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June 27, 2026
1pm-5pm
A good bag is one of the oldest tools a person can carry. Before there were pockets or backpacks, there were leather pouches - made by hand, worn close to the body, built to hold whatever the land or the day demanded.
In this half-day class, Dan from Merchant Leather will teach you to hand-sew your own forager-inspired leather bag using the traditional saddle stitch, a two-needle technique that has been used by makers for centuries. You’ll choose your project and leather color in advance, then spend your session bringing it to life - marking, punching, and stitching your way to a finished bag you’ll carry for years.
This class pairs naturally with Avon Hills’ foraging programming. Whether you’re heading out to pick mushrooms, gather herbs, or just want a well-made bag to carry through the woods or around town, you’ll leave with something built for exactly that. All tools are provided, and no prior leatherworking experience is needed.
Leather is forgiving in the best way. It softens with use, develops a patina unique to the person carrying it, and only gets better with age. The bag you make here won’t just look good on day one - it will look even better in ten years.
Choose Your Project
Students select one project in advance, including their leather color. Each option is forager-inspired but equally at home as an everyday carry bag or purse.
Leather Bucket - A classic cylindrical bag with a rope handle. Compact and open-topped, it’s perfect for a day on the land - or as a distinctive everyday carry.
Small Forager Satchel - A snap-closure crossbody with a clean, angular flap and a leather strap. Fits your essentials and sits comfortably at your side. Great for foraging walks or daily use.
Large Forager Satchel - A roomier version of the small satchel with the same simple, functional design. More space for finds, field guides, or whatever the day calls for.
Large Forager Sling - A wide, open-topped shoulder bag with a relaxed silhouette. The kind of bag that looks like it belongs on a trail just as much as it does at a market.
Choose your leather color
All three leather options are waterproof and super durable.
Classic Brown
Forest Green
Navy Blue
Tuition: $65
Materials: $80
This course is for students 18+, or students 12+ with accompanying adult.
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.