas Gifts. If you are looking for gifts for you, them, her, him or even the dogs, Jo has you covered.

STOCKING FILLERS

KEYRINGS

Leatherworker skiving with the Abbey skiving iron.

Image provide by JH Leather

In the first of her Top Picks, Jo shares what products she would recommend using for making the perfect stocking filler – a hand-made leather key ring.

My favourite leather for keyrings is a vegetable tanned shoulder, between 1.5-2.5mm thick. The Sedgwick's 1900 collection would be amazing for this, with its rich colour and beautiful finish.

You could also use a natural russet shoulder which will patina beautifully over time, or you can colour each keyring yourself with some of the Fiebing’s leather dye, available in either an alcohol-based dye or water-based dye. Don’t forget the wool daubers to apply it too!

Next we're onto the fittings....

For my keyrings I like to use a 1" (25mm) split ring. There are a range of sizes to choose from, and these can be either brass or nickel plate to match your design or required finish.

Abbey England also offers the flat split ring for a real high-quality feel to your keyrings. My suggestion for these is the 1 1/8" (29mm) option.

Want to fancy your keyrings up even more? Add a rein tip from one of the many designs that Abbey England has to offer. These can be easily fitted to your keyring via the two prongs attached on the back of each fitting.

JO'S TOP TIP**

When making a keyring for the first time, it is handy to make a card pattern first so that you can check that your design will work and will fit your chosen fittings. Then once you are happy you can get creating with your chosen leather.

Happy making!

WALLETS

For her second stocking filler, Jo takes us through her top picks for making a wallet. Don’t forget to check out her latest video below which shows you how to make a bifold wallet using Abbey’s greased pigskin in dark havanna.

Leather

For my wallets I LOVE to use some vegetable tanned pig skin as it has a beautiful texture to it. My preferred option is the greased pig skin as it has a lovely soft feel. You can use other leather options for wallet making but ideally your thickness wants to be around 1mm – 1.5 mm.

Fittings

Depending on your wallet design you may want to add a coin pocket which would need a closure fitting. I like to use some press studs for these pockets on my wallets.

Thread

For my wallets my favourite thread to use is linen, the linen options available at Abbey England come in a variety of sizes, I think the 3/25 thread would be great for this and it is available in 3 colour options.

JO'S TOP TIP**

Make sure to add a trim allowance to your wallet patterns as this will give you the best edge to finish once cut to size.

Happy making!

Images provided by JH Leather

NOTEPAD COVERS

notepad with magnetc claps from JH Leather

Image provided by JH Leather.

It’s our final stocking filler and we won’t disappoint you. This week, Jo lists all her top choices for making a notepad.

If you need some guidance in how to make one, then make sure you watch Jo’s helpful video ‘Make your own Notebook Cover for ANY notebook’ further down this page.

Leather

Leather bound journals make a fabulous gift this time of year. For mine I like to use vegetable tanned leather that is about 1.5mm thick, this will give you a long-lasting cover that will last a lifetime. Abbey's 1.5mm russetswould be good for this and you can then dye them to the colour you desire or leave them natural.

Dye

To colour your journals, the Fiebings range of dyes are idea, Abbey England stock both the water based and alcohol based ranges that offer a wide range of colours and can also be mixed together to create your own unique colours! Don’t forget the Resolene to seal the colour into your leather. These can be applied easily to your leather with the use of the wool dauber.

Fittings

There are a few ways that you can create the closure for your journal, I like to use a leather covered press stud or a handy magnetic bag clasp. Both are easy to fit, though you’ll need the press stud tool to fit your press studs if you don’t already have one.

JO'S TOP TIP**

I like to add ¾” or 20mm to the overall width of my chosen notebook to get the correct width of leather for the journal cover. Once you have cut a strip that size, you can work out the overall length of leather by wrapping this around your notebook, more information on that can be seen in my 'make your own notebook cover' video below.

GIFTS FOR HER

cartridge bags

If you are in need of some gift inspiration 'for her', then look no further. Learn how to make a beautiful cartridge bag with Jo and see what materials she would pick.

Leather

For my bags, I like to use a vegetable tanned shoulder that is about 2.5mm thick, once again my top choice of leather for bags would be the Sedgwick’s 1900 collection for the range of colours available. If you are after something a bit different, the Sedgwick’s bag hide would be a good option in the wheat print option

Fittings

The hardest part is going to be choosing your fittings from all the awesome designs Abbey England have to offer. For me, I like the west end buckles as they are traditional, but a bit shaped, they are also available in a huge range of sizes. If you are making a removable shoulder strap, I like to use the heavy cast dees, there is just something about them that makes them stand out for me. Pair them with a rein snap swivel and you are onto a winning combination

JO'S TOP TIP**

If your bag design features a gusset, use a French skirt shave to reduce the thickness around the edge of the gusset to about half thickness. This will help the leather to fold outwards and make it a bit easier for you to attach them.

Images of Cartridge Bags have all been kindly provided by Jo Heard.

GIFTS FOR HIM

BELTS

Image kindly provided by Jo Heard, JH Leather

For ‘gifts for him’, Jo details her favourite picks for making leather belts. If you need any guidance or tips on how to make a leather belt, you can watch her video below ‘Make your own: Handmade Leather Belt - Make along, Tutorial’.

Leather

My favourite leather for belts is bridle butt, Abbey England stock the wonderful Sedgwick’s range which is available in a range of colours. Abbey England also stock a range of John Whites bridle butt as well as a range of Italian bridle butts.

Fittings

Abbey England have a whole category on their website dedicated to belt buckles, the hardest part is choosing which one you want to use! Not only do these buckles come in solid brass, you can add a unique finish to your buckles with one of the plating options that Abbey England offer, including antique and nickel plate.

Want to add a high quality belt loop to your belt? Well you can with the flat cast belt loop that pairs beautifully with the buckles that Abbey England have to offer.

JO'S TOP TIP**

When measuring for a new belt, the best method is to use an existing belt and measure from the inside of the buckle to the hole most used. You can then use that measurement as the centre hole on the new belt.

Abbey England Solid Brass Flat Cast Belt Loop

GIFTS FOR PETS

DOG COLLARS

Image kindly provided by Jo Heard, JH Leather

Last but certainly not least, Jo shares her final gift ‘gifts for pets’.

See how Jo makes a padded dog collar below, plus all the materials for the job.

Leather

Once again, my favourite leather for dog collars is the good old bridle butt due to its strength. The Sedgwick’s bridle butt is my favourite option, and they also offer a handy mini bridle butt if you do not require the additional length of a standard butt

If you want to add some padding to your collar, then I recommend the soft plastazote in 6mm thickness, pair this with some wonderful colours available in the nappa basil hides, and you can create some amazing colourful and unique creations.

Fittings

For dog collars, I recommend using a roller buckle as this will be easier to do up and undo once it is made as it allows the leather to roll through the buckle more easily. The buckles I use the most are the Cast Single Roller and for something a bit fancier the West End Roller is ideal. The dee rings that I like to use are the Heavy Cast Dees as I like the shape you can also use the handy Dog Collar Deethat Abbey England also offer.

JO'S TOP TIP**

Skive some wedges the same thickness as the width of your strap to place either side of the dee ring. This will fill the gaps in your buckle turn caused by the dee ring sitting in between the layers of leather.

THE MAKER

Jo Heard has been in the leathercraft industry since 2007. She trained at Capel Manor College where she graduated with the prestigious Cordwainer’s Diploma in Bridle, Saddle and Harness. She subsequently completed the Modern Apprenticeship and at the same time was accepted onto the Saddlers’ Company Millennium Apprenticeship which she completed. Jo is now a qualified saddler and member of the Society of Master Saddlers.

The knowledge she has gained from her years in the industry and her eye for perfection has led her to winning many of awards.

Jo also runs a successful YouTube channel. She shares her love for leathercraft with her 67,000 subscribers, revealing best practices, 'how to' videos and more.

Jo Heard in her workshop with her dog skyler.

GET INSPIRED THIS CHRISTMAS

If you are in need of some inspiration, or just looking for some leather working tips, check out Jo’s YouTube channel.

Our Christmas gift to you...

You and your business are incredibly important to us,
and as a thank you for being a valued Abbey England
customer, we’re offering you an exclusive Christmas discount:

Spend £200 or more on your online order this December and get a
£20 voucher back to spend in January.

Ts and Cs apply. The voucher will only be applied to a single online order with a value of £100 or more. Offer will be redeemable between 01.01.22 – 31.01.22 only.

LEATHER CRAFT AND LEATHER CRAFT TOOLS