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This week’s #craftfocus is folding knife making.

A folding knife consists of a blade, spring, two linings, two bolsters, two ‘scales’ for the handles, and wire for riveting the knife together.

The blade blanks and springs are cut from sheet steel. They are then marked, drilled, nicked and straightened before being hardened and tempered. The blades are then ground and cleaned, before the knife is assembled.

The assembled knife is then ‘knocked up’ using a hammer and an anvil. The knives are then ground and shaped to the required finish, before being given a final polish and sharpening.

Folding knife making is listed as endangered on our crafts list.

Issues affecting the craft’s viability include legislation – there are a number of laws concerning knives (though pocket knives are usually exempt) and recruitment issues – it is difficult to find people who wish to work in this type of manufacturing.

Images: Michael May @michaelmayknives

#heritagecrafts #craftfocus #foldingknifemaking

This week’s #mondaymaker is Nina Perrot @clearsandsstainedglass – a master stained glass maker.

Nina has been creating stained glass for around two decades. Trained by master craftsman Keith Knickels twenty years ago, Nina is a member of the Guild of Master Craftsmen. Nina loves being able to continue the centuries old heritage skill of stained glass making while combining it with a contemporary style. Working from her off grid smallholding, Nina is inspired by nature and natural designs, taking influence from the surrounding world.

If you want to learn more about Nina’s work, become a member of Heritage Crafts and read her exclusive interview in the members portal: https://www.heritagecrafts.org.uk/join-us/

#heritagecrafts #mondaymaker #stainedglass #glasswork

This week’s #craftfocus is leatherworking.

Leatherworking is the making of a wide range of leather items, often using techniques of sewing, moulding and embossing. It dates back over 400,00 years, being readily available for usage first as a by-product of hunting.

The leatherworking process is centred on the material – from sourcing the right leather to work with, examining the surface and preparing the leather, measuring and preparing/applying the pattern (marking cut lines) and cutting.

Additional processes include glueing, casing, stitching, dyeing, burnishing, skiving, stamping, moulding/shaping and perforation.

Issues affecting the viability of the craft include the time consuming process of preparing leather, and a lack of widely-available or accessible leather work training/qualifications, with a decreasing number of active makers.

There are also ethical and environmental concerns around leatherworking, resulting in a number of fashion houses moving away from it.

However, many would argue that leather is a highly sustainable material, using a by-product of the food industry that would otherwise be wasted, compared with some of the petroleum-derived alternatives.

Images: Armitage Leather @armitageleather & Billy Tannery @billytannery

#heritagecrafts #craftfocus #leatherworking #leather

Over 29 days we have profiled the recipients of our recent round of training bursaries.

Oliver Kinge, from Wiltshire, has a learning style that has not been served well by the mainstream education system. He also has a passion for blacksmithing that points to an exciting future. He will train one-to-one with blacksmith @melissacole001. Oliver plans to set up his own business, selling items at local farm shops, farmers markets and events throughout the year.

Oliver’s bursary is funded by Malcolm and Rosalind Gammie.

Oliver said:
“Securing the bursary from Heritage Crafts will provide me with the opportunity to continue in my training and acquire the resources I need to develop my skills as a blacksmith. This support will also enable me to explore blacksmithing as a career, to meet other professionals, and expand my skills and training further. Hopefully this will lead to me being able to produce items that others can use for years.”

This week’s #mondaymaker is John Potter, an accredited master fletcher at Twangers Arrows.

Fletching is the making of arrows, including shaping the wooden shafts and attaching the feather. He came into fletching many years ago through the necessity to provide himself with arrows for his longbows. John is the author of ‘Making Traditional Wooden Arrows’, 2020.

If you want to learn more about John’s work, become a member of Heritage Crafts and read his exclusive interview in the members portal: https://www.heritagecrafts.org.uk/join-us/

#heritagecrafts #mondaymaker #fletching

Over 29 days we are profiling the recipients of our recent round of training bursaries.

Isabella Cobby @isabellahats, from West Sussex, has been a full-time milliner since 2022, and now wishes to transition her skills to the endangered craft of production men’s hat making. She will train one-to-one in blocked hat making with Sue Crowle at the Welsh National Opera, and in sectional patterned caps with @the.tylermiller. Isabella intends to share her newly-acquired expertise with others.

Isabella’s bursary is funded by the Maxwell Hanrahan Foundation, supporting innovative people working in field-based science, art and craft, teaching and protection of the natural world.

“Receiving this training bursary will give me the incredible opportunity to work with two exceptional hat makers, helping me develop and refine my hat and cap making skills in styles traditionally worn by men. This will enable me to handcraft bespoke hats and caps so that I can confidently offer customised fit and fabric choice, rather than relying on mass produced headwear. I’m excited to take this next step in my craft.”