Five Day Bag Making Course: Machine Sewing

Join this comprehensive five-day leather craft and sewing masterclass in Woolwich and learn the professional skills needed to create your own high-end accessories. Led by an expert prototype maker and manufacturer, this intensive course provides a deep dive into the technical world of leatherworking, focusing on soft chrome leather – the gold standard for commercial bag making. You'll spend your week in a professional studio environment, gaining hands-on experience with specialized hand tools and industrial sewing machines.Throughout the week, you'll cover everything from the initial material selection to the final stitch. You'll explore the theory of tanning and finishes before moving into practical preparation, including marking, cutting, and skiving. Your mentor will guide you through the nuances of operating a lockstitch walking foot machine, ensuring you can achieve perfect tension and master tricky seams, curves, and parallel lines. You'll also learn the "hidden" secrets of the trade, such as using reinforcements, stabilisers, and stiffeners to give your work a professional structure.You will practice essential construction techniques by creating reference samples and working on key components:

• Hand-cut and prepare leather – Learn the correct way to use various tools and skiving knives for precision.
• Master industrial sewing – Get comfortable threading and operating heavy-duty machines specifically for leather.
• Professional finishing – Practice edge painting, inking, and using specialized glues and tapes.
• Component construction – Learn to sew and finish simple zips, create durable straps, and assemble gussets.
• Pattern fundamentals – Understand the principles of drafting patterns and construction for leather goods.

By the end of this immersive experience, you'll have the confidence to work independently on industrial machinery and a refined understanding of how to source the best materials for your future projects. You'll leave with a curated list of suppliers, your practice samples, and a beautiful, simple leather bag that you've crafted entirely from scratch. It's a rewarding way to elevate your creative practice and gain a genuine, lifelong skill.Please note: This masterclass runs for five consecutive days, Monday to Friday, from 10am to 5pm. You will be provided with useful paper handouts which contain:

• A list of tools and materials used during the lesson(s), including a description of what they are and how they are used
• A list of recommended suppliers for both leather and fittings (physically in London and online)
• A glossary containing essential key words related to the topic of the lesson
• A glossary containing information about leather types and characteristics
• A glossary containing information about needle and thread types

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