Some Prefer to Run Before They Can Walk
The next course in refining your leatherworking technique
These days, when I am improving my leatherworking technique, I am deliberate and methodical. Sometimes, I’m trying to improve a detail that is 80% good. The other 20% can take as much effort as going from zero to 80%. And for some, this incremental improvement is not enough. It wasn’t enough for me when I first started.
One of my earliest projects was a messenger bag. I had a pretty good idea of how to attach straps, but I had not attempted this particular style. I made the bag, which lasted many years until the attachment started tearing.
I didn’t understand how the stress from the strap would pull at the attachment, which was actually just the top of the stitch. It was one small mistake with a big consequence.
Still, it was a worthwhile project because I learned a lot. I wish I had known more about attaching the strap; if I had, I probably could have gotten many more years out of that bag. While I was still in the learning phase, I could improve by taking on more. I was younger, I had more time, and the piece was just right for me. The project was beyond me and my skills, but it was that gap and that overextended reach which inspired me to do more, take on more complex projects, and ultimately better improve my technique.
Different Approaches for Different Students
When we launched the online course, Refining Your Technique, the idea was to focus on foundational leatherworking skills. Start from the ground up, beginning with sharpening, then cutting, and covering all of the basic skills. This approach works well for many of our students, but not all.
Returning to the attachment failure on my messenger bag, the problem wasn’t a lack of effort on my part, but a lack of knowledge—knowing what part of the seam to reinforce so the attachment point wouldn’t fail quickly. Some students, including myself, sometimes benefit more from an ambitious project that is out of their reach. So, when we were creating our next course, I wanted to give people a way to take a similar approach, while also giving our current online students a new course to build upon their existing skills.
Introducing:
The Zippered Wallet with Hajime Niwa
Master zippers, reinforcements, and painted edges to widen your options and make more complex fine leather goods
The Zippered Wallet online course with Hajime Niwa is for leatherworkers who want to learn more advanced construction techniques, including installing zippers and reinforcements. It builds upon the Refining Your Technique Course to help you build a more complex piece, including:
- Pattern making – gussets, how interiors and exterior wallet components relate.
- Sizing a zipper.
- Preparing a zipper, including cutting, installing stops, pulls, and cleanly removing teeth.
- Reinforcements – where to add them to your piece, how to use them, and what types to use.
- Working with different leather thicknesses and choosing sizes.
- Working with chrome-tan leather that is softer and harder to edge finish.
- More advanced work with adhesives, like different kinds of glue and tape.
- How to finish edges with paint.
Continue From Refining Your Technique Or Dive Right in
This course gives you two paths. If you’ve already taken Refining Your Technique, you’ll build upon those core skills and tackle more advanced techniques. Or, if you prefer to jump right into the deep end, you can start this course and work through the more ambitious challenges to make your project.
In-person, this course would take 3-4 days for someone familiar with the content in Refining Your Technique. I would suggest five or six days for those taking the ‘diving into the deep-end’ approach. Whichever your starting place, you’ll get detailed instructions on how to complete the project. To help you learn the content, we feature:
- Over ten hours of video instruction
- Detailed written instructions for the more challenging areas
- Diagrams and photos of construction details
- Downloadable patterns for multiple zipper sizes
- Live Q&A sessions to answer your specific questions
And much more.
Take a look at how I approached designing this new course:
Launch Week Special Offer
We’re launching with access to the first eight sections and opening the remaining sections over the next week. Join by next Friday, December 6th, and get $50 off registration. The price will be $379, join today for $329.
Course Section Highlights
We’ll cover the above techniques as we show you how to build the project from start to finish. Here are some of the sections from the course.
- Pattern-Making
- Demystifying Zippers
- Rough Cuts, Splitting, and Skiving
- Marking Your Pieces More Accurately for Construction
- Advanced Gluing with Reinforcements
- Continuing Trimming and Overcutting
- Gluing with Shaped Pieces
- More Edge Prep Options with Sanding and Shaping
- Painted Edge Finishing
- Precise Zipper Placement
- Sewing Zippers To Perfection
- The Zipper Pull: A Small Piece of Mastery
The finished project using the material bundle.
Access Forever and At Your Own Pace
Register and pay in full or with installments and view the course anytime. After registering, access the course forever. There are no additional monthly fees or time limits. You can also take the course at your own pace. Do one section per day, per week, or do them all over a long weekend. The live version of the course took three full days. If you do practice lessons and the project, I estimate four or five days to complete the course on your own. I would set aside two or three weekends to focus on the course.
Join The Zippered Wallet: With Hajime Niwa
Lifetime Access to the Course
Three Course Options
We created two additions for this course – the material bundle and the tool kit – to further help you complete the lessons.
- The Zippered Wallet Course with unlimited lifetime access.
- A Tool Package with unique items for the course.
- A Material Bundle to help you understand the project’s specifications.
The Material Bundle
Sometimes, you simply need to see something to understand it. Having an example of what the materials should be for a given design is illuminating. It eases the understanding of the technique because you have an apples-to-apples comparison of what is demonstrated and what you should be doing with the same materials. With the material kit in hand, you could still substitute your own material choices for the project, and you’d know what to look for. For example, you could choose a different outer leather and know what firmness you need. Or choose another gusset leather and match the required flexibility.
- The outer layers of leather and zipper pull are Alpine Calf in Steel Grey, our popular calf leather. It has a durable top finish on a beautiful full-grain hide. We split the leather for the outer layer and will include a thinner strip for the spine.
- Outer layer reinforcements – use the same type of reinforcements demonstrated in the video.
- Liner, divider, and gusset leather. Chevre is a favored choice for many leatherworkers. The material bundle includes Chevre Crispe Mustard. We’ll provide material for all three interior parts and split them to their ideal thicknesses.
- Liner reinforcements are another type of reinforcement used to strengthen the liner and prevent stretching.
- The zipper tape, pull, and stops comprise everything you need to make the project’s zipper.
- Double-sided tape and reinforcement tape. Enough to complete the project.
We’ll select the materials, rough-cut all the pieces, and split the leather for you. Get the above material bundle for an additional $99.
The Material Bundle Leather Colors
The Tool Package
Like the material bundle, the tool package helps provide you with the same setup shown in the course. This tool package is an excellent companion to the Refining Your Technique tool package since it further fills out what you need to make these kinds of detailed projects.
- Folding Jig – used when gluing and reinforcing the wallet bend. Use it on any similar project where you need a part to retain this shape.
- Zipper jig and sanding block – a useful combination tool to help you mark your zippers and sand edges.
- Paint Brushes – get two of the same paint brushes used in the course for edge painting. They usually come in a pack of 100, but you can try them out to see how you like them.
- D-Ring Pliers – easily open and close the zipper pull D-ring with these two tools.
- Thread Snips – cut your sewing thread more precisely with these Japanese snips.
- Cork Block – you’ll see Mr. Niwa use this block in this course and the previous course. It’s a convenient implement to raise up your work so you can see better.
- Marking Awl – a custom marking awl made by Fine Leatherworking in native California walnut.
- Punching Mat – you’ll see this mat often in our in-person courses. The leather side is for punching stitches, and the rubber side is for round, oblong, and strap-end punches.
Get the above tool package for an additional $219. Normally, this bundle is $261, a savings of $42.
Option 1. The Material Bundle Plus The Tool Kit and Access to the Online Course
- The outer layers of leather and zipper pull in Alpine Calf Steel Grey, our popular calf leather.
- Outer layer reinforcements – use the same type of reinforcements as in the course.
- Liner, divider, and gusset leather in Chevre Crispe Mustard. We’ll provide material for all three interior parts and split them to their ideal thicknesses.
- Liner reinforcements are another type of reinforcement used to strengthen the liner and prevent stretching.
- The zipper tape, pull, and stops comprise everything you need to make the project’s zipper.
- Double-sided tape and reinforcement tape. Enough to complete the project.
- Folding Jig – used when gluing and reinforcing the wallet bend. Use it on any similar project where you need a part to retain this shape.
- Zipper jig and sanding block – a useful combination tool to help you mark your zippers and sand edges.
- Paint Brushes – get two of the same paint brushes used in the course for edge painting. They usually come in a pack of 100, but you can try them out to see how you like them.
- D-Ring Pliers – easily open and close the zipper pull D-ring with these two tools
- Thread Snips – cut your sewing thread more precisely with these Japanese snips
- Cork Block – you’ll see Mr. Niwa use this block in this course and the previous course. It’s a convenient implement to raise up your work so you can see better.
- Marking Awl – a custom marking awl made by Fine Leatherworking in native California walnut.
- Punching Mat – you’ll see this mat often in our in-person courses. The leather side is for punching stitches, and the rubber side is for round, oblong, and strap-end punches.
- Lifetime access: take the course at any time.
- An eighteen-part online series on more advanced techniques, including:
- Pattern-Making
- Demystifying Zippers
- Rough Cuts, Splitting, and Skiving
- Marking Your Pieces More Accurately for Construction
- Advanced Gluing with Reinforcements
- Continuing Trimming and Overcutting
- Gluing with Shaped Pieces
- More Edge Prep Options with Sanding and Shaping
- Painted Edge Finishing
- Precise Zipper Placement
- Sewing Zippers To Perfection
- The Zipper Pull: A Small Piece of Mastery
- over ten hours of video showing detailed walkthroughs of the techniques
- over 40 pages of content online and on email
- an email series with additional tips and exercises to help you learn the content
- access to our online community to get individual help with your practice and
- live Q&A sessions to answer your specific questions
If you have any questions about the course, please feel free to call or email us.
1-415-800-2978
store@fineleatherworking.com
We’re happy to help!
Note: Kits ship approximately one week from purchase.
International customers, please note that you will receive an invoice for shipping.
Option 2. The Tool Kit and Access to the Online Course
The outer layers of leather and zipper pull in Alpine Calf Steel Grey, our popular calf leather.Outer layer reinforcements – use the same type of reinforcements as in the course.Liner, divider, and gusset leather. Chevre Crispe is a favored choice for many leatherworkers. We’ll provide material for all three interior parts and split them to their ideal thicknesses.Liner reinforcements are another type of reinforcement used to strengthen the liner and prevent stretching.The zipper tape, pull, and stops comprise everything you need to make the project’s zipper.Double-sided tape and reinforcement tape. Enough to complete the project.- Folding Jig – used when gluing and reinforcing the wallet bend. Use it on any similar project where you need a part to retain this shape.
- Zipper jig and sanding block – a useful combination tool to help you mark your zippers and sand edges.
- Paint Brushes – get two of the same paint brushes used in the course for edge painting. They usually come in a pack of 100, but you can try them out to see how you like them.
- D-Ring Pliers – easily open and close the zipper pull D-ring with these two tools
- Thread Snips – cut your sewing thread more precisely with these Japanese snips
- Cork Block – you’ll see Mr. Niwa use this block in this course and the previous course. It’s a convenient implement to raise up your work so you can see better.
- Marking Awl – a custom marking awl made by Fine Leatherworking in native California walnut.
- Punching Mat – you’ll see this mat often in our in-person courses. The leather side is for punching stitches, and the rubber side is for round, oblong, and strap-end punches.
- Lifetime access: take the course at any time.
- An eighteen-part-part online series on more advanced techniques, including:
- Pattern-Making
- Demystifying Zippers
- Rough Cuts, Splitting, and Skiving
- Marking Your Pieces More Accurately for Construction
- Advanced Gluing with Reinforcements
- Continuing Trimming and Overcutting
- Gluing with Shaped Pieces
- More Edge Prep Options with Sanding and Shaping
- Painted Edge Finishing
- Precise Zipper Placement
- Sewing Zippers To Perfection
- The Zipper Pull: A Small Piece of Mastery
- over ten hours of video showing detailed walkthroughs of the techniques
- over 40 pages of content online and on email
- an email series with additional tips and exercises to help you learn the content
- access to our online community to get individual help with your practice and
- live Q&A sessions to answer your specific questions
If you have any questions about the course, please feel free to call or email us.
1-415-800-2978
store@fineleatherworking.com
We’re happy to help!
Note: Kits ship approximately one week from purchase.
International customers, please note that you will receive an invoice for shipping.
Option 3. Access to the Online Course
The outer layers of leather and zipper pull in Alpine Calf Steel Grey, our popular calf leather.Outer layer reinforcements – use the same type of reinforcements as in the course.Liner, divider, and gusset leather in Chevre Crispe Mustard. We’ll provide material for all three interior parts and split them to their ideal thicknesses.Outer layer reinforcements – use the same type of reinforcements as in the courseinterior parts and split them to their ideal thicknesses.Liner reinforcements are another type of reinforcement used to strengthen the liner and prevent stretching.The zipper tape, pull, and stops comprise everything you need to make the project’s zipper.Double-sided tape and reinforcement tape. Enough to complete the project.Folding Jig – used when gluing and reinforcing the wallet bend. Use it on any similar project where you need a part to retain this shape.Zipper jig and sanding block – a useful combination tool to help you mark your zippers and sand edges.Paint Brushes – get two of the same paint brushes used in the course for edge painting. They usually come in a pack of 100, but you can try them out to see how you like them.D-Ring Pliers – easily open and close the zipper pull D-ring with these two toolsThread Snips – cut your sewing thread more precisely with these Japanese snipsCork Block – you’ll see Mr. Niwa use this block in this course and the previous course. It’s a convenient implement to raise up your work so you can see better.Marking Awl – a custom marking awl made by Fine Leatherworking in native California walnut.Punching Mat – you’ll see this mat often in our in-person courses. The leather side is for punching stitches, and the rubber side is for round, oblong, and strap-end punches.- Lifetime access: take the course at any time.
- An eighteen-part online series on more advanced techniques, including:
- Pattern-Making
- Demystifying Zippers
- Rough Cuts, Splitting, and Skiving
- Marking Your Pieces More Accurately for Construction
- Advanced Gluing with Reinforcements
- Continuing Trimming and Overcutting
- Gluing with Shaped Pieces
- More Edge Prep Options with Sanding and Shaping
- Painted Edge Finishing
- Precise Zipper Placement
- Sewing Zippers To Perfection
- The Zipper Pull: A Small Piece of Mastery
- over ten hours of video showing detailed walkthroughs of the techniques
- over 40 pages of content online and on email
- an email series with additional tips and exercises to help you learn the content
- access to our online community to get individual help with your practice and
- live Q&A sessions to answer your specific questions
If you have any questions about the course, please feel free to call or email us.
1-415-800-2978
store@fineleatherworking.com
We’re happy to help!
International customers, please note that you will receive an invoice for shipping.
Try The Zippered Wallet for 30 days, 100% risk-free.
If you apply the lessons from this course to your work and it doesn’t get better, I would be happy to give you your money back.
I invite you to try the techniques, starting with part one, part two, part three, part four, and all the way to the end. If you practice the techniques for 30 days, I’m confident your leathercrafting will improve.
This course isn’t about selling you some made-up esoteric concepts that might work. These are lessons hard-won by years of experience from a working professional meant to improve the quality of a piece and hone your skills. If you are not satisfied, request a refund within 30 days.
Translating Language and Context
Mr. Niwa’s primary language is Japanese, so we transcribed and translated the video into English so our readers could benefit from his teachings. I used to live in Japan, where I learned the traditional craft of carving Noh drama masks out of wood. Understanding Japanese is hard enough, let alone the nuanced meanings and difficult concepts of a traditional craft. I personally translated every line of the lessons, incorporating what I know about learning a craft in a different language. Equally important to the direct translation of the words is the translation of the mindset and approach. We incorporated this into the course’s translation and the accompanying materials.
Do I Need to Take Refining Your Technique First?
It’s not a must, but it is recommended. The Zippered Wallet course builds upon the foundational techniques taught in Refining Your Technique. That said, I know some people prefer to ‘run before you can walk,’ and this new course will certainly allow you to do that.
I have students who typically like to wing it and figure it out as they go. They often wish they could just sit down and do it right for once. This course will help you see the difference. For example, if you follow all of the lessons well, you’ll have a perfectly balanced zipper for your project—not too big, not too tight, and not skewed one way.
Want to start with the Refining Your Technique course first? Join the first course in the series and then start The Zippered Wallet.
About the Instructors
Hajime Niwa
Hajime Niwa is a master at his craft. He started Niwa Leathers in 2003 and became internationally renowned for the high quality of his work. His unparalleled attention to detail can be seen in many aspects of his work, including his use of materials, techniques like edge finishing, and design style.
Sean Aquino
Sean Aquino has been making leather goods for over ten years. He runs the blog and website FineLeatherworking.com, the go-to resource for advanced tools, materials, and luxury leather craft inspiration since 2012.
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