Leather Belt Making (short course)

The Leather Belt Making short course is a workshop-based course that will introduce you to the skills used in bridlework. It is suitable for anyone with little or no experience of leatherwork, and during the course you'll be taught leatherworking skills, and you'll be able to make a leather belt which can be of varying design.

You'll learn how to cut a leather strap accurately and use decorative tooling, hand dyeing and finishing. You'll also understand about belt hardware and how it is fitted. Small class sizes and plenty of hands-on opportunities mean that most students come away with two belts and will have practised a variety of techniques with emphasis on hands-on application such as:

• cutting leather straps
• bevelling leather
• burnishing and creasing cut edges
• riveting
• skiving leather
• edge staining
• saddle stitch
• hand stitching
• machine sewing
• punching holes ready for buckles
• making and fitting keepers
• finishing and polishing

This leather belt making short course is hands-on, and advice and guidance is available throughout using a variety of teaching methods including demonstration, instructions, one-to-one tutorial guidance, group discussions and critiques.

By the end of the course, you'll have learnt:

• about different types of leathers and their different uses
• about various tools, materials and techniques
• how to cut and hole punch vegetable tanned leather
• how to hand stitch and machine sew leather
• how to personalise or pattern leather by stamping and carving
• how to apply professional edge finishing and polishing using leather dyes for edges and cover
Tutor profile

Read more about course tutor Franco Marinelli.