Class Handouts
Leathercare 101: Basic leather care for armour, garb, and more. Cleaning, conditioning, and basic evaluation.Leathercare 102:
Problem Solving, Stitching Leather, and more.
Showing posts with label craft. Show all posts
Showing posts with label craft. Show all posts
Friday, August 30, 2019
Class Handouts
Below are the PDFs of handouts for my classes. I will be adding to this post as handouts are created. (Not all classes will have handouts).
Friday, May 25, 2018
Flax Hair Gel Recipe
Flax gel is the mucilaginous or starchy part of the cooked seed. I have been using this on my hair for years now, and have been very happy with the results.
For a leave-in conditioner, it seems to work best when warm (right after you make it) but can be used every time you shower, even when cold. I use it daily to style my hair, and it works better than the commercial hair gels I’ve used before. It also re-activates if I dampen my hair with a washcloth or damp fingers - which is great at events!
Directions:
2 cups water (4 parts)
1/2 cup flax seed (1 part)
Place in pot in stove over medium-low heat, stirring often. When the white foam starts to appear, turn the heat off. Place a strainer over a bowl that will hold 16 oz or so. Pour the contents into the strainer and let it strain, then stir the remaining seed and scrape the bottom of the strainer to get the last bit of gel. Clean up promptly (the gel will need to be soaked off if it dries, but if you do it right away it comes right off). Keep the gel in closed container - I use a jelly jar. I get 8 to 12 oz of clear gel per recipe.
Also, if you cook it too long, the gel will get too thick to separate from the seeds. It took a few batches for me to get this down but it only takes about 15 minutes to make. The consistency will be about like melted cheese, or egg whites - the picture shows what I mean.
If it is too thick when it has cooled, add water by the spoonful and stir or shake to incorporate it.
I tend to keep mine in the fridge. I've had it last a month in the fridge and up to 3 weeks on the counter. It will start to smell 'off' when it gets old enough, and at that point I throw out what is left.
When camping for the weekend, I bring a 4oz canning jar filled with gel and it is enough for the weekend. I keep it in the cooler. So far, this has worked well, including at Pennsic for just over week.
-Þóra
For a leave-in conditioner, it seems to work best when warm (right after you make it) but can be used every time you shower, even when cold. I use it daily to style my hair, and it works better than the commercial hair gels I’ve used before. It also re-activates if I dampen my hair with a washcloth or damp fingers - which is great at events!
Directions:
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2 cups water (4 parts)
1/2 cup flax seed (1 part)
Place in pot in stove over medium-low heat, stirring often. When the white foam starts to appear, turn the heat off. Place a strainer over a bowl that will hold 16 oz or so. Pour the contents into the strainer and let it strain, then stir the remaining seed and scrape the bottom of the strainer to get the last bit of gel. Clean up promptly (the gel will need to be soaked off if it dries, but if you do it right away it comes right off). Keep the gel in closed container - I use a jelly jar. I get 8 to 12 oz of clear gel per recipe.
Also, if you cook it too long, the gel will get too thick to separate from the seeds. It took a few batches for me to get this down but it only takes about 15 minutes to make. The consistency will be about like melted cheese, or egg whites - the picture shows what I mean.
If it is too thick when it has cooled, add water by the spoonful and stir or shake to incorporate it.
I tend to keep mine in the fridge. I've had it last a month in the fridge and up to 3 weeks on the counter. It will start to smell 'off' when it gets old enough, and at that point I throw out what is left.
When camping for the weekend, I bring a 4oz canning jar filled with gel and it is enough for the weekend. I keep it in the cooler. So far, this has worked well, including at Pennsic for just over week.
-Þóra
Monday, March 6, 2017
Leatherwork - An Axe Cover for my Knight
Project: Brandarm Axe Cover
Artisan: Lady Þóra (Thóra) Hrafnsdóttir
Historical Basis:
None. This is a non-period project, as I was recreating an existing cover for this axe. The heraldry used was matched to Sir Harald's heraldry of wolf and lion. The tooling techniques used were learned many years ago in a shop class.
Tools used:
Paper patterns, utility knife, leather hole punch, leather stylus and bevellers, contact cement. Finished with waxed linen thread, craft paint, satin leather finish (sealant).
Procedure:
The overall pattern was copied from the existing cover. The leather was cut out with a utility knife, and then tooled. I created patterns for the heraldry from Sir Harald’s device. These were then traced onto the leather with the stylus, then used the mallet and tooling implements to impress the design into the leather without cutting it.
After tooling, the leather was painted and then the paint was sealed. Two layers of paint were used for better coverage. The leather was stitched together with waxed linen thread using a blanket stitch, and the buckle and strap were prepared and attached.
After stitching, a piece of thicker leather was water hardened and shaped to the blade. When dry, it was glued into the cover, along the seam where the blade rests, using contact cement. It was held in place by the axe while the glue set.
Artisan: Lady Þóra (Thóra) Hrafnsdóttir
Historical Basis:
None. This is a non-period project, as I was recreating an existing cover for this axe. The heraldry used was matched to Sir Harald's heraldry of wolf and lion. The tooling techniques used were learned many years ago in a shop class.
Panels for new cover in front, old cover in background
Tools used:
Paper patterns, utility knife, leather hole punch, leather stylus and bevellers, contact cement. Finished with waxed linen thread, craft paint, satin leather finish (sealant).
Leather stylus (far left) and bevellers
The overall pattern was copied from the existing cover. The leather was cut out with a utility knife, and then tooled. I created patterns for the heraldry from Sir Harald’s device. These were then traced onto the leather with the stylus, then used the mallet and tooling implements to impress the design into the leather without cutting it.
After tooling, the leather was painted and then the paint was sealed. Two layers of paint were used for better coverage. The leather was stitched together with waxed linen thread using a blanket stitch, and the buckle and strap were prepared and attached.
After stitching, a piece of thicker leather was water hardened and shaped to the blade. When dry, it was glued into the cover, along the seam where the blade rests, using contact cement. It was held in place by the axe while the glue set.
Tooling in progress. The dark areas are where the leather is dampened for tooling.
Wolf, painted and tooled.
Blanket stitching
Sir Harad with the axe and cover at Battle on the Bay
Axe Cover and documentation, as entered at 'Best Viking Bling' Arts and Sciences competition. Spring Coronation, April 2016, Atlantia (Winning Entry)
Harald’s device
Conclusion:
I have learned a lot from this project. I asked for and received feedback from several leatherworkers on how to improve the cover, should I make another one. They have given me a lot to think about, and avenues for further exploration. I do enjoy working with leather and will be doing more of this.
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