Leather Craft & Bag Making with Jo Heard
(Beginner, Intermediate & Advanced – 1 & 2 day courses)
Award winning craftsperson Jo Heard leads leather craft workshops for the Skills Centre throughout the year.
Jo’s courses are ideal if you are not interested in saddlery but want to make small to medium size leather goods, including bags. Offered at 3 levels, they are suitable for complete beginners, for those who have some experience, and for those with experience and who want to progress to more complex items. Students on the intermediate and advanced courses must have competency in the basic skills especially stitching and cutting out leather.
The Beginner courses are for students who are completely new to leatherwork and want to have a go to see if it is for them; or who may have some previous very limited experience; or have not crafted for a while, but who are ready to get back into the swing of leatherwork.
Beginners most likely have no, or only a few, tools. We lend tools for Beginner courses and we can also put together a starter kit of suitable tools if students want to purchase one. Let us know when booking.
The Intermediate & Advanced courses are for those who have completed the Beginner courses, or who have had some previous experience (and are a little rusty), but who are ready to begin working on items that are more complex. They can competently saddle stitch, are able to cut leather, have mastered the basic skills (cutting, edging, staining, creasing, stitch-marking) and know how to use tools correctly.
Advanced courses are not suitable for beginners. Participants should have their own tools including a set of clams.
Each workshop will focus on a different type of item(s) so check the course details, fees and dates before applying.
Duration and Fee
A non-refundable deposit of £50 is required with your application. If you have to cancel, the deposit can be rolled over once to another course.
One Day Classes:
Beginners (we can provide tools for your use on the day)
Introduction to leather work
Coaster (AM session) & cardholder (PM session).
Small leather goods
Beginner-friendly items including keyrings, cardholders, passport covers.
Leather belt making
Plain leather belt with handstitched buckle.
Plain dog collar and lead making
One item AM, second item if time in PM, both plain.
Leather notebook/journal cover
Advanced (students must have their own basic kit*of tools)
Advanced wallet making
Introduction to padding
Advanced dog collars
Introduction to bag making
Two Day Classes:
Intermediate
Shoulder bag 1
Shoulder bag with 2 piece shoulder strap.
Shoulder bag 2
New design bag with piping & magnetic closure, 1 piece adjustable shoulder strap.
Advanced
Tote bag
A simple tote, so no linings, but has a hanging pocket on the inside fitted with copper rivets. A lot of hand stitching and use of the bell skiver to reduce thickness along edges. A substantial amount of stitching is required to complete this bag.
Wash/grab bag
Small bag with zipped pocket, zip closure, piping and lining. Ideally students who have completed the simple zipped bag would progress to this one.
Folio cover
Rectangular bag
Tools*
Please contact patrick@walsall-leather.org to discuss what you have and what you may need depending on the course you are enrolling for.
The Centre will provide some tools for sharing where the cost of these is such that you are neither likely nor expected to have them in your toolbox.
Course Dates
Advanced dog collars – FULL
Level – Intermediate
Date – 3 February
Length – 1 day
Weekday
Introduction to bag making
Level – Intermediate
Date – 4 February
Length – 1 day
Weekday
Shoulder bag 1 – FULL
Level – Intermediate
Date – 7 & 8 February
Length – 2 days
Weekend
Shoulder bag 2
Level – Intermediate
Date – 7 & 8 March
Length – 2 days
Weekend
Shoulder bag 1
Level – Intermediate
Date – 21 & 22 March
Length – 2 days
Weekend
Introduction to leatherwork
Level – Beginner
Date – 7 April
Length – 1 day
Weekday
Small leather goods
Level – Beginner
Date – 8 April
Length – 1 day
Weekday
Shoulder bag 2
Level – Intermediate
Date – 9 & 10 June
Length – 2 days
Weekdays
Advanced wallet
Level – Advanced
Date – 21 July
Length – 1 day
Weekday
Introduction to padding
Level – Advanced
Date – 22 July
Length – 1 day
Weekday
Tote bag
Level – Advanced
Date – 25 & 26 July
Length – 2 days
Weekend
Wash/grab bag
Level – Advanced
Date – 22 & 23 September
Length – 2 days
Weekday
Introduction to leatherwork
Level – Beginner
Date – 26 September
Length – 1 day
Weekend
Small leather goods
Level – Beginner
Date – 27 September
Length – 1 day
Weekend
Introduction to leatherwork
Level – Beginner
Date – 20 October
Length – 1 day
Weekday
Small leather goods
Level – Beginner
Date – 21 October
Length – 1 day
Weekday
Shoulder bag 1
Level – Intermediate
Date – 24 & 25 October
Length – 2 days
Weekend
Folio cover
Level – Advanced
Date – 3 & 4 November
Length – 2 days
Weekdays
Rectangle bag
Level – Advanced
Date – 7 & 8 November
Length – 2 days
Weekend
Other Information
Intermediate and Advanced Course participants are expected to have a set of basic tools. A list of these will be provided upon booking. If you are coming from abroad we can provide a set of tools for the duration of the workshop.
You need to be able to stitch competently, use an awl and cut out complex shapes if you are enrolling on the Intermediate or Advanced courses. You should also have a familiarity with and be confident in the use of your tools.
We will teach you the Basic skills including saddle stitching if you are a complete beginner.
About Your Instructor: Jo Heard:
Jo has been a leading figure in the leathercraft industry since 2008. Traditionally trained as a saddler through the Cordwainers Diploma at Capel Manor College, she further honed her craft through the Modern and Millennium apprenticeship schemes. Her qualifications were jointly awarded by the City & Guilds and the Worshipful Company of Saddlers.
A multi-award-winning artisan, Jo’s commitment to quality and precision has made her a highly sought-after instructor.
Alongside her home based leatherwork business, J.H. Leather, Jo shares her expertise with students worldwide through her successful YouTube channel.