7-Day Course Deer Skin Traditional Tanning & Leather Clothing Construction w/ Theresa Kamper

We are thrilled to be hosting Dr Theresa Emmerich Kamper once again here on the East Coast of NSW for a 7- Day comprehensive course on Deer Skin Tanning and Leather Clothing Construction

About the event

Learn the ancient skill of Brain Tanning Deer Skin over 3 information packed days using natural, non-toxic and easily available materials!

Before the advent of modern tanning agents, humans were turning raw skin into usable leather products using very basic techniques and materials. Learn to produce incredibly soft, strong and durable leather from raw animal skin using one of humankind’s earliest tanning technologies! Utilizing materials readily available in the surrounding environment we will walk through the steps of this transformation. Come learn the progression of this process from raw skin to beautiful, usable, finished leather! 

The first 3 days of this 7 day intensive course will focus on tanning Deer Skin with a variation of fat tanning using lecithin as the dressing agent. Whilst not for the squeamish, the end product is worth the work! The class will cover desalinating preserved skins, de-fleshing, de-hairing, de-graining, and softening the skins, as well as smoking them so they can be easily washed.

In addition to enthusiastic instruction, I provide comfortable, easy-to-use tools and detailed handouts covering the tanning and sewing processes, as well as ethnographic anecdotes and a list of helpful literature for those who wish to further their knowledge of tanning! So, please join me for a course sure to contain plenty of memorable moments, lots of practical information, and, if you put in the work**, one that will see you heading home with a beautiful, unique, and usable traditionally tanned skin!

* Using brains or egg yolks as an alternative dressing agent will be covered.

** Please be aware that a reasonable amount of fitness is required for this course. I will provide instruction on good technique and timing with the skins, but you will need to be able to be on your feet and active for 6 to 8 hours per day. 

Any serious injuries need to be discussed with me before booking the course!

The last 4 days of this course is designed to teach you how to pattern and tailor bespoke/custom leather clothing of your own design!

This course will cover all you need to know to begin patterning and making your own well-fitted leather garments!

The course will begin with an overview of the possibilities when tailoring and designing leather clothing. You will have the opportunity to view a large collection of sample garments for inspiration. We will discuss the options and uses for different types of leathers for different types of clothing and utilitarian items.

You will learn a variety of stitches used for sewing fat tanned leather, as well as which stitch is best used for which type of seam or part of the garment. Each person will make a stitch card to get used to the different stitches and sewing with leather lace.

Of course, the most important step for making well fitted clothing is good tailoring! This course will help you overcome the difficulties typical of your first time sewing with leather. We promise you will leave the course with a garment that fits!

It is often difficult to visualize a 2-dimensional pattern fitting a 3-dimensional body. Theresa will walk you through this process so that you create a pattern unique to you! 

After patterning how to lay the pattern out on the leather will be covered. This is important to do well so the garment stays the same shape though out washing and wearing.

You will work with lovely soft fat tanned skins which while commercially produced are the closest equivalent to hand tanned brain-tan/buckskin.

The sewing will be done with either leather lace and/or artificial sinew.

The course aim is to have everyone's garment as finished as possible by the end of the course.  How far you progress on your item will greatly depend on what you chose to sew, how complicated of stitching you chose and how fast you sew.

Most participants do not finish a complete garment in the 4 days. However, by the end of this course you will have the skills and confidence to complete the garment on your own, as well as produce future functional works of art!

The Leather: 

*The price of the leather is NOT included in the course price due to the variation in the number of skins needed for different garment types and sizes. We ask for your choice of garment in advance, as well as your basic measurements.

* Due to the time frame of the course and the complexity of some clothing we limit the kind of garments you can choose from.

*The leather we buy is commercially tanned grain-off fat tanned sheep skin.

*You can of course, bring and use your own leather if this is grain-off fat tanned leather (buckskin/brain tan).

*We ask you to bring your own fastenings (buttons and alike) as those are a personal taste.

The options for type of clothing you can make are:

·       Skirt

·       Shorts

·       Tank top/Vest top

·       Short Sleeve T-Shirt

To give you an idea of the skins needed for each garment type:

·       2-3 for a sleeveless top

·       4-5 for a short sleeve shirt

·       2-4 for shorts

·       2-3 for a skirt (depending on length)

Price of leather is $46 per skin (this is on top of your course fee)

Additional Information:

Duration: 7 days (Friday 10:00 am - Sunday ± 4:00 pm)

Prerequisites: None

Venue: The property is a beautiful remote bush block on a ridge top with amazing sunset views. Diverse array of wildlife, swimming dam & plenty of flat space amidst the trees to set up a tent. There is no phone reception unless you’re with Optus. The driveway is a dirt road but 2WD can make it unless they are really low to the ground. There is a trading post down the road where you can buy a coffee & cafe snacks. The suburb is called Laguna, 20 minutes from historic Wollombi.

Location:

The location is 1.5 hours north west of the Central Coast, 1 hour west of Newcastle and 2 hours north west from Sydney.

Catering: This course is self-catered. I am many things, but a good cook is not one of them!

There will be a basic outdoor camp kitchen set up for attendees to use for bench space, tea & coffee station, facilities for boiling water & a bar fridge to share for perishables. BYO camp kitchen setup, gas cooker, utensils, etc.

We provide basic tea & coffee. Filtered Rain water is available.

Accommodation:

This is a camping program. BYO tent or van. There are plenty of flat areas to set up on the private bush block, alternatively there are airbnbs in the surrounding area of Laguna & Wollombi if you would prefer your creature comforts.

We look forward to welcoming you to Stanmore this October for an unforgettable experience!

Price: $1695.00 AUD

Payment Plans available.

Included: All course materials, coffee/tea.

Not included: Off-site Accommodation, food & additional leather for clothing making.

This will be a phenomenal week of learning life long traditional skills!

Limited to 12 places.