WEEK 2- Leather and Sheep-Skin

This week we were introduced into working with leather. We were set into small groups, due to the stitching being visible when working with leather it was vital that we learnt techniques of different decrotive stitches, as well as how to attach a zip and other different fastening technieques.

We used a curved needle and waxed thread to join two small rectangular peices of leather together, i had previously used these stitching technieques and so found this process fairly simple. Creating these samples will allow me to choose suitable stitches for my bag.

We worked in groups and were taught how to encorperate zips as fastenings and how to make a handle for our designs.

when creating the handle in our groups i took the leadership role and created the handle amongst the group. I found this process very interesting and i realised how much goes into makeing a handle which to me before seemed like such a simple thing and i never gave it a second thought as to how much effort it takes to be made.

The processes i learnt this week will be very useful in the process of making my bag however if i do intend on changing my final design idea into a 3 dimentional sculpture these processes will still be helpful. All of what i have learnt this week, how to use; a mallet, curved needle, waxed thread, chisel, scalpal and other leather tools will be helpfull in my further practice as a textile designer.