The Art Of Hand Sewing Leather

An explicit guide to preparing, sewing, and caring for leather, suede, and fur garments.

"The guide for leathercrafters who want a clearly traditional focus, who believe quality matters, and who want to learn traditional techniques to use in modern ways."--back cover

Leather is a strong and versatile material, which is highly suitable for handicrafts. Anyone can learn the techniques of leatherworking, and with some basic tools and a little patience can produce articles that are both aesthetically pleasing and practical. Topics covered: Advice on selection of tools and different types of leather; Step-by-step instruction on the techniques of cutting, bevelling, burnishing, hand-stitching, carving, stamping and thronging; Tips on how to avoid common pitfalls; A range of interesting projects; Explanatory line-drawings and photographs throughout.

A big part of the artisanal/DIY movement is about authenticity and quality, with a return to simplicity, real values, genuine materials, and careful craftsmanship. Leather is one of those authentic materials, and while it has always been used for handbags and gloves, it’s also enjoying a resurgence in the field of crafts. Simple objects elegantly made of leather are featured everywhere on maker blogs, photo-sharing sites, tutorials, and craft marketplaces. Leather is in the real world, too, in heavily curated hipster boutiques and well-edited coffee shops that sell sundries. Idiot’s Guides®: Leather Crafts offers 20 projects (illustrated with copious step-by-step photos), ranging from beginner to advanced, each one building on the skills that have been taught in prior projects. Unlike most existing books on leathercraft, which come with a heavy whiff of the ‘70s, this one has a sleek, modern aesthetic. The projects are functional, and the minimal, elegant embellishment and natural finishes will keep them timeless.

• The must-have guide for working with leather. • Great book for beginning leather crafters. • Comprehensive presentation of essential techniques. • Handy tips from leather crafting experts. • Well-illustrated with color photos. • Traditional floral carving step-by-step project.

The Hand-Stitched Surface offers inspiring techniques and beautiful projects for creating richly layered mixed-media surfaces on paper and fabric to encourage stitchers to slow down and savor their handiwork.

Teaches cross-dyeing, shading, staining and brushing techniques. Includes dye mixing charts.

For those seeking a slower, gentler way to make clothes, this book will serve as a guide to sewing clothing by hand -- without use of a sewing machine. Learn the techniques needed to stitch sturdy, modern adult clothing by hand. Ponder the bigger picture with several contextual essays, and then settle in for storytime, as you read a set of stories about hand-sewn clothes. Hand sewing clothing can be a radical act of slow fashion. Reclaim the democratic, accessible, ancient power of sewing that needs no machine.

Eighty pages of Al Stohlman's imaginative and creative designs. Perfect for beginners and experts alike, it includes 30 projects.