Leatherwork: Designing and making a crossbody bag
A course by Hemlock and Hyde , Handcrafted Leather Goods Company
Joined May 2022
Discover the art of leatherwork and learn how to make your own stylish crossbody bag.
Joined May 2022
Discover the art of creating unique leather bags with Hemlock and Hyde. Join Leanne and Nick Polidore, the talented duo behind the renowned leather-goods business, as they share their expertise and guide you through the process of designing and hand-making your own vegetable-tanned leather bags.
With meticulous attention to detail and a blend of heritage quality and contemporary shapes, you'll learn essential tools and techniques to bring your bag designs to life. From sketching patterns to mastering leather-working techniques, you'll create a stunning half-circle crossbody bag, the Moonrise design.
Unleash your creativity and craftsmanship as you embark on a journey to produce wearable pieces of art that truly reflect your style.
What will you learn in this online course?
19 lessons & 21 downloads
- 100% positive reviews (50)
- 3,026 students
- 19 lessons (2h 52m)
- 21 additional resources (5 files)
- Online and at your own pace
- Available on the app
- Audio: English, German, Spanish (Latam), French, Indonesian, Italian, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Turkish
- English · Spanish · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch · Turkish · Romanian · Indonesian
- Level: Beginner
- Unlimited access forever
What is this course's project?
The course project invites you to create a half-circle crossbody bag, known as the Moonrise design. This unique and stylish bag will be handcrafted by you using vegetable-tanned leather and the techniques learned throughout the course.
Through cutting, folding, stitching, and customizing, you'll bring your own creative touch to the bag, resulting in a wearable piece of art that perfectly suits your style.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
This course is perfect for intermediate and adventurous beginner leatherworkers who are eager to enhance their skills and explore the art of creating handmade leather bags.
Whether you have some prior knowledge and experience in leatherwork or you're completely new to the craft, Leanne and Nick Polidore will guide you through the process step by step. If you're passionate about craftsmanship, enjoy working with your hands, and have a love for unique and personalized accessories, this course is for you.
Requirements and materials
You'll need some basic leather-working hand tools, such as blades, hole punches, and needles. Additionally, you'll need access to vegetable-tanned leather and a workspace where you can comfortably work on your bag project.
Reviews
Hemlock and Hyde
A course by Hemlock and Hyde
Leanne and Nick Polidore, the creative minds behind Hemlock and Hyde, have established themselves as masters of leather craftsmanship. With their unwavering attention to detail and a passion for blending heritage quality with contemporary shapes, they have garnered recognition and success in the leather-goods industry.
Through their leather-goods business, they design and hand-make bags that reflect their love for structure, art, and functionality. Leanne and Nick's work has been featured in renowned publications such as Philadelphia Magazine and Philadelphia Business Journal, and their creations have been sold in prestigious venues like the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Content
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U1
Introduction
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About Us
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Influences
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To Learn More: Studio Tour
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U2
The Materials, Design, and Foundational Techniques
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Understanding Leather and the Moonrise Bag
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Materials and Workspace Preparation
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Sketching and Pattern Making
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Technique, Foundations, and Practical Exercises
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U3
The First Steps
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Cutting the Bag Pieces
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Prep Work
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Preparing the Gusset
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Dry Fitting and Gluing up the Gusset
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Pricking Irons: Punching Holes in the Front Panel
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U4
Making the Bag
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Time to Saddle Stitch
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Sewing the Back Panel to the Gusset and Front Panel
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Finishing the Edges
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Creating an Adjustable Strap
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Customizing with Hardware
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U5
Post-production
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Finding Your Design Voice
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Documenting and Promoting Your Bag on Social Media
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FP
Final project
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Leather bags
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What to expect from a Domestika course
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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.
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Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
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Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
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Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
Yes, this leathercraft course is designed for beginners and covers all the essential techniques and materials needed to start creating leather bags and accessories from scratch.
You’ll need basic leatherworking tools like a rotary cutter, pricking irons, bone folder, awl, burnisher, adhesives, and hardware, as well as different types of leather and paper for pattern making. A full supply list is provided in the course.
You’ll learn how to design, pattern, cut, stitch, and finish leather bags, including edge finishing, saddle stitching, hardware installation, and how to incorporate embroidery and vintage inspiration into your designs.
Yes, the course explains how to evaluate leather types, thickness, and tanning processes so you can select the best materials for your specific bag projects.
Absolutely. The course teaches both hand-drawn and digital pattern making techniques, including creating gusset and silhouette patterns from scratch.
Yes, the course includes tips for setting up a functional workspace at home, regardless of space limitations, and offers storage and organization advice for small studios.
Yes, you’ll learn advanced techniques including edge burnishing, bone folding, beveling, and precise hole punching for a professional finish.
¡He aprendido muchísimo con este curso!
I had been wanting to take a course like this for years to truly understand the processes, techniques, and proper use of tools. This course turned out to be absolutely wonderful — excellent work, everyone! Thanks to Domestika for supporting such in-depth and well-explained courses that truly inspire creativity and initiative. I’m delighted with this course and really hope more like this will be created in the future.
Super !
Consiglio il corso, una guida completa passo passo per realizzare una borsa.
Lovelly!!!