{"id":3657,"date":"2024-12-18T14:18:54","date_gmt":"2024-12-18T19:18:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/diyode.com\/blog\/?p=3657"},"modified":"2025-01-16T17:56:48","modified_gmt":"2025-01-16T22:56:48","slug":"leatherworking-workshop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/diyode.com\/blog\/2024\/12\/leatherworking-workshop\/","title":{"rendered":"Leatherworking Workshop"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

For context, when I think of leather, I\u2019m thinking \u201cthe heaviest armor you\u2019re allowed to wear as a rogue.\u201d Leather is flexible and in contrast to something like platemail (yes we\u2019re still in DnD land) isn\u2019t something you forge. If it\u2019s not something you forge, it\u2019s more like cloth, so it\u2019s got to be something you sew.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the winding train of thoughts which lead me to being so so wrong. Leather is very much not like cloth. Whether or not you got to the same place is probably predicated on how much of your life is contextualized by video games and fantasy RPGs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It was through attending Gavin Davidson\u2019s workshop that I learned leatherworking is much more like sculpture. Gavin is a leatherworker here in Guelph. His work can be seen posted on his Instagram(@seamingly_normal)<\/a> and his website(seaminglynormal.ca)<\/a>. Initially working with sturdy textiles to create outdoor gear, but Gavin found leather to be a more popular and rewarding material. Not only did it resonate more with his customers, but the hands-on, meditative process of leatherworking also drew him in. This isn\u2019t to say Gavin\u2019s approach to his work is entirely mercenary, as he expressed to me that he found leatherworking a simpler, more satisfying process. The process is more hands on, and the sewing process is almost meditative. Gavin was certainly experienced in his craft, having told me his favorite project was an old leather jacket into a duffle bag. And even though this was his first time running a workshop, he was a very patient and attentive teacher for those attending.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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One take away that Gavin left me with was that there were a huge number of leather working techniques, so how one person goes from raw materials to a leather jacket may be different from another. Still, I\u2019ll do my best to give you the broad strokes of the leather working process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Dye prep – The leather needs to be prepared to take the dye, so we start with treating it with a substance called \u201cNeatsfoot Oil\u201d.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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    1. Dying – Once the leather is prepared, we\u2019ll actually take some dye and apply it to the leather. Gavin recommended doing this with something that won\u2019t absorb the dye itself with rabbit\u2019s fur being the best for this, and paper towel being the worst. Just like paint, there\u2019s a good chance you\u2019ll need to do several layers, giving each coat a chance to dry.\n