Create Custom Hand-Sewn Leather Bags
A course by Beth Dow , Leather Goods Maker
Learn how to handcraft original handbags with unique textures from scratch using vegetable-tanned hide and the two-needle stitch
Learn how to handcraft original handbags with unique textures from scratch using vegetable-tanned hide and the two-needle stitch
“Ever since I began sewing, I’ve been fascinated by the way two-dimensional shapes can be built into complex three-dimensional forms.”
Beth Dow is a visual artist and craftswoman based in Minneapolis. She teaches photography and leatherwork at Metropolitan State University in St. Paul. Beth sells her hand-made goods from her online shop, Fieldwork Goods.
In this online course, Beth shows you how to make a quality leather bag with your own hands. Learn the ins and outs of designing bespoke leatherwear from scratch, and construct your own unique tote bag from start to finish, with Beth guiding you every step of the way.
What will you learn in this online course?
25 lessons & 13 downloads
- 100% positive reviews (58)
- 2,729 students
- 25 lessons (6h 0m)
- 13 additional resources (5 files)
- Online and at your own pace
- Available on the app
- Audio: English
- English · Spanish · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch
- Level: Beginner
- Unlimited access forever
What is this course's project?
Produce an open-top tote bag using vegetable-tanned hide and the two-needle stitch.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
This course is for anyone who wants to be able to make their own leather goods from scratch.
Requirements and materials
No previous experience with leather or sewing is required. However, you should be comfortable working with tools.
In terms of materials, you’ll need a range of specific leather-working supplies and equipment including: vegetable-tanned cowhide, thread, stitching chisels, utility knife, mallet, and other materials specified by the teacher in the course.
Reviews
Beth Dow is a multidisciplinary visual artist, photographer and craftswoman who splits her time between digital and physical works of art from her studio in Minneapolis. She has a Masters of Fine Art in Photography.
Beth has taught leatherwork at the Penland School of Crafts and North House Folk School, and she also teaches photography and leatherwork at Metropolitan State University in St. Paul. She sells hand-made goods through her shop, Fieldwork Goods. Beth’s photography has been shown in several museum collections and exhibitions across the US and China.
Content
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U1
Introduction
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About Me
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Influences
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U2
Introducing the Materials and Tools
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Vegetable-Tanned Cowhide
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Tools and Materials
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Drafting the Pattern
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Cutting the Leather 1
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Cutting the Leather 2
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U3
Assembling the Bag
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Preparing for Sewing 1
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Preparing for Sewing 2
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Preparing for Sewing 3
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Sewing with the Saddle Stitch 1
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Sewing with the Saddle Stitch 2
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Sewing with the Siddle Stitch 3
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Sewing on the Pocket
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Making the Bottom Panel 1
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Making the Bottom Panel 2
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How to Make and Attach the Handles 1
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How to Make and Attach the Handles 2
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Wet Molding the End Panels
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Cementing the End Panels 1
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Cementing the End Panels 2
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Sewing the End Panels 1
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Sewing the End Panels 2
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U4
Finishing the Tote Bag
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The Final Shaping
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Sealing and Treating the Leather
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FP
Final project
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Create Custom Hand-Sewn Leather Bags
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What to expect from a Domestika course
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Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
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FAQs
Domestika's courses are online classes that provide you with the tools and skills you need to complete a specific project. Every step of the project combines video lessons with complementary instructional material, so you can learn by doing. Domestika's courses also allow you to share your own projects with the teacher and with other students, creating a dynamic course community.
All courses are 100% online, so once they're published, courses start and finish whenever you want. You set the pace of the class. You can go back to review what interests you most and skip what you already know, ask questions, answer questions, share your projects, and more.
The courses are divided into different units. Each one includes lessons, informational text, tasks, and practice exercises to help you carry out your project step by step, with additional complementary resources and downloads. You'll also have access to an exclusive forum where you can interact with the teacher and with other students, as well as share your work and your course project, creating a community around the course.
You can redeem the course you received by accessing the redeeming page and entering your gift code.
chaguelas
Muy bien explicado, de manera detallada. Totalmente recomendable
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marimar_58verde
Con este curso, he aprendido lo esencial para comenzar a fabricar bolsos en cuero, estoy muy agradecida, muchísimas gracias.
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ssankan
¡¡Excelente, ella es muy clara para explicar y preocupada por los detalles!!!
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econstantsea
Beth Dow is very meticulous in her instructions on how to create a leather tote. I have experience in leather working, but I still learned things I did not know before. She is very correct in suggesting that sewing gussets is probably the hardest part of this project. Students will need much practice to refine this skill. Overall it was a very interesting course. Probably could have been done a little more quickly. Thanks.
mandisa46
Great course, very easy to follow. Highly recommend it.