LET'S LEARN LEATHERCRAFT
Leather Belt Workshop Experience
Hosted in our beautiful studio surrounded the fantastic heritage of Leigh Spinners Mill, we welcome you to our Beginners Leatherworking Class!
Discover more details below about our private 1-to-1 Leather Belt Making Workshop and sign up to our newsletter for information on everything from bag-making to beyond!
Nothing is more coveted than the Leather Belt. A wonderful item which dates back to 3000BC and has changed very little in its design. We use belts every single day of our lives, but many people know so little about how they're made!
A good leather belt will last you a lifetime. They are a fantastic gift idea that ticks all the right boxes, so why not make that into a memory with a private workshop to craft your own? A brilliant item for you to use once you've spent a whole day with us here in the Studio learning the secrets of leathercraft. Perfect!
workshop structure
This session is privately booked for 1 day from 10am to 4pm, with a 1-hour lunch break.
Morning
Starting the day with a brew, we look at the different types, styles and thicknesses of leather. Belts are very specific, so once we know our material, we crack out the tools, cut your belt straight from the hide and get some hands-on experience and practice under expert tutor guidance.
Midday
Once your belt is cut and ready, we can begin preparing it. You will choose a buckle from our selection, or you may bring your own. Learn how to properly fit the buckle, make belt keepers and add stamps or decorations. You will then dye your belt in your chosen colour(s).
Afternoon
Once everything is ready, we've had some lunch and our dye is dry, we begin assembly. This gives you a choice of hardware and/or sewing to fit with your requirements. You will learn to fit your belt to size, add your hardware and finishing techniques to make the perfect belt for you!
what will you craft?
The beginners course is designed for questions, exploring, mistakes and learning as we delve into leatherworking. We look at what that means for you as a crafter and what items you would like to make. No finished item is produced during this workshop as we try to fit as much hands on crafting time and as many techniques into your session as possible.
Each course is tailored to the student attending and our fantastic professional leathercrafting tutor, Pipa, will be by your side the entire day to ensure you gain the absolute most out of your time with us.
what's included?
This workshop includes all your materials and use of tools to create your very own belt, sized to fit you with a choice of buckles.
We cannot guarantee specific style buckles will be available, if you have a preference in colour, please leave a note on your booking. Additionally, for military buckles and belts, please contact us before booking.
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After your workshop, you will also receive a copy of our 26 page Buyers Guide. Filled with articles, handy information and a list of UK suppliers, this booklet has been specially produced to ensure all our students leave our course with everything they could possibly need to continue their journey in leathercrafting.
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We also have a small cafe's worth of tea, coffee and snacks whilst you craft!
what our students say!
Terry Skene
We had a really good day. Pipa listened and reacted to what we wanted from the course and delivered exactly what we asked for! It was good to work with some who was so skilled and willing to share her knowledge, including the short cuts! The whole thing was very enjoyable and we left with not only lots of ideas, but how we might actually achieve them!
Lindsey
What a privilege to spend a day with such a talented, knowledgeable and enthusiastic artisan. Pipa is a gifted teacher, and takes a interest in the student's own style and ideas, but she's also down to earth and approachable. I started the day with no background in leatherwork and left with knowledge, skills, new ideas and the confidence to try out some techniques in my own crafting. Thanks, Pipa!