"The guide for leathercrafters who want a clearly traditional focus, who believe quality matters, and who want to learn traditional techniques to use in modern ways."--back cover
The Hand-Stitched Surface offers inspiring techniques and beautiful projects for creating richly layered mixed-media surfaces on paper and fabric to encourage stitchers to slow down and savor their handiwork.
A big part of the artisanal/DIY movement is about authenticity and quality, with a return to simplicity, real values, genuine materials, and careful craftsmanship. Leather is one of those authentic materials, and while it has always been used for handbags and gloves, it’s also enjoying a resurgence in the field of crafts. Simple objects elegantly made of leather are featured everywhere on maker blogs, photo-sharing sites, tutorials, and craft marketplaces. Leather is in the real world, too, in heavily curated hipster boutiques and well-edited coffee shops that sell sundries. Idiot’s Guides®: Leather Crafts offers 20 projects (illustrated with copious step-by-step photos), ranging from beginner to advanced, each one building on the skills that have been taught in prior projects. Unlike most existing books on leathercraft, which come with a heavy whiff of the ‘70s, this one has a sleek, modern aesthetic. The projects are functional, and the minimal, elegant embellishment and natural finishes will keep them timeless.
HOLSTERS have played, and are still playing, a very important part in the history of man. And, since the making and manufacture of the first hand guns, methods for concealing, easier handling and carrying of these weapons have been devised. Trial and error being the surest way of improvement, holster making has now advanced to fill almost every need and requirement of the pistol user. Today, with the hundreds of Makes, Models, and barrel lengths of hand guns, it would be virtually impossible to reproduce holster patterns for each and every one into book form. The Holster Patterns presented in this book are a cross-section of a few of the most popular Makes and Models of the guns in use today; with alternate designs and added barrel lengths as space permits. Most of the Carving Designs presented can be altered for shorter, longer, or odd barrel lengths by adding or omitting a leaf, scroll, etc. The designs can also be used on similar holster patterns for other guns by “stretching” or “squeezing” the flowers, leaves, etc., to fit the confines of the border lines. With a little Imagination and Ingenuity, the Carving Designs in this book can be used on hundreds of holster patterns. Remember… the patterns shown will also fit many other similar makes and models of guns … too numerous to mention. The purpose of this book is to assist and instruct the craftsman in various methods of Holster Construction and Holster Pattern Making. Each phase is shown with clearly defined step-by-step photos and drawings. It is hoped that this book will aid the Self Taught Student, Instructor, and Professional Craftsman alike to further their knowledge of “How To Make Holsters” for Profit, Personal Satisfaction and Fun! A “special” thanks to my wife, Terry, who has devoted countless hours and painstaking effort to produce all of the photographs appearing in this book. Many thanks to Ralph Tiner . . . Sporting Goods Center, Hemet, Calif. … for his willing cooperation in supplying guns and information. Thanks to Lee Kelly, U. S. Forestry Service, and many other friends who have given unselfishly of their time and assistance. To the Leathercraftsman: Thanks for your patience in awaiting the first publication of “How To Make Holsters” .. . Many Happy Hours! Sincerely, Al Stohlman
• The must-have guide for working with leather. • Great book for beginning leather crafters. • Comprehensive presentation of essential techniques. • Handy tips from leather crafting experts. • Well-illustrated with color photos. • Traditional floral carving step-by-step project.
This comprehensive guide explores the fundamental sewing methods fashion designers need and teaches professional garment construction. Chapter One introduces sewing tools and machinery (including industrial machines). It discusses how to work with patterns and explains cutting-out methods. Chapter Two is devoted to different fabrics and how they work, focusing on the construction of a garment, including fastenings and trimmings, and the use of materials to support structured pieces, such as corsets. Hand-sewing techniques and basic seams are explored in Chapter Three. Techniques are demonstrated with step-by-step photographic guides combined with technical drawings. A guide to making garment details and decorations, such as pockets, waistlines, and necklines, is found in Chapter Four. Chapter Five addresses fabric-specific techniques, for everything from lace to neoprene. The best technical approaches to use for patternmaking and construction are discussed for each fabric. Catwalk images demonstrate how these kinds of techniques are employed by designers.
Includes 20 projects to make, designer and author demonstrates how she learned to sew and how she has learned that what she makes is important to the community where she grew up.