Waxing The Thread - Issue 8

‘Waxing the Thread’ is a 36 page A4 print magazine for hobbyists and all who are interested in traditional leatherwork, includes pattern and instructions, basic techniques and guidance on how to purchase leather, and much more. This edition features an interview about The Identity Store. Project 1 in issue #8 is a simple, leather lined tote bag incorporating three circular, goatskin insets. Change the inset shapes to anything you choose. Alternatively, keep it traditional and make the bag without. Dan Linton of Linton Leather has kindly allowed us convert his video, Make a Leather Lined Watch Strap, into print, offering us an opportunity to work with smaller tools and finer thread, whilst developing our hand-stitching skills. Project 2 is a colourful Camera Bag which is intended to be a fun project; one which we hope will also encourage you to experiment with dyes. There are Tips from the Dye Bench on page 19 to get you started and if you’re not sure which leather to use, visit page 7, Buying Leather, before you begin. Further on in the magazine you’ll find a ‘How To…’ for those who’d like to make a Shoulder Strap Support for the Camera Bag. And for those who prefer to wear the camera around the neck, a pattern for a Camera Strap is included too. We’ve also spent time with Jackie and Peter Laight from Identity Leather Craft and you can read all about their company on the ‘Interview With…’ pages. There’s also a double-page feature on some of our favourite vintage leather-working books on pages 32 & 33, plus a thought provoking article from Mark Papworth on the subject of leather labelling. Rob Exton has been busy combining leather and wood again, resulting this time in a useful outdoor workstation. And, if you’ve been putting off buying a strop to polish up your tools, page 26 shows you how to build your own. As always, we’ve included the Readers’ Pages where you can meet Cheryl Martin and of course the Readers’ Workbench page where you can see what’s been selected for this issue of WTT. The Just For Fun section has been written by reader Nia Evans who’s hooked on marbling leather and encourages you to try this for yourself.