Description
‘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.
If you’re new to leatherwork, you’ll find the first and second of the Pattern Pages include scaled down patterns which will be very easy to recreate having previously worked through Project 1. And to make things really easy, you can even use the same step-by-step making guide. If you’re not a beginner you can choose to work from the pattern directly if you don’t want to go back to basics.
Project 2 will develop your skills further and is more advanced than Project 1. As before, there is a scaled down pattern along with another step-by-step, photo guide. The guide is also a bonus for those more experienced leatherworkers who appreciate the occasional treat of working from a pre-drawn pattern – just making, without the maths!
Designed to build on the skills developed in Project 2, is the third of our Pattern Pages. Making this little bag will encourage you to plan the order of construction. In Project 3 we’ve given you a a choice of 3 ways to fit a belt buckle; arranged in order of difficulty. Project 4 will develop your skills further and as before, there is a scaled down pattern along with another step-by-step, photo guide.
The final Pattern Page gives you the opportunity to reinforce the skills learnt in Projects 3 and 4 and we’re pretty sure you’re going to want to make this leather tool bag! Assuming that you’ve worked with all the patterns in the magazine, we don’t think you’ll find this too difficult. Making this final item will encourage you to carefully plan the order of construction or assembly. Each of the Project and Pattern Pages state which materials (and leather substances) we used when making the projects ourselves, and we’ve even stated which company we purchased the leather from so we hope that takes some of the uncertainty out of it.
Aside from patterns and projects, there’s also information relating to workshop materials generally, including guidance when purchasing leather – we appreciate that this can be difficult for beginners. We’ve also included information about linen thread, beeswax and project design and just to keep you busy, we’ve even included a few How-To’s to assist with issues such as tool sharpening and additional pattern making techniques. We’ve also included a little information about fixings and basic engineering, plus a tool kit guide and a section on ‘The Cutting Edge’ (no prizes for guessing what that covers) and we hope you’ll find the ‘Hand Stitching’ page useful too.
There are feature articles too and if you read these, you’ll discover why we travelled to the Isle of Anglesey, what prompted us to visit the Clogmaker’s workshop, learn about the trip to our favourite Museum and discover why we reluctantly agreed to work with rawhide. We’ve included ‘Readers Pages’ too and hope we can entice you to get involved with them for future issues.
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