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Course Details:
Cost: $45 materials fee
Time: 8am - 12pm
Age Requirements: 18+
Leatherworking is one of the world's oldest crafts and one of the most satisfying to learn. In this four-hour session, Dan from Merchant Leather will guide you through the timeless basics of hand-sewing leather using the traditional saddle stitch, a two-needle technique that has been used by craftspeople for centuries.
You'll work at your own pace and leave with finished pieces you made with your own hands - and the know-how to keep going at home.
Every project begins with a pre-cut pattern. From there, you'll mark, punch, and stitch your work by hand with guidance at every step. Along the way you'll make real creative choices - picking your leather color, selecting your thread, deciding what to make next. All tools are provided.
Choose from dozens of project options across a wide range of styles. Students typically complete two to three finished goods in a session. Current offerings include:
Multiple styles of wallets, sunglass cases, keychains and luggage tags, pencil cases, clutches and wristlets, passport covers, and field note covers. New for Fall 2026: a leather notebook cover, tool or paint brush roll, simple travel cribbage board.
Leather rewards the maker. It's durable, develops character with age and whatever you choose, you'll leave with something made by hand and built to last.
Meet Your Instructor
Dan Horan
(he/him)
Dan Horan is the craftsman behind Merchant Leather, a self-taught maker who found in leather the perfect balance of creativity, function, and timeless craft. Based in Minnesota, he builds each piece entirely by hand, emphasizing simplicity, durability, and the honest beauty of traditional techniques.
Teaching is central to Dan’s work. He has shared leatherworking with more than 1,500 students—from children to adults—in settings ranging from folk schools to galleries to the American Craft Council. His classes are designed to be approachable for anyone picking up leather for the first time, while also structured to help students steadily build higher-level skills, confidence, and creativity with each project.
Booking Information and Policies:
What happens after I book?:
After you book, we will send you a confirmation email from Squarespace. A few days before camp, we will send you an email with more details about our meeting locations and some housekeeping items.