What to buy for a leathercraft workshop

What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Tips

• Set up one workstation per participant, with a work table, chair, cutting mat, ruler and measuring tape. Add extra space for examples, worksheets and finished projects.
• Check tool quantities before ordering materials. Leather knives, awls, hole punches, wooden hammers, scissors and stitching tools become a bottleneck when several people need them at once.
• Buy or prepare enough leather, sewing straps, needles and other consumables for every participant, plus roughly 10% extra for mistakes, practice pieces and damaged materials.
• Arrange cutting mats and punch blocks before the workshop starts, and keep glue guns and hair dryers at a supervised station. This prevents participants from waiting for equipment or using tools in unsafe places.
• Plan drinks and serving items separately from the craft supplies. Chill cold drinks in advance, then set out coffee, tea, cups, plates and cutlery so the reception table does not compete with the workstations.

Frequently asked questions

How many leathercraft tools do I need per person?

Aim for one basic workstation per participant, including a cutting mat, ruler, measuring tape and scissors. For shared tools such as leather knives, rolling knives, awls and hole punches, prepare enough for groups of two to three people unless the workshop requires everyone to work simultaneously.

How much extra leather should I buy for a workshop?

Buy enough material for one complete project per participant, then add about 10% for practice pieces, cutting errors and damaged sections. If the project is unfamiliar to the group, 15% extra gives you more room for mistakes.

When should I order leathercraft materials and tools?

Place the order at least two to three weeks before the workshop. This leaves time to check quantities, replace missing tools and prepare examples, worksheets and name badges before the venue opens.

What refreshments do I need for a leathercraft workshop?

For the first hour, plan on two to three drinks per person, then about one drink per person for each additional hour. Include coffee, tea, water or cold drinks, reusable cups, coffee cups, plates, cutlery and serving spoons, and chill cold drinks before participants arrive.

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