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Creative Journaling , Creative Thinking ,

Leathercrafting 101 with Rob Kelsey

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Rob Kelsey rob-kelsey

Class Description:

Step into the timeless world of leatherworking with this hands-on basics class, where you'll learn the fundamental skills and knowledge needed to start your leather crafting journey. In this session, you'll get familiar with essential leatherworking tools, understand different types of leather, and create your first simple project under expert guidance.Discover the satisfaction of working with your hands as you learn proper techniques and safety practices. Rob will guide you through selecting the right leather for different projects, along with basic cutting, tooling, and joining techniques. You'll explore essential tools, including must-haves and nice-to-haves. This is your opportunity to build a solid foundation in leatherworking without feeling overwhelmed by advanced techniques.

What You Will Learn:

  • Essential leatherworking tools and their proper uses
  • Different types of leather and their characteristics
  • How to select the right leather for your projects
  • Basic cutting and shaping techniques
  • Fundamental stitching and joining methods
  • Safety practices for leatherworking

Supplies You'll Need:

  • Cutting mat
  • Sharp craft knife
  • Awl (alt. nail)
  • Rawhide hammer
  • Ruler
  • Waxed thread
  • Leather needle
  • Scrap leather

About Instructor

rob-kelsey

Rob is a Chicago-based art maker, whose practice spans many media, not just illustration. But whether he’s working on a sculpture, mask, painting, or game, it all begins with pen on paper. After graduating from DePaul in 2015 with a degree in Animation for Games, he began expanding his horizons into book arts, printmaking, and more. Whatever media he’s working in, his work is unified by a sense of the macabre, an emphasis on interaction, and the belief that the physical presence of a piece is vital to its essence.

15 Classes

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Class Details:

  • 📊Level: Beginner
  • ⏰Time: 1 Hour, 57 Minutes

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Ratings and Reviews

4.5
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What's your experience? We'd love to know!
richard-gigi
Posted 1 year ago
Live Class Review

It was really cool to see the artist at work. Great demo of how to do leather tooling. His work is beautiful! I couldn't follow along because I didn't have any of the stamping tools, but now I know what to get. The supply list could've had more details. I bought things that were not correct. I was hoping for more about joining and stitching, and sounds like another class is in the works. Thank you!

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LindaH
Posted 1 year ago
Live Class Review

Rob did a great job of explaining the different kinds of leathers there are The tools needed to cut, sew, colour and stamp designs on are shown also He did a Demo to show how to cut, design, and sew leather

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