Valerie Michael-a founding member of the Association of Design Leatherworkers-has created the definitive guide to this popular and age-old craft. Oriented to the beginner, it thoroughly presents all the materials, tools, and key techniques in easy-to-follow photographs: finishing edges, paring and hand-stitching, making pockets, attaching studs and straps, and decorating surfaces. The well-chosen projects take into account developing skills, and range from belt and wallets to quilted items and bags. An invaluable reference work.
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Editorial Reviews
From Booklist
Michael's guide covers basic leatherworking techniques, describes the scientific makeup of an animal skin, explains the tanning process, and depicts an efficient workshop setup. In addition, Michael specifies tools and equipment and lists the materials necessary to sew, dye, glue, and finish each project. Line drawings combined with photographs effectively illustrate methods used to create a variety of boxes, belts, purses, wallets, briefcases, and molded decorative masks. And Michael's step-by-step instructions are concise enough to offer craft enthusiasts of differing skill levels a range of projects to undertake. Color plates depict finished pieces, and sources of supplies are noted. Alice Joyce
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
About the Author
Valerie Michael is a founding member of the Association of Designer Leatherworkers and has been a full-time leatherworker for over twenty years.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
63 of 63 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is a welcome addition to my leatherworking library. Particularly since the the styles are similar to my own tastes - very plain, but elegant. Very different from the typical US type of leatherworking with lots of tooling, buckstitching, etc. Not that I don't appreciate that style also - I have a huge stack of Ann & Al Stohlman's books that I regularly re-read - but it is nice to see something *different*. The techniques, also, are a bit different in some cases, which I also appreciate.
As the author is British, some of the terms and tools may seem unfamiliar at first. However, there are either the "American-English" equivalents listed, or it's clear what is meant from skimming the text.
A definite addition to any leatherworkers'library.
39 of 39 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
I had in mind a project that needed two particular leatherworking skills - box stitching and moulding leather - and had found many many books which told me in great detail just how to do a thousand other things, much rarer and more complex.
Then I found this book - clear, informative, and reassuring. Bravo!
Richard Byrne
37 of 38 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
The illustration of techniques in this book is magnificent. I really appreciate the close-up shots and clear photography. If I have a complaint about the book it's that the book is too focused on 'container' type projects. The methods illustrated can easily be adapted, though.
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
By hoorayhooray
Format:Paperback
I'm new to working with leather, and this book answered all of my questions about the tools I needed and the materials. It includes magnificent photographs of some inspiring projects, and my only wish is that full instructions be provided for all of them. As it is, there is a sampling of projects in the back, generally very simple and classic looking, occasionally too 80s for modern tastes.
I have made my first bag with this book already, and am about to embark on my second. But the book has useful information for anyone interested in making belts, boxes, wallets, etc.
The resource guide at the end of the book has not been updated since before the advent of the Internet, so it will be of limited use. However, my own Google searches unearthed all of the tools and materials I actually needed. The suggested set-up for a workshop in the book is fanciful for a beginner: I hardly have a tabletop to dedicate to this pastime, let alone a custom-fit room of my own. Some of the tools are similarly useful, but not impossible to do without -- so don't be put off by the lengthy list in the front. I found a number of supplies (linen thread, long, blunt needles, an awl) in the bookbinding section of a local art store.
I have made my first bag with this book already, and am about to embark on my second. But the book has useful information for anyone interested in making belts, boxes, wallets, etc.
The resource guide at the end of the book has not been updated since before the advent of the Internet, so it will be of limited use. However, my own Google searches unearthed all of the tools and materials I actually needed. The suggested set-up for a workshop in the book is fanciful for a beginner: I hardly have a tabletop to dedicate to this pastime, let alone a custom-fit room of my own. Some of the tools are similarly useful, but not impossible to do without -- so don't be put off by the lengthy list in the front. I found a number of supplies (linen thread, long, blunt needles, an awl) in the bookbinding section of a local art store.
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
A breath of fresh air! It has been a long time since a book about Leathercraft held my interest like this one does. I have worked in this field for more than twenty years and books on the craft are fairly hit and miss with the subject.
Valeries book is well layed out and very informitive. Good descriptive text and pictures, make the projects therein, a breeze. Although it is a small selection of how to skills for the Leathercrafter, the selection is different and challenging. Highly recommended for schools etc
Valeries book is well layed out and very informitive. Good descriptive text and pictures, make the projects therein, a breeze. Although it is a small selection of how to skills for the Leathercrafter, the selection is different and challenging. Highly recommended for schools etc
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I started out working with leather on my own with some help from my local leatherworking supplier. Unhappy with the results I was getting I decided on buying this book and I was not disappointed. The quality of my work is far better now than I could have hoped for. A must read for beginners.
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book stands out from the general run of leathercraft books by not being "crafty" (i.e., about making junk) and presenting truly fine workmanship - not the equal of commercial products, but better. It is superbly illustrated and very much to the point. It presents tools, techniques, and projects in order of difficulty. The project items are worthwhile, beautiful, even elegant. No digressions on philosophy or history, no segues into other crafts, no lists of out-of-date websites and suppliers, etc. Buy it. It will elevate your vision as to what's possible.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By J. Elliott
Format:Paperback
I have been very interesting in making purses and other items where building a case is critical. I found this book to be excellent in answering many of my questions. I have found no one book can answer all your questions. A lot depends on reading and working to develop more understanding. This book attracted me because it uses molds to shape form leather into cases. I found the other information in the book very helpful with my projects and developing my skills and ideas.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great For Beginners...
I borrowed about 6 books from my local library and this one was by far the best. Simple to follow, very informative and with lots of different projects.
Published 10 days ago by G. Marshall
2.0 out of 5 stars
Leatherworking Handbook
I found this to be quite disappointing. It has some useful technique tips, but the projects are poorly illustrated, and the description of how to make them is too brief.
Published 2 months ago by Stephen Gent
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ottimo acquisto
Soddisfatto, il libro é ben fatto e con immagini esaustivi , contiene inoltre alcuni pattern da cui prendere spunto. Consegna veloce e oggetto ben protetto. Lo consiglio.
Published 3 months ago by Matteo Bastianon
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good presentation of fundamental leather working skills
Fundamental leather working skills are covered at a detailed enough level to let you tailor your particular project to the examples in the book. Read more
Published 3 months ago by D. Bishop
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not terrible
It's book isn't all that great , has some tips to use but it is more about the field of leatherwork than the tips
Published 3 months ago by Charles E. Coulter
3.0 out of 5 stars
Decent book, but there are better ones.
this is a pretty good book, but not what I thought it would be. It covers a lot of basic info about what leather is and how it is tanned and produced. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Willard E Duff III
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great and helpful book
I bought this to help me learn the basics of Leather working and was not disappointed. It gives you a good introduction to leather working tools, terms, and skills. Read more
Published 4 months ago by R. Ivey
3.0 out of 5 stars
I learned some things but...
It's a good book for someone hand sewing with vegetable tanned hides. Since I machine sew scraps. I'm still looking for my leather book. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Fiber fabrications
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great simple designs
If most leather books can be classed as "western," this book might be classed as "Swiss." Its designs are clean and elegant. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Doug Saylor
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good book!!
Very good book with great ideas and instructions. Well writen. Some of it is the old ways but is good to go back to Basics sometimes.
Published 6 months ago by Marcy
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 4
books:
4
books
cite this book:
- The Decoration of Leather by Georges De Recy in Back Matter
- How To Carve Leather by Al Stohlman in Back Matter
- Leather Braiding (reprint) by Bruce Grant in Back Matter
- Technique of Leathercraft by W. A. Attwater in Back Matter
- Tailspin: The Strange Case of Major Call by Bernard F. Conners on page 481
- The Art of the Western Saddle: A Celebration of Style and Embellishment by Bill Reynolds in Back Matter
- Conservation of Leather and Related Materials (Conservation and Museology) by Marion Kite on page 112
- More 101 Best Home-Based Businesses for Women by Priscilla Huff on page 189
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