Introduction to Leather Carving with Jim Linnell

Jim Linnell's Elktracks Studio is dedicated to the preservation and advancement of leatherworking. In this video, you will get a glimpse of the works of leather art that are on display at Elktracks Studio, as well as beginner instruction on creating two different projects.
The first project is a quick look at how to create a realistic looking feather from leather. These can be used in a variety of different projects, and even scaled down to make leather feather earrings. The second project is an introduction to leather carving with an overview of how to use basic leather tools to create a picture of a beautiful rose out of veg tan leather.
Subscribe to our KZbin channel for more videos on tips and tricks to get the most out of your leatherwork. Also, you can visit us at www.elktracksstudio.com for more in depth leathercraft tutorials.

[@jamesarneson6044]

Jim is my cousin, what a talented man. The leather work he does just amazes me to say the least. The knowledge, talent and the ability he has to teach is second to none. Proud to be able to have him for a cousin and the closest one I have.

[@Japone81]

This man is pure talent thank you good sir you just gained a sub

[@ElktracksLeather]

Thank you!

[@afterhours39]

I wanted to be able to like that a few thousand more times, but it only allowed me to like it once. This was AMAZING! I just started leather working, and I feel I just received a master class in carving! Thank you!

[@ElktracksLeather]

Thank you

[@foozmanagement6513]

Thanks Jim. I needed to make some leather feathers for my millinery collection.

[@jessiejohnson2572]

As always very good job I watch your videos you are a rock star in leather work Thanks for sharing.

[@ElktracksLeather]

Thank you

[@richardkatzman2066]

All I can say is amazing!

[@richyearle007]

Wow,how insanely beautiful was that.Thanks for sharing Jim,appreciated.In this day and age we are so fortunate to have places like youtube to learn from.Kids now do not know how lucky they are to have such a resource.

[@ElktracksLeather]

Thank you for your encouraging comments. I believe that each of us have a responsibility to pass forward the gifts that we have been blessed with.

[@CantrellLeatherGoods]

I hope the people viewing this realize and appreciate the opportunity to learn from one of our greats. Because of this crazy interweb thingy 🤪😉 and your generous willingness we are so blessed. Thank you!

[@CantrellLeatherGoods]

Matthew M If it wasn’t for KZbin and the internet as a whole I would never have been able to learn and get to the level I’m at in the amount of time I have been able to. To be able to create the knife and the sheath is really something. Bravo!

[@CantrellLeatherGoods]

Matthew M yes, I am mostly focused on leatherwork. Trying to perfect my craft. My hope is to soon be able to quit my “day job” and do this full time.

[@swordofgabriel]

Thank you Mr. Linnell for taking the time to make this and teach the craft. It is appreciated.

[@ElktracksStudio]

You are welcome. Glad to hear that it is appreciated.

[@melstill]

I really liked this. Most videos just show what to do. You teach what to do, how to do it and why. So much better for those of us trying to learn. Thanks.

[@ElktracksLeather]

Thank you. My goal in teaching isn't to show how much I know, but rather to give you the information you need to be able to enjoy this great craft and have some success.

[@MrGarycooper101]

You've obviously developed your own style and techniques. I can tell your old school but more new school people should be visiting your videos. Your feather was spectacular and enjoyed watching your years of experience. Hope you keep posting to KZbin.

[@ElktracksLeather]

Thank you.

[@james.t520]

you are a true artist!

[@kingfisherblues57]

Great video Jim! I'm a woodcarver, and I'm about to start carving a large american indian bust out of a red Elm log. I wanted to incorporate a couple of feathers in the indian's hair, or hanging off a headband. But doing that in wood is difficult and may be beyond my skill set. Your video has breathed new life into my project! I could make leather feathers and attach them to the carving. Leather compliments wood very well! Thanks for the idea!

[@ElktracksLeather]

Sounds like a great project. I'd love to see pictures of it when done.

[@rapidroy7]

Nice ,Thanks for all you share Jim!

[@arfonia]

Love the vid a great help.....Thank you loads.....Skully UK

[@ElktracksStudio]

You are welcome.

[@waytograce]

Wow! You are the master.

[@silviochan89]

thank you

[@joegray3675]

Thank you for this very informative video Jim. I’ve been looking for a video on doing roses and I couldn’t ask for better than this.

[@ElktracksStudio]

Hello Joe, I don't know if you have visited elktracksstudio.com or not, but one of the the videos available there is on carving roses. elktracksstudio.com/collections/videos/products/rose-workshop

[@viktorkolt7680]

Руки трясутся, но дело знают! Спасибо за урок

[@lawrencetrujillo65]

Mr. Linnell, you sir are the veterans answer to PTSD. Who is performing music in your video.

[@ElktracksLeather]

Leather works has helped many control that issue. It is a privilege to be a part of passing that help along. I have no idea who did that music.

[@veroniquecognasse1618]

Oh thanks you !!!

[@katnip6289]

Beautiful work! ♥

[@user-xe1ud8ob1d]

Смотря эти видео понимаю что я рукожоп. Super 💪👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@bluedawning22]

Beautiful 💜

[@dreamwarriors979]

Thx Bro!! AWESOME

[@fabianelizarraraz5679]

Nice job

[@Mnewkirk76]

Could you please give the tool description of what you used in this video? Many thanks and love your teaching.

[@ElktracksStudio]

The tools that are used in the carving of the feather are a swivel Knife www.tandyleather.com/en/product/easy-comfort-swivel-knife Beveling tools with a diagonal line texture www.tandyleather.com/en/product/b202l-craftool-beveler-stamp and www.tandyleather.com/en/product/b202r-craftool-beveler-stamp and also a hair blade www.tandyleather.com/en/product/craftool-pro-hair-blade-pencil

[@user-wp4st7om4y]

Молодец,кавбой! Симпатишные рисунки тиснит!

[@ElktracksLeather]

Thank you!

[@philipculbertson55]

Hey Jim, I have what I think is a basic question. How do you control leather spread when doing a lot of stamping? I make notebook covers out of veg-tan leather and if I am covering most of the back with basketweave, by the time I finish, the leather is no longer square (I cut it square before tooling) and it has often "grown" significantly on the side with a lot of stamping. I normally do less stamping on the front, just a basic carving and initials and of course it spreads a lot less than the more heavily tooled side. I sometimes can rewet the leather and man-handle it back into shape a little but that is not a great solution. I wonder if I am keeping the leather too damp for too long since I normally try to finish the carving all in one sitting instead of doing a little at a time, letting it dry and then coming back to it. Any thoughts or advice on this? Should I do the tooling before cutting to size and shape?

[@ElktracksStudio]

Hello Philip, Leather stretch is something we all contend with. Obviously the lighter the weight of the leather, the more stretch you will have. Some of the tricks that are used to deal with that are taping the back of your leather with packing tape, masking tape, or painters tape. All do about the same job of keeping your leather from stretching out of shape. Being a bit old school in my methods, I will usually stick it to a piece of cardboard with rubber cement. If you coat your cardboard with some sort of finish first, it will usually peal off pretty clean. It leaves the back of your leather a bit sticky, but not a problem if lining it.

[@eross21]

so after painting, how/ what do you do seal the piece with the protect it from the elements?

[@ElktracksLeather]

It depends on what the item is being used for. Most of the finishes we have available today are acrylic. They help make things weather resistant but not weather proof.

[@haroldhesterly2892]

Can you tell me how much pressure on the swivel knife (psi) you use when carving? My cuts seem to be sort of uneven.

[@ElktracksStudio]

How much pressure depends on the thickness of the leather. I usually try to cut 1/3 the thickness of the leather. I have a free video that you can download that covers a lot of this. You can find it at elktracksstudio.com/collections/videos/products/leathercraft-basics-with-jim-linnell I have also done a video that is just about the swivel knife and how to get finesse with your cuts. That video is at elktracksstudio.com/collections/videos/products/swivel-knife-finesse

[@franciscomoreno9916]

Amazing work, were is your shop for classes

[@ElktracksLeather]

Hello, My studio is in Venus, Texas, but I often travel to other regions to present classes.

[@franciscomoreno9916]

Do you go to California "Sacramento "????

[@marekwojciechowski7622]

super 👍 811

[@scottstephenson9597]

Where did you get the handle for your scalpel?

[@ElktracksLeather]

This was made for me by Ed LaBear

[@coburnlowman]

Tell me about when , how long , how much for your classes Please Sir. I am a total newbie and my tools are homemade from looking at some in catalogs and shaping my own. I have only watched videos and went off on my own. I figure I have more bad habits than good. What little I have done is not even close to the details in your work. I feel I could do a decent job with the rite Craftsman giving me a foundation.

[@ElktracksLeather]

Hello Phil, I am still working on my schedule for 2020, but you can see what is scheduled by checking out my calendar at www.elktracksstudio.com Depending on where you live, one option that many have taken advantage of is to come to my studio for private one on one training. You can find info about this on that same website.

[@sfkid57]

i just download a video on beveling and have question? it looks like i cut the leather on the opposite side of the bevel??? can you tell me what i am doing wrong. maybe going too deep??

[@ElktracksStudio]

Not sure I can tell without seeing it. If you could take a good photo and send it to [e-mail] I'll be glad to look at it.

[@samuelasare2531]

Am Asare Yeboah from Ghana am into a shoemaking I like to learn

[@zeynepataman7072]

merhaba kullandiginiz bicaklarin numaralari kac

[@anna_1792]

😍👍💝

[@kbaxterpackwood]

where did you get our swivel knife?

[@ElktracksLeather]

That swivel knife is one that I have had and used for 30 years or more. It was made by Craftool and a friend added the braided bands.

[@kbaxterpackwood]

@@ElktracksLeather thank you, I may have to add some bands to mine then, as mine is uncomfortable and I think a larger handle would make it more ergo dynamic!

[@ElktracksLeather]

@@kbaxterpackwood That is what I like about it plus the braided texture makes for a good grip.

[@kbaxterpackwood]

@@ElktracksLeather thank you for sharing that bit of info, I inherited my dads leather and metalsmithing tools and I've been really struggling with the swivel knife and to be honest, I think it's because the handle is way too small for my hand.

[@benjenstark8734]

You look like Willie Nelson