Leather Work - Including Glove Making

By Albert H. Crampton

This classic guidebook is perfect for the leatherwork novice and enthusiast alike. Illustrated with useful diagrams, it introduces the craft of leatherworking, and instructs the reader in several methods such as appliqué, burning, patchwork, staining, and stitching, with a section dedicated to glove making. Contents include: Leather Crafting; LEATHERWORK introduction; Chapter 1 - tools and Their Uses; Chapter 2 - Modelling on Calf Skin; Chapter 3 - Staining on Calf or Cowhide; Chapter 4 - Practical instructions; GLOVE MAKING Chapter 1 - The Choice of Leathers; Chapter 2 - Patterns and How to Adapt Them; Chapter 3 - Making up; Chapter 4 – Fur-Backed Gloves. We are republishing this vintage work in a modern and affordable edition, complete with a newly written introduction and high quality reproductions of the original illustrations.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Read Books Ltd.
• Release date: Jan 3, 2013
• ISBN: 9781447481928

Book preview

WARNE’S USEFUL BOOKS

LEATHER WORK

INCLUDING

GLOVE MAKING

BY

ALBERT H. CRAMPTON

With Twenty-one Illustrations

CONTENTS

LEATHER WORK

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER I.—Tools and their Uses—Leathers—Various Forms of Decoration

CHAPTER II.—Modelling on Calf Skin—Embossing or Repoussé on Leather Work—Leather Appliqué—Cut-out Leather—Incised Leather Work—Blind Tooling—Poker Work on Leather—Painting on Suède or Velvet Persians—Patchwork and Posies

CHAPTER III.—Staining on Calf or Cowhide—General Hints on Making Up

CHAPTER IV.—Practical Instructions—Comb Case—Leather Pochette or Handbag

GLOVE MAKING

CHAPTER I.—THE CHOICE OF LEATHERS

CHAPTER II.—PATTERNS AND HOW TO ADAPT THEM

CHAPTER III.—MAKING UP

CHAPTER IV.—FUR-BACKED GLOVES

LEATHER WORK

INTRODUCTION

LEATHER WORK has for a long time made a strong appeal to craftworkers, and it is safe to say it will continue to do so. You can make such useful things with leather which are also attractive in their design and colouring. You have only to feel or handle a nice skin of leather, and at once you have the desire to make something with it, perhaps a purse, wallet or bag, which later you will cherish because you have made it with your own fingers.

There is an infinite variety of leathers to choose from—the strong, hard-wearing calf or cowhide to the most delicate of suèdes. Tooled leather work is a craft which requires a fair amount of study and practice in order to produce really good results. By constant practice, however, you will be able to produce something well worth while. A well-made article, pleasing in its colour and design, need not be very elaborate, and yet may prove very satisfying. The student will be able to tackle more ambitious work with confidence after making simple articles. You will have plenty of scope for working out original ideas, which if on the right lines will give your work individuality and charm.

It is advisable to be careful in your choice of designs if you are not able to create original ones. Do not attempt fantastic designs; conventional and geometrical patterns serve the purpose of design much better. It is a sad mistake to spoil a good piece of work with unsuitable designs, such as highly embossed apples, pears, plums, etc., or writhing snakes and dragons. Delightful designs for borders can easily be made by using straight lines combined with a few simple ornaments to be reproduced by tooling or by the aid of a decorative punch. An arrangement of well balanced lines and simple motifs as an all-over pattern is more in keeping with leather than patterns of fruit and flowers stained in vivid colours.

You should aim at bringing out the beauty of the leather rather than destroying it; the real purpose of tooling is to improve the appearance of the leather and to minimise any disfigurement caused by scratches in handling the article; the latter defect will mar the appearance of a smooth piece of leather, so it is up to the craftworker to plan or copy appropriate designs fit for their purpose.

CHAPTER I

TOOLS AND THEIR USES

A PIECE of plate-glass or a hardwood board is almost indispensable to a leatherworker for cutting the leather upon.

Knife.—This should be of good steel and always kept sharp, to ensure a clean cut edge on the leather. You will find a short-bladed knife easier to manipulate than a long-bladed one. For sharpening the knife use a piece of Carborundum; no oil or water is required.

Tracer.—This is for tracing the design from the paper pattern on to the leather. A fairly sharp pointed tracer is best, as it makes a definite line when marking through the design.

FIG. 1.

Modelling Tools.—These tools can be had in various sizes. A medium one will be found most useful for ordinary use. If, of course, you are doing a very fine design, do not attempt to use the