leather workshops

I provide a range of group workshops as well as personal 1-1 workshops throughout the year as both an introduction to working with leather as well as opportunities to improve your existing skills. workshops are available to work on set projects or to work on projects of your own.

"Had a very pleasant morning making a Journal cover and key fob. Cathy was an excellent teacher and very knowledgeable. She is very easy to get along with and patient as a saint."

Martin Parsons, April 2023

"Brilliant leather bag making day with the wonderful Cathy at Catherine Edwards Leather. Cathy ensured we had the perfect Apache green leather to then design, then create the most beautiful work bag for my partner! It was a long day but very rewarding, informative and sociable! Hebden Bridge was lovely in the sunshine too!"

Kevin M, April 2023

"Catherine was a brilliant tutor! We absolutely loved this leather bag course. We had the most wonderful time choosing leather and creating the bag. I was so impressed at how quickly it came together and how professional the finished bag looks. What a perfect way to spend the day. The studio is a lovely space filled with old tools. I could move in! Thanks Catherine for making our day so perfect. 

Steph Hughes, March 2023

"This course was by far the best course I have ever done. Cathy was incredible - a fantastic teacher and so easy going. She had already worked out how to make the item that I wanted to make, printed pictures and selected the right leather. She showed me all the techniques to make the item and I left with a very beautiful thing. I can't recommend this course or Cathy enough."

Liza Malby-Tynan, March 2023

"I spent the day with the lovely, patient Cathy making a bag of my dreams. It's such a lovely workshop and Catherine felt like a friend. Such a great experience, I'm sure I'll return."

Gillie Foster, March 2023

"Great experience from start to finish. Catherine is very warm, welcoming and makes you feel relaxed. Had a great time and loved learning how to make my own dogs collar and lead. I found it really interesting and now have got the "bug" so am going to try making some on my own. Recommend anyone who has an interest in this and would like to have a try themselves. Would make a great gift for someone! Thank you x"

Laura, March 2023

" Fabulous day with Catherine Edwards learning basic leather working techniques. We designed and made a wonderful bespoke knife sheath. Highly recommended."

Dale, Feb 2023

" We had a great day in the workshop with Cathy working on a couple of projects. We had little to no previous experience but Cathy took us through each step demonstrating a real range of techniques. A really relaxed pace to the day and the tea and chat flowed. Ended up with a stunning belt and also covered a lantern handle. Looking forward to our next visit. Thanks again"

Scott, Feb 2023

" 5 star experience. I had a fab day with Catherine. Very relaxing, interesting and memorable. We got to make some really nice and useful items, which will last forever! I will be booking another day in the coming weeks. Thank you Catherine - Happy Birthday this weekend."

Kevin M Feb 2023

" I had a lovely day making my traveller's bag, and I'm thrilled to bits with it! Cathy is a great tutor. She gave very clear instructions and demonstrations, then let me get hands on very quickly, to maximise the time available. And she coped admirably with my ineptitude when I got my thread in a knot or my rivets in the wrong place! I'd highly recommend this course for anyone wanting to have a crack at leather work."

Alex, 2023

 "..learnt so much. I absolutely love my new bag and can't believe I made it myself. Thanks for a great day Catherine, Jupiter and Betsy (the dogs!)"

sam, feb 2023

" I had a lovely day making my Traveller's Bag and I'm thrilled to bits with it! Cathy is a great tutor. She gave very clear instructions and demonstrations, then let me get hands on very quickly, to maximise the time available. And she coped admirably with my ineptitude. I'd highly recommend this course for anyone wanting to have a crack at leather work."

alex, feb 2023

" ... the day was a gift to my daughter who was delighted with it all. Descibed as a 'natural teacher', Cathy was informative, helpful, personable and made the day a relaxed, fun and informative experience...."

jan, jan 2023

"...I had the best day, learning all the techniques and improving others that I'd told her I wanted to work on. Would recommend a thousand times over."

phoenix, dec 2022

"....She has a lifetime experience of working with leather and a workshop kitted out with a fascinating collection of tools and equipment.....Cathy's welcome and personality is very endearing - so a big thanks..."

peter and tricia, november  2022

"Excellent course with a super friendly and knowledgeable teacher who made learning about leather craft a real pleasure. Will definitely be attending again to develop my knowledge further and I will be recommending the course to all of my friends."

lee, sept 2022

"Absolutely loved our day with Catherine. Such a lovely lady! Came home with 3 beautiful leads and collars for our fur babies. I will be back again for another class!"

laura, june 2022

"Thoroughly enjoyed my workshop and love the bag we made. Great teacher and so easy to chat to. So glad she had some spare reading glasses too as I realised I’d left mine at home! Cathy had some great suggestions and clearly has a great eye for detail. I’d love to come back and make something else! Will be recommending the course to all of my creative friends."

claire, may 2022

"Just a quick message to say my family and I really enjoyed our key fob making session this morning at Sheffield.  The tutor was lovely and gave everyone attention and ensured we all made good quality products. Thank you."

tracy, may 2022

"We have both gained some good skills and knowledge from the course and would totally recommend it.

Liz and I both thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Liz is really pleased with her art roll and I was very happy getting all my bits to a point where I could finish at home.

Thanks again to you all."

carl, april 2022

"I really enjoyed this course, and would highly recommend it. Nice flow and pace and easy to learn the steps. Cathy was so lovely and patient, and made me feel very welcome, the doggy cuddles were an added bonus. Can't wait to get started on my next leather piece"

laurette, april 2022

"Great first experience of leather workshop.

The workshop was designed to experience various tools & techniques.

Cathy was extremely patient & kind and guided me to compete my luggage label project.

The welcome committee, Jess & Jupiter, is an additional lovely element to the class."

zi young kang, march 2022

"This course was amazing! It was a great introduction to working with leather - all the tools were so interesting. I got lots of support and made a collar (with tag) and lead for my lurcher, both are gorgeous, made of lovely soft leather and ended up looking really professional. I was blown away by how talented and knowledgeable Cathy is. I could have just watched her make things for hours!! The time with Cathy was super relaxed and fun and she even had a puppy I got to stroke! Can’t thank her enough for opening up her studio to me."

anna, january 2022

"Thanks so much for yesterday. You were brilliant as usual."

michelle, september 2021 

"Brilliant day. Cathy Edwards is a great teacher, very welcoming and extremely knowledgeable. We left with a jacket for a journal and a clutch bag, both made with our own fair hands. Never knew we had it in us. Definitely recommend this workshop for anyone interested in leatherwork or craft courses in general."

jamie, august 2021

"Thank you so much we had a fab time yesterday! We will definitely see you again xx"

 kira, kl falconry 

"Thanks for the great course at weekend.  It was really enjoyable, and I learned a great deal. I really appreciate the extra help you gave when completing my bottle-holder. Whilst I found that section of stitching very hard, I feel that I have a good understanding of the whole process. So I feel more of an intermediate student than a beginner now. It was a good, cheerful group, I am looking forward to doing the Apron day in the New Year."

john, february 2021

"Couldn't have asked for a better workshop, can't recommend it enough! Christina was so lovely and informative. Will definitely be returning for another soon!"

chantal, september 2020

upcoming group workshops will be listed here as they are confirmed. please contact me to register an interest in a group workshop if there are no future dates listed or you cannot make the scheduled dates.

brooklyn studios, hebden

mondays, 10am - 12midday, and 2pm - 4pm

May

21st & 22nd, Creative with Nature Todmorden - Satchel (2 day course)

27th & 28th, The Craft House Bingley - Satchel workshop (2 day course)

June

2nd, Zantium Studios Derby - Belt or Pet Collar & Lead

3rd & 4th, Zantium Studios Derby - Satchel (2 day course)

13th-15th, Frill & Flounce Wyke - Journal Covers & Plant Hangers

24th & 25th, Scarborough - Tote bag & Tool roll

July 

1st & 2nd, The Globe Slaithwaite - Journal cover

28th & 29th, The arts & craft house Blackwell  

September

17th, Creative with Nature Todmorden - Leather tool roll

23rd & 24th, The Craft House Bingley - Satchels 

October 

20th & 21st, Zantium Studios Derby - Satchel (2 day course)

22nd, Zantium Studios Derby - Pet Collar & Lead or Belt

November

26th, Creative with Nature Todamorden - slippers

creative with nature, todmorden                                          

21 & 22 May - Satchels            

26th Nov - Slippers   

I provide one to one private workshop tuition in leatherwork at my studio in hebden bridge, west yorks. these intimate workshops are ideal as a special birthday or christmas gift or to buy for yourself if you cannot make any of the group dates, or prefer to work on your own special project with expert personal tuition.

1-1 workshops have the advantage of more flexible dates and times and can be booked as either full day, afternoon or evening workshops

catherine is always keen to work on special projects either with a group or on an individual 1-1 basis. examples of some previous projects include

• cycle panniers - taking a student from choosing leather, cutting individual patterns, strap cutting, hand stitching, finishing and finally fitting the finished panniers to the bicycle (8 week project - 1 x 6 hour day per week)
• cartridge case - using an existing pre WW2 cartridge case to take patterns from, choosing appropriate leather and fittings, hand cutting, lining, waxing and finishing (4 week project, 1 x 3 hour evening per week)
• teaching a student to create mountings for enamel plates, involving selection of materials, cutting, edging, mark making, dyeing, rivetting and waxing (2 week project, 2 x 3 hour sessions)

catherine can provide half day, day or evening workshops at your school, college or venue of choice, tailor made to fit in with your current curriculum or project. these will include some basic leatherwork theory, experimentation, help with specific project work e.g. historical re-creation, or working towards a final piece. catherine can fit flexibly around your timetable, creating bespoke workshops if required. please contact catherine to discuss further details.