Total Newbie Needs Advice About Tandy Classes

[Calait]

Hi everyone,

I have recently retired and I am interested in learning about leather working. Tandy runs a series of classes 4 Saturdays for 2 hours each for beginners. Has anyone ever taken these and if so should I enrol. The classes are about a one hour drive, which is one of the reasons I am asking.

Thanks

Sebc, if there are any classes you can get to, GO and enjoy. Yes, you might mess-up a piece of leather but learning something you will do. Design you own wallet, belt, messenger bag or table center piece cover. There are classes taught very reasonably, most at only the cost of tools and leather you use, yes you can learn tons from you-tube but the staff at least in the Round Rock store is great to be with. Good luck, enjoy your new craft.

[SmokeyPoint]

Sorry, but the one thing people are missing here is the "you" factor. Clearly you are interested in the craft. The question here is: are you the type of person who can just pick up something like this and do it? I learned on my own, much in the way described above, put out some decent products (5.0 rating on my Etsy store) and never took a class. BUT, I have been working with my hands almost my entire life, and used to sell woodworking items in a craft shop that I owned in the early 90's. I did a 1:1 class for a retired school principal last year, and by the end wished he had spent a little more time in the woodshop during his tenure.

So, can you afford to NOT take the class? Can you afford to burn a couple hundred dollars (or more, a lot more) buying leather and practicing on your own, buying tools that you may never use, etc. The principal took meticulous notes during the process of the tools needed to make the holster we built together. I told him when he could get away with a different/cheaper tool, and when he absolutely, positively needed THIS tool to do the work. Leatherworking kits often come with tools you may never need or use. Or worse, need to replace almost immediately. Like me, you may find that carving leather isn't your thing. I lack the artistic talent for it. But I spent money on that swivel knife and all of those shading tools in that mega-set I bought. Now what?

Besides that, at least taking the class, you're making forward progress and actually getting hands-on time with the medium. For the price of a decent dinner for two, and a few hours' drive time, you may find that you need to keep looking for hobbies. Or you may find your life's passion.