Getting Into Medieval/Historical Leatherworking

[Insmas]

Hello! I've recently decided to try and get back into leatherworking again. I'm most interested in medieval/historical projects, as I am in the SCA. Things like bags, pouches, shoes, maybe some scabbards? Though with modern tools and dyes available.

 

Anyone know of good patterns for medieval projects, especially in the realm of bags/pouches and shoes? I already plan on buying Period Patterns 93, but one can never have too many resources.

 

Also, if anyone knows of any folks who do teaching, or leatherworking groups in central New Jersey, please let me know - I've done some searching but have come up empty (I know there's a Tandy in NJ, but it's nearly an hour from me).

[fredk]

Your branch of the SCA is the bestest resource.

I used to use archaeologists reports for ideas and draw my own patterns from them. I also used to use Olaf Goubitz book 'Purses in Pieces', 'Shoes and Pattens' by Grew, 'Scabbards' by Cameroon, 'Knives and Scabbards' by Cowgill, and an SCA publication on making shoes

The SCA used to have hundreds of patterns for items on a website. All free to down-load. I've been out of it all for 20 years so I don't know if it still exists. Ask at your local branch

[Dwight]

You just might check with local veteran groups . . . there are people who help veterans with "problems" . . . they find leatherworking as a resource to help them work thru their "problems".

If you are not a veteran . . . they may welcome you anyway as someone who brings another group of ideas that may spark a better interest than key fobs, wallets, and belts.

Plus . . . you may find someone there with your same interests . . . the help could go both ways.

Columbus Ohio Tandy has a really great one . . . and I know the instructor . . . he's a cool dude . . . and apparently it is really helping some of the guys.

May God bless,

Dwight

Edited 1 hour ago by Dwight