Looking to get into leather crafting

[cb_32]

My friend's parents use to own a dry cleaner/tailor shop so they have a bunch of equipment(sewing machines mostly) and he wants to start learning how to make things.

We are particularly interested in making wallets and here are some questions:

Is it easy to source decent leather?
Are sewing machines used to stitch leather or is it entirely done by hand?
What are some online resources I can look at?

Cheers

 

[Dellath]

Originally Posted by cb_32

My friend's parents use to own a dry cleaner/tailor shop so they have a bunch of equipment(sewing machines mostly) and he wants to start learning how to make things.

We are particularly interested in making wallets and here are some questions:

Is it easy to source decent leather?
Are sewing machines used to stitch leather or is it entirely done by hand?
What are some online resources I can look at?

Cheers
Generally it's not that hard to source leather in big cities, but i have no idea about Toronto... Check the yellow pages and call around, as a lot of tannerys don't have a online presence. Check out this thread, most of the guys in here make their own stuff by hand and could give you heaps of advise. I got a lot of inspiration for a few styles i used in my own leather projects. http://www.styleforum.net/showthread.php?t=146568 For online resources, there is stuff all over the place, google's your friend, even YouTube some well done teaching videos on there for the basics.

 

[cb_32]

Originally Posted by Dellath

Generally it's not that hard to source leather in big cities, but i have no idea about Toronto... Check the yellow pages and call around, as a lot of tannerys don't have a online presence.
Check out this thread, most of the guys in here make their own stuff by hand and could give you heaps of advise. I got a lot of inspiration for a few styles i used in my own leather projects.

http://www.styleforum.net/showthread.php?t=146568

For online resources, there is stuff all over the place, google's your friend, even YouTube some well done teaching videos on there for the basics.

Wow thank you. Lots of great designs in that topic.

 

[CityConnection]

I don't have the skills nor the machines to do it but making things on your own are cool.

If you ever get around to making something, post up a pic.

 

[Keyboard Warrior]

Leathercrafting requires a certain level of intelligence...

 

[JhwkMac]

http://leatherworker.net forums are a good resource.

 

[pickpackpockpuck]

I've got no advice to offer, just wanted to say good luck. Definitely post pics once you have a few pieces, even if they're not perfect to begin with. I'd love to see how things evolve.

 

[wahwho11]

http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/ they have the tools/leather, and steps to make things i think.

 

[cb_32]

thanks for those links guys and i will post pics if i get decent enough to make something

 

[Timbaland]

Are the sewing machines industrial grade? Unless you're working with thin leather, I don't think a regular sewing machine will work too well with it. My grandma was a seamstress for a living and the machine she had at her house couldn't re-stitch a leather jacket.

 

[cb_32]

Originally Posted by Timbaland

Are the sewing machines industrial grade? Unless you're working with thin leather, I don't think a regular sewing machine will work too well with it. My grandma was a seamstress for a living and the machine she had at her house couldn't re-stitch a leather jacket.

probably not, would you suggest a singer or union special?

 

[zissou]

The brand of machine doesn't matter as much as how heavy duty it is. My advice is to buy some cheap leather and mess around for a while. Tandy shops are great for getting materials and tools, and they'll usually give you demos to show you how to do stuff.

 

[cb_32]

fabric land has pleather right?

 

[pdsf]

Best of luck! I have always wanted to get into leather craft and am currently looking for ways to do it. Keep us posted OP!

 

[cb_32]

i currently dont have a job so its gonna be very slow :\\
but when i do come up with something i will post pictures and whatnot