Group Bag Making Skills Course
Learn the fundamental skills required for making bags
Making Bags is a skillset many leatherworkers explore at some point on their journey, either through the desire to make bags or through requests for them.
On this course you will benefit from Nigel’s vast experience in bag making, he has spent many years developing a number of formulas to assist in the design and measuring of bags which will be at the core of this course.
Choosing a specific bag to make on this course is always going to be an issue, some will want to make it, others will not. So the course has been designed around the fundamental skills required to make any bag.
On this course the topics we will cover include:
How to measure for a bag
Using Aspect Ratios
Calculating a Bend
Calculating the Flap
Gusset selection and Purpose
Various Seams
Attaching Hardware
Handles
Attaching Straps
Linings
Skiving
Bolstering
Padding
Reinforcement (Interface)
And of course, the core skills, cutting, measuring and stitching.
You will gain a clear understanding of the required skills so you will be better equipped to develop independently.
You will learn what makes a bag unbalanced, how to prevent rocking or twisting. How to use the centre of gravity of the bag to prevent tipping.
How to ensure you are not creating a gutter which gathers moisture and much, much more.
Course Content
The core of this course is without doubt, template based. After all, the template is the foundation of any item.
Along with all the included information listed above, we will be using our new template making skills to find, highlight and factor out any errors or failure points.
If you want to just make a bag, this may not be the correct course for you. But! if you want to learn how to design and make any bag independently, booking onto this course would be an excellent idea.
Who is this course for?
This is a detailed course requiring at least a good foundation of leather working skills.
It would be beneficial for you to have a reasonable command of measuring, cutting and and understanding of the saddle stitch.
Whilst these skill can be polished during the course, if you are a beginner, you may struggle to keep up.
What is included
During the course, all materials, tools and sundries are supplied to enable you to get the most from your day.
There are no additional costs or fees.
If you have a toolset you would like to bring along, please feel free to do so.
Lunch
Lunch will be at 1, no lunch his provided so please bring provisions.Â
Details for local amenities and accommodation can be found in the joining pack once the course is booked.
Tea and coffee are bottomless, the coffee is good and brewed fresh.
All face to face courses take place in the workshop of Armitage Leather, contact details can be found here: Contact
The course runs from 9am to 4pm with a break for lunch at 1.
This is an intense 5 Day Course
The course will run from Monday 16th through to
Friday 20th June 2025
The cost of the course is £1000
Accommodation
On the farm is a well-equipped Airbnb run by Alexa and Jordan which can be booked directly through this link: Airbnb and can be recommended.Â
In addition to this, there is the Golden Cup in Yoxall: It has mixed reviews about the food and staff, so I’ll leave that with you.
Finally, there is Poppies Barn just up the road, another Airbnb. It is local to the workshop and has good reviews, again, it can be booked through this link: AirbnbÂ
A wider Google Search will reveal many more options.
Travel
Burton Train Station is 8 miles (16 minuets) from the workshop with Taxi Services running to and from the station.Â
Lichfield Town Centre is 9.5 miles away and Uttoxeter is 11 miles.Â
The recommended way to get to the workshop and by far the easiest is by car. There is not direct bus service to speak of.
Cancellation Policy
If you have booked a course and need to cancel, you are able to do so at any point up to 14 days prior to the date booked to be eligible for a full refund.
If you need to cancel within 14 days of the course, no refund will be given but alternative dates may be offered. Should you be unable to attend or have to cancel within 24hours of the course. alternative dates will be offered at a 50% reduction of the original course.
If you do think you will be unable to make it, please let me know as soon as possible.
If, having rescheduled a course you are again unable to attend, prior notice of 14 days or more will enable a refund less 25% administration fee.
If cancelled less than 14 days before the rescheduled course date then no refund will be given. In exceptional circumstances a third course date may be offered at the discretion of Armitage leather.
