Making a Leather Bag: An Intro

Shortly I will compose a post about my summer sewing plans, but in the meanwhile, let's have a look at one of the projects on the list. I know it's putting the cart before the horse but, hey, it's my horse and my cart and I can do what I want!

After being sucked in by the lure of leather-working - and on the advice of many, I signed up for the Craftsy Course: Making Leather Bags, taught by Don Morin. Fun fact: He's a TO guy. Apparently, when it comes to the bag-making community (independent vendors, teachers etc.), Toronto is where it's at. Who knew? What I will say is that this is the best course I've ever taken from Craftsy and it's worth it to buy at full price. Mind you, wait for a sale.

The happy accident is that many of the resources, required to make a bag, reside within my city.

Sara, Andrea and I have decided to make the tote that Don teaches in the Craftsy class. It looks like this:

Do I like totes? No. Will I use it? I don't know. But I do sense that the best way to learn something is to follow the instructions. I don't want to complicate what might be a complicated undertaking by going off road with a different pattern.

Besides, I think I've fancied up this boring bag by choosing some sexy materials:

• The main bag will be made from that textured, snake-skin style pigskin.
• The trim will be made from that awesome slate blue lambskin - the colour is insanely gorgeous but you can't see it here. Sara and I are going to share this skin because it's much larger than is required for the bag and the leather store doesn't cut into skins.
• The lining is nylon (which you need because leather will rot natural fabrics and threads). I think it gives an extra layer of style-complexity to the main skin and it's perfectly in the colour family...

My walking foot has now arrived. The roller foot is on its way - as is my stabilizing cold tape and my brayer and a few other gizmos. I still need to procure certain other tools before I begin and natch, I need to make that bridesmaid dress for Allison, but I'm hoping to get started over the long weekend, if the stars align.

So, whatcha think?