Introduction to Leatherworking Workshop

Description

Learn the basics of leatherworking with historical cordwainer Brett Walker at a one-day workshop on Friday, October 20 from 9 am to 5 pm at Rollinsford’s historic Colonel Paul Wentworth House. Participants will make a reproduction leather document case based on an original owned by Stratham, NH shoemaker Samuel Lane (1718-1806) and now in the collections of the New Hampshire Historical Society.

Workshop instructor Brett Walker trained as a journeyman shoemaker at Colonial Williamsburg, and has led workshops at Landis Valley Museum, the Waterford, VA Craft School, Fort Ligonier Museum, and Fort Meigs Historic Site. Skills covered in the workshop will include shop safety; types of leather and their uses; basic cutting, paring, and other knife-work skills; types of hand-tools and their various uses; the basic shoemaker's stitch and other hand-stitching; inscribing, burnishing, and basic finishing of leather; and conditioning and care of leather for long use. The fee of $155 includes all materials and tools to use during the workshop. This workshop is suitable for adults (minors aged 15-18 admitted only with parental supervision), and space is limited. To register, send an email to paulwentworthhouse@gmail.com by Monday, October 9.