Leather Crafting 101
A course by Christina RothLeather Goods Artisan
A course by Christina Roth, Leather Goods Artisan
Learn to handcraft leather goods using saddle stitching techniques, from choosing the leather to sealing the edges
Leatherwork is one of the oldest crafts in the world and, thanks to Christina Roth, it is more alive than ever. In her workshop, she makes custom, made-to-order items and gives new life to old pieces, with the aim of enhancing the quality of the raw material and refining it with artisanal touches. In this online course, she teaches you everything you need to know about leather and its processing.
Discover the basic skills for cutting, gluing, and sewing leather, and learn how to create a pattern for your item, place buckles and zippers, sculpt volumes, and achieve perfectly smooth edges. These techniques allow you to create your own leather goods and modify, reuse, or repair others you already have, from belts and watch straps to home accessories, decorative objects, and handbags.
What will you learn in this online course?
18 lessons & 9 downloads
The Leather
8 minutes, 24 seconds
The Tools
12 minutes, 58 seconds
Cutting and Sharpening Leather
16 minutes, 5 seconds
Gluing Leather
12 minutes, 8 seconds
Sewing Leather 1
20 minutes, 0 seconds
Sewing Leather 2
17 minutes, 36 seconds
What's included in this course?
Begin the course by meeting your teacher, Christina Roth, who tells you about how she decided to focus her professional career on one of the oldest crafts in the world. Discover the inspirations behind her creations.
Christina gives you an introduction to the tools and materials needed for working with leather. Move on to the first exercises and learn the basics of cutting, gluing, sewing, and sealing it.
Prepare the pattern for your bag and decide on its measurements, before selecting the right leather and cutting it. Next, Christina shows you how to assemble the outer piece with the inner lining, how to work the edges, and how to attach a zipper.
Finally, assemble all the parts of your piece and make the shoulder strap. To wrap up the course, Christina explains how to further customize your creation.
What is this course's project?
Hand-sew a zippered belt bag with an adjustable leather strap and leather lining using traditional saddlery techniques.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
Anyone who wants to work with leather for the first time and those who already have some experience but want to improve their skills.
Requirements and materials
It is possible to take this course even if you have no previous knowledge of leather crafting. However, you will need to strengthen your grasp of the concepts and skills explained in the introductory lessons before moving on to the final project.
As for materials, you will need a piece of leather suitable for the project, some general hand tools, and special leather crafting instruments that Christina shows you during the course.
Reviews
- 8 months ago
The course is well structured and the content is interesting. The instructor explains the concepts clearly and the topic itself is very engaging. However, the editing and dubbing are very poor, which makes it difficult to follow the lessons and fully enjoy the course. This is a real pity, because with better editing and higher-quality dubbing, the course could be excellent
- 9 months ago
Très bon , les explications sont fluides
- 10 months ago
muy bueno!
- 1 year ago
Ottimo corso, molto professionale
- 1 year ago
La traducción en español es un desastre, la lista de materiales es aún peor, no se entiende nada y encima algunos links están caidos y no se puede ni adivinar. De la clase y los contenidos no puedo opinar porque no se entiende ni la mitad, una pena que no se haya traducido correctamente.
By handcrafting with traditional saddlery stitching, she is keeping an ancient craft alive, and her factory is currently the only business in Austria that trains an apprentice in this profession. In addition to the recognition her work receives in the media, Christina is also an ambassador for this unusual profession and participates in several television programs, collaborates as a jury member in competitions, and gives lectures and workshops.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- About Me
- Inspirations
- U2
Basic Knowledge of Leathercraft
- The Leather
- The Tools
- Cutting and Sharpening Leather
- Gluing Leather
- Sewing Leather 1
- Sewing Leather 2
- Working on the Edges
- U3
Preparations for the Belt Bag
- Pattern and Dimensions
- Leather Selection and Cutting
- Gluing Parts and Clean Cut
- Making the Edges
- The Zipper
- U4
Assembling the Belt Bag
- Assembling the Bag Parts
- Making the Shoulder Strap
- Attaching the Shoulder Strap
- Customizing the Bag
- FP
Final project
- Leather Crafting 101
What to expect from a Domestika course
Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
Certificates
PLUSIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
Share knowledge and ideas
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.
Connect with a global creative community
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FAQs
This course is aimed at those with some basic leatherworking experience, but passionate beginners with a craft interest will also benefit. Both fundamental and advanced techniques are clearly explained.
You’ll master professional leatherworking skills: cutting, sharpening, gluing, sewing (including saddle stitch), edge finishing, plus making, restoring, and personalizing bags, belts, and accessories — including materials knowledge, pattern making, and sustainable practices.
You’ll need basic tools like a utility knife, sharpening knife, awl, needles, thread, contact cement, ruler, sandpaper, and possibly a sharpening machine, along with various leathers and accessories like zippers and belt buckles.
Yes, the course covers sustainable sourcing, vegetable-tanned leather, ecological considerations, local suppliers, and how these differ from vegan alternatives.
Step-by-step guides walk you through planning, pattern making, cutting, sharpening, gluing, sewing, and finishing a variety of leather goods — from bags and belts to watch straps.
Yes, you’ll learn classic hand-stitching techniques like the saddle stitch, as well as professional methods for leather restoration, developing patina, and repairs.
Course length depends on your prior knowledge and project choices. To fully work through and complete the projects, plan for several weeks.