Unleash your creativity and master the timeless art of leather crafting in this hands-on, 7-week introductory course. Whether you want to start a new hobby or design your own custom accessories, this course will take you from absolute beginner to a confident crafter.
By the end of the course, you will walk away with three beautiful, handmade leather goods and the foundational skills needed to continue creating your own projects at home.
Site
Hastings (Station Plaza)
Course Type
Adult
| Options | Course Code | Starts | Ends | Days | From | To | Standard Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 61519-01 | 21/09/26 | 09/11/26 | Monday | 15:00 | 17:30 | £180 | |
| 61519-02 | 12/04/27 | 07/06/27 | Monday | 15:00 | 17:30 | £180 |
What You Will Learn:
Understand different types of leathers and skins, including their origins, treatments, and finishes.
Discover the best end-uses and jobs for various leather types so you always pick the right material.
Get insider recommendations on trusted suppliers and sellers for leather, components, and specialized tools.
Learn how to draft a precise pattern for multiple product shapes.
Master the art of selecting the perfect piece of leather for your specific design.
Safely and accurately cut your patterns out of leather using a variety of traditional tools.
Develop basic hand-stitching skills and techniques for a professional hold.
Learn to punch leather cleanly using pricking forks and awls.
Master edge-finishing techniques, including burnishing raw edges for a sleek look.
Discover how to securely apply hardware like rivets and studs.
Learn the essential finishing touches, including knotting and neatly burning finished threads.
Projects You Will Create During the 7 weeks, you will put your new skills to the test by handcrafting three classic items:
A Passport Folio – Perfect for travel organization.
A Lozenge-Shaped Key Fob – A sleek, everyday essential.
A Credit or Travel Card Wallet – A minimalist, functional pocket piece.
What do I need to Bring? • A notebook and pen and a soft eraser and an hb and 2b pencil • A 30cm metal flat ruler • A large 40cm clear plastic or acrylic Perspex dress makers Set Square showing straight lines and right angles. Available from online sewing stores like Hobby craft, eBay sellers or Morplan or Maculloch and Wallace . • Local sewing shops like Jacobs Haberdashery in Hastings and Bexhill might have them, get them in for you.
"K" Avery-Stallion trained in Textiles with Embroidery in the early 90s at Nottingham Poly and then embarked on a career in fashion and accessories buying and then product development for brands like East and M&S and High Street multiple retailer suppliers. After a major health crisis in 2008 she decided to start her own leather goods business and took training from other bag makers in order to learn how to make her own handbag designs instead of having them manufactured abroad. This business became ST LEONARDS ACCESSORIES, Est 2010. She then sold unisex understated leather and canvas goods to men and women all over the UK, Europe and even South Africa! - as well as becoming a wholesale supplier to larger brands like YMC menswear, Margaret Howell and a Japanese multiple retailer. Between 2016 and 2022 she opened a bricks and mortar store called ST LEONARDS MODERN GOODS - in Norman Rd St leonards selling premium mens and women's wear bands as well as her own accessories and enjoyed hosting leather crafting workshops at the studio in the back of the store. "K" is now happily tutoring at Sussex College and searching for a new shop location.