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Join me on in my Bristol studio for a day of making and craft yourself your own pair of bespoke leather sneakers.  This is a fun yet challenging day of learning new skills.  The class size is limited to a maximum of 4 people to ensure you get plenty of one to one attention! 

You will first cut out the leather uppers from a pattern before making stitching holes and lacing holes with specialist leather tools which are provided.  You will then have the option to sew on additional details and fix metal eyelets on the lacing holes.  Finally, you will hand sew the leather uppers to the rubber soles.  Build yourself a pair of new sneakers!  This workshop requires a degree of strength in the hands and may not be suitable for people with reduced mobility or strength in their hands (cutting/sewing leather can be hard work!). 

You will learn - 
* How to cut out leather from a pattern
* How to punch holes in leather
* How to use a variety of leatherwork tools
* How to hand stitch leather
* How to fix metal eyelets
* How to sew the leather upper to the rubber sole

Join me on in my Bristol studio for a day of making and craft yourself your own pair of bespoke leather sneakers.  This is a fun yet challenging day of learn...

Make a pair of leather sneakers in a day

Question 1

Please let me know your preferred shoe size.  Refer to the size chart.  Soles are ordered in advance of the class and I will need your size no less than 1 week before the date.  

Join me in my Bristol studio in Montpelier to make your very own leather bag or backpack.  There will be 2 styles to choose from: a saddle bag or bucket bag. Both styles are constructed using absolutely no stitching, sewing machines or needles!  Pieces are woven together with some strategically-placed rivets to keep them secure. You'll even get to choose the colour of your fully functional leather bag.  The class size is limited to a maximum of 4 people to ensure you get plenty of one to one attention! 

YOU WILL LEARN

How to use a variety of leather work tools to cut, punch out and finish leather.
How to set metal rivets to join leather. 
Choose from two bag shapes - saddle bag or bucket bag (bags will measure roughly 28cm x 28cm when completed)
Choose from a wide selection of coloured leather
If you fancy, emboss your bag with your name or initials - discover how to use a hot foiling machine

WHAT'S INCLUDED

A choice of bag styles - bucket bag or saddle bag
A wide range of responsibly-sourced Italian vegetable tanned leather to choose from 
Solid brass buckles and fittings
Tea, coffee and biscuits

For lunch, we'll take a short break - there are lots of fab independent cafe's nearby in Stokes Croft 

Join me in my Bristol studio in Montpelier to make your very own leather bag or backpack.  There will be 3 styles to choose from: a saddle bag, bucket bag an...

Make your own Leather Bucket Bag or Saddle Bag

Join me in my Bristol studio in Montpelier to make your very own leather cross body bag. This perfectly formed structured mini bag is constructed using absolutely no stitching, sewing machines or needles! Pieces are woven together with some strategically-placed rivets to keep them secure. You'll even get to choose the colour of your fully functional leather bag. The class size is limited to a maximum of 4 people to ensure you get plenty of one to one attention!

The finished bag will measure 15cm (6”) wide by 19cm (7.5”) high by 4cm (1.5”) deep.  With an adjustable strap you can make to your preferred length.  

YOU WILL LEARN

How to use a variety of leather work tools to cut, punch out and finish leather. How to set metal rivets to join leather. Choose from a wide selection of coloured leather If you fancy, emboss your bag with your name or initials - discover how to use a hot foiling machine or a hand stamping set.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

A wide range of responsibly-sourced Italian vegetable tanned leather to choose from Solid brass buckles and fittings Teas, coffee and biscuits

Join me in my Bristol studio in Montpelier to make your very own leather cross body bag. This perfectly formed structured mini bag is constructed using absol...

Make a Stitchless Mini Leather Bag in a Morning

Esther set up Leather Needle Thread in 2016 teaching handbag making workshops in Bristol, UK. Having guided over 300 people to make their own DIY leather bags (and the odd espadrille and leather sneaker!) from scratch she learnt what they found challenging, what they enjoyed and how they developed a sense of pride in their abilities.

Esther has been a leatherworker for over 10 years and studied bag design and construction at the London College of Fashion before going on to work in the industry as a leatherworker and sample maker.  The bag making kits were dreamed up because she wanted to give people a way to easily make covetable leather bags from beautiful materials, minimal tools and pared-back techniques in their own home.

Leather Needle Thread

Our classes

Our classes

Our classes