what resource was the most help to you when you were new at this?

[fortysomething]

I can't remember what got me started in leatherwork. I probably needed a bit of leather for a project or repair. Anyway, I found my way into the local Tandy store, where I found most of the books from which I gleaned much knowledge.

After the books, experimentation, practice and technique discussions with the Tandy manager, kept my skills improving. I put my tools away a few years ago to pursue other hobbies and to make room for my new family.

Now, since retiring at a fairly young age, I am ready to get back into leatherwork and thinking of possibly using leather to supplement my income. I don't have the work space that I had previously, but that is not a big problem.

I happily found this forum where I am sure I will get much inspiration and encouragement, and continue my learning.

[cjbleather]

I noted books. By these I meant mostly Al Stohlmans books that I got from Tandys. Once I got going, I found the O-MI-O Leathercraft Guild. My attending these meetings and seeing the work being done by masters and those with more experience than I, probably gave me my most valuable info. carlb

[tlowry]

i voted books. In '71 the internet was not around, if I was starting now it would to be this site. back then I didn't know anyone who did leatherwork so i had to read from books i bought at one of two Tandy stores, Jackson, Miss or Baton Rouge, La. That was during the flower power days and i sold a lot of simple belts thru a head shop in Natchez, Miss. In the mid '80s I had a set back when my entire leather tool collection was stolen. It's taken a long time to accumulate everything all over again.

[rawhide1]

I marked apprenticed which is kinda what it was. Right out of high school I went to work for a wholesale place called Western Heritage. And the fella that ran their shop was a man by the name of John McBeth and he had two boys Bart and Blake that also worked fer him. And between the three of them they taught me how to make headstalls,breast collars, reins,flanks, braided gear, and a number of other items. About the only thing we didn't make was saddles. So I worked there fer a couple of years and then John and his boys left and I was put to running shop fer about a year or so. Well I couldn't keep production up with all the stuff they were selling to TSC stores and everyone else without dropping quality. Which I wouldn't do so they kinda of run me off. But I used to braid a lot of mystery reins and tye downs for them. So that got me going on braiding. So know 10-15yrs later I've tried to pick the braiding back up but this time with rawhide. But those years I worked for John and his boys was the most fun I've ever had. Sorry for going on so much Mike

[gearsmithy]

I've never been very good at following instructions so I learned the hard way. I would get an idea in my head and then try to figure it out on my own. I would lean a little bit about how to do something and then take a little further on my own. I screwed up many projects but sometimes I come up with new ways of doing things. I think I prefer it that way, keeps me on my toes. I started out carving leather on my kitchen floor (space is an expensive comodity in Chicago). Now I have a little dedicated workshop setup in my bedroom entirely paid for by my pieces.

[chromedome]

My name is Jack, I first got started with leather work 17 years ago when i was in High school and shooting black powder with a muzzleloading group. This lead to doing some reenactments and i realized i needed some moccasins. I have always been one that loved to cut several pieces out attatch them together and have something, so I WAS HOOKED. As i was making things for my costume i aquired a tandy catalog and i wanted to make a small saddle that hangs from the rear view mirror for a friend, i then realized i have no tools. So i took the plunge right out the gate and bought the biggest starter kit they had. Word got around that i was piddlin with it so a friend brought me a saddle to fix. I told him i know nothing about saddle repair, he said i didn't ask if you knew how to fix it, i want you to fix it. Well when i got finished with that one he then brought me five to repair. I have been going ever since. I made a couple freinds from the tandy store and they helped to guide some, but most of what i have learned (I still love to learn more) were from Stholman books, and alot of practice. I really enjoy this website, i have had alot of questions answered that i have wanted to ask someone for years, but just didn't know anyone else that did any amount of leatherwork. I just thankful that someone finally came up with the idea for this website. Well that is just the basic from my start with leatherwork Hope you enjoy!!

Happy Crafting

Jack

Lucas,TX

[firefly67]

I marked 'learned the hard way, no help' because that's pretty much how it is. I'm just beginning, and other than books, I don't really have anyone who is working in leather doing what I'm doing.

However I do get some much valued assistance from my husband, who may know little about leather but knows a lot about pattern making & sewing as he was a parachute rigger in the Navy & learned also to design & make his own utilitarian clothing. I also have a longtime friend in California who has had an international business for many years, building soft shell musical instrument cases out of leather or cordura. He admits that his work is 'carpentry' not 'aesthetic' but his designs are nonetheless elegant as well as functional. I can email him or call him & he will attempt to answer my newbie questions.

Still, all in all, I'm struggling along on my own. I could really use some classes on pattern making, how to line up lacing holes better, what hardware to use where, etc. etc.! I do feel lucky though, that I'm already an artist & have a small established business making & selling bead jewelry & handmade glass beads that I make, and this has given me the confidence to go ahead and branch out into leatherwork, to which I was exposed decades ago and always wanted to study!

I was thrilled to find this forum & hope I can find answers to some of my ongoing questions here, too. Clearly there are some fantastic artisans here, whose work will be very inspiring to me.

[Miss Denise]

The public library books, the internet, leather-craft magazines, of course this site, other guilds, friends and Tandy Leather. The main teacher trial and error!

[kwelna]

I got my start when looking for a belt. I am a big (fat) guy and I the only thing I could find in my size was garbage. So I thought how hard canit be to make a belt? I went to tandy latehr and bought a blank, rounded the tip adn punched some holes, stained it and added a buckle. Awesome I am now a leather worker...........LOL............. Next i wanted a holster..... OK how hard can that be? I am a leather worker after all, I can make belts....Well 5 trys later I had my first holster. I stil have it. The stitching is aweful, the edges are aweful the whole thing just aweful LOL. From there I got a couple of books and took a class from Tandy on making saddle bags. I took the course to learn how to saddle stitch and this class got me started. After that class I was now a leather worker that was an expert on stitching and saddle bags........yea right.....So what better way to show off my new expertease buit to make a messenger bag for my daughter. that actually turned out pretty good except fopr the stitching '-) I used the messenger bag for a week or two just to see if it would survive and I litteraly was inundated with interest and questions on it. I ended up selling a buch of them adn I still do . In the mean time there were some unsusal holsters and mag holders that i wanted so I designed up and made those as well. Again teh interest in them was suprising sdo I made more and they also sold very well. With the help of this site my stitching is now up to OK\Good and all my work has improved. SInce then I have made a ton of belts and a few wallets, holsters, dog collars and a number of messenger bags. Now I am interested in purses and other unique items (I am a bit compulsive\and ADHD when it come to my interests) It's still only a hobby for me but it seems to be paying for itself..... Well other than the acute tool fetish I seemed to have develpoed....Alas I digress.....In answer to your question, I wll have to give Tandy and the instructor (Beth) the initial nod as to my learning and then this site for my improvement and current abilities such as they are. This site also gives me insparation to try new things and improve my current abilities. Without this site, I doubt that I would still be doing any kind of leatherwork other than the occasional belt. So thank you (I think) Leatherworker.net

[shahbaz]

Hi

I'm new at this site plz if anybody have some knowledge on leather jackets waxing and tumbling guide me

Hi

I'm new at this site plz if anybody have some knowledge on leather jackets waxing and tumbling guide me