Waxing the Thread Pop-Ups

Pop-Up Leatherwork Circle – Just £15.00!

The Pop-Up Circle is open to all skill levels and members can look forward to one new leatherwork project each month plus an interactive, relaxed, Zoom session for each project. Starting on Monday 1st January 2024 the Circle will run for three months with a new project arriving in your inbox on the 1st of January, February and March… Find out more

Learn Traditional Leatherwork Skills – In Person

Introduction To Leatherwork

During this one day programme students gain a thorough introduction to leatherwork skills, tools and materials. Spend the day making a smart leather belt, mobile phone slip, or perhaps a sleeve for your *electronic device while mastering the skills of a traditional leatherworker. This is a wonderful, stress free introduction to leatherwork…. Find out more

Leather Bag Making Tuition

An exciting and absorbing weekend which teaches you how to make your own beautiful leather tote, messenger or satchel. Completely ‘hands on’ with plenty of support and encouragement as you construct your hand-made leather bag working from one of our pre-cut patterns – so while you’ll learn an abundance of new skills, there’s not too much maths necessary for you to enjoy the class!… Find out more or buy a gift voucher

Leather Satchel – in a Weekend

A practical and enjoyable two day course spent learning how to make a hand stitched leather satchel. Perfectly suitable for men and women, this course has been designed to increase your skills but there’s no need to worry if you’re new to leatherwork as beginners are also welcome. Your beautiful two-tone leather, cross-body satchel will be completed in just a weekend… Find out more

Leatherwork Weekend Taster

A weekend taster for beginners who are interested in learning the skills of a traditional leatherworker. During the weekend you’ll have the opportunity to try your hand at many of the essential leatherworkers’ skills including hand cutting & stitching in a traditional saddler’s clam, professional finishing, use of leather dyes, wet moulding leather and blind embossing and decoration… Find out more

Leather Tool Bag Making Course

This ‘Leather Tool Bag Course’ has been designed for students of all levels of ability. While construction methods are similar to our Satchel and Bag Making courses, the Leather Tool Bag Course is more ‘heavy-duty’, so students can expect to work with heavier leather and to master the setting of solid rivets and the fitting of buckles. Having chosen whether to work from a pre- drawn, or an adjusted pattern, students will make a sturdy tool bag using brass or copper hardware, natural vegetable tanned leather and traditional hand stitching techniques. Find out more

Design. Develop. Make.

Design, develop and make your own leatherwork project. Spend four very informative days on any project of your choice. From designing, to developing and on to creating, we’ll help you take your design from paper, to reality. Using natural vegetable tanned leather and traditional hand stitching techniques you will learn how to build your design in a structured and successful way, to ensure professional results. If you’ve been looking for a traditional leatherwork training programme that allows and encourages you, to create a project that’s entirely your own design, then Design. Develop. Make. is the one for you… Find out more

3 Day ‘Multi-Skills’

Begin each day with an exciting new project! This progressional training programme is designed to develop your traditional leather-working skills over 3 days. Perfect for both complete beginners and for students who would like to experience working on different projects, simultaneously. Students will be introduced to three different areas of leatherwork: Wet-moulding, small leather goods and cylindrical box making or traditional belt making. Different tools, methods and leather are required for each, so students can expect an interesting and informative 3 days! Find out more

Basic Tool Sharpening Skills – In Person

When starting out in leatherwork, students soon find the value in being able to sharpen their own tools. All too often we hear of students who are restricted to using disposable blades or instead buy new knives as they are lacking the skills required to keep their originals sharp. Join us for the day and learn to maintain your own leather-working tools. Find out more or buy a gift voucher

Theatrical Leather Art

Leather Mask Making

This one day Leather mask making class is the perfect opportunity to be creative. A mix of sculpture, art and design all in one course. A full day of leather carving, moulding, stamping and dying, resulting in an amazing masterpiece you’ll be proud to take home! Not too challenging, but lots of fun and a fantastic introduction to this intriguing art… Find out more

Publications

Waxing the Thread – Issue 10

Issue 10 of Waxing The Thread has 36 pages of leatherwork articles, tips, how to’s and easy-to-follow projects, patterns, techniques and leatherwork related articles to help you develop your skills… so, plenty of helpful information for beginners. This, the final issue of WTT, also includes a helpful guide, Where to Find it; Contents of WTT Issues 1-9

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Waxing the Thread – Issue 9

Issue #9 of Waxing The Thread has 36 pages of leatherwork articles, tips, how to’s and easy-to-follow step-by-step Projects. This issue has a hobby theme and there are useful patterns for gardening tool covers as well as a storage tube and a very handy Ditty Bag. The made-to-measure binocular case is slightly challenging but we think you’ll enjoy it all the same. We’ve included step-by-step guides for butt and baseball stitch and have dedicated a page to those who are considering buying a sewing machine. There’s also some useful advice when starting a new design and we hope you’ll enjoy the Interview With… Williams Handmade who makes beautiful leather boxes. Finally, take a minute to look at the Readers’ Workbench page and stop a while to ponder the questions in this issue’s quiz.

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Waxing the Thread – Issue 8

Issue #8 of Waxing The Thread has 36 pages of leatherwork articles, tips, how to’s and easy-to-follow step-by-step Projects all focused entirely around the topic of traditional hand-stitched leatherwork. There are patterns too, including one for a watch strap – an ideal gift! There’s also a step-by-step guide for making your own strop plus other helpful information for those still learning the craft. This issue introduces the beginner to dyeing leather and there are ’Tips from the Dye Bench’ to get you started. For those keen on photography, you’ll be pleased to see that Project 2 is a Camera Bag, plus we’ve included a pattern for a leather camera strap – another perfect gift! We hope you’ll enjoy the Interview With… Identity Leather Craft as much as we did and hope you’ll enjoy reading about some of our favourite, vintage, leather-working books. And finally, when you’ve worked through some of the Projects or Patterns in issue #8 we’re crossing fingers that you’ll send us some pics of your work.

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Waxing the Thread – Issue 7

Issue #7 of Waxing The Thread has 36 pages of leatherwork articles, tips, how to’s and easy-to-follow step-by-step Projects all centred of course, around the topic of traditional hand-stitched leatherwork. There are Pattern Pages too, plus a useful ‘Stitch Marker’ tool guide and other helpful information for beginners of the craft. This issue introduces the concept of wet-moulding leather, making basic formers, and offers help with Back and Cross stitch in order for you to complete the projects within. For more accomplished leather-workers there are interviews; the first, with shoemaker Ruth-Emily Davey and the second with a well known leatherworker – and author – Nigel Armitage. We hope you’ll also enjoy the fascinating article about traditional leather-covered coracles. When you’ve read through #7 turn to the popular Just For Fun page and have a go at the crossword competition …good luck!

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Waxing the Thread – Issue 6

Issue 6 of Waxing The Thread has 40 pages of leatherwork articles, tips, how to’s and easy-to-follow step-by-step Projects. There are Pattern Pages too, plus a helpful ‘channel’ tool guide and other leatherwork related info’ for beginners. This issue also introduces a new skill; fitting a zip, offers advice on edge finishing, what to do with surplus leather, and if you’re not too busy with all of that, there’s also a few double-page features and finally, the popular Just For Fun page!

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Waxing the Thread – Issue 5

Issue 5 of Waxing The Thread has 36 pages of leatherwork articles, tips, how to’s and easy-to-follow projects and patterns. With plenty of helpful information for beginners, this issue also introduces a new skill and offers advice on pattern making and tool maintenance.

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Waxing the Thread – Issue 4

The fourth issue of Waxing The Thread. A UK leatherwork magazine for hobbyists of the craft. 40 pages filled with easy-to-follow projects, patterns, tips, techniques and leatherwork related articles, there’s plenty inside to help you develop your skills…

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Waxing the Thread – Issue 3

The third issue of Waxing The Thread. A UK leatherwork magazine for hobbyists of the craft. 36 pages filled with easy-to-follow projects, patterns, tips, techniques and leatherwork related articles, there’s plenty inside to help you develop your skills…

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Waxing the Thread – Issues 1 & 2 Combined

‘Waxing the Thread (WTT)’ is an independent UK magazine for hobbyists of traditional leatherwork. It is a practical, workshop magazine filled with easy-to-follow projects, patterns, tips, techniques and leatherwork related articles and features. The first two issues have been combined to create this 60 page magazine where, inside its pages, you’ll find plenty to help you develop your leather-working skills…. Buy Now

Waxing the Thread – Issue 1

‘Waxing the Thread’ is a practical workshop magazine for hobbyists of traditional leatherwork. The first project in issue 1 is aimed at complete novices as well as those who’d like a ‘reminder’ of basic techniques. Follow the simple step-by-step guide and colour photos as you work through the project. You’ll also find an essential introduction to pattern making as part of Project 1, plus a follow-on project which will reinforce your new pattern making and leatherwork skills…. Buy Now