Leather Workshops with Diamond Awl
About this Event
Diamond Awl Leather Workshop returns to the Festival to offer taster sessions in traditional leatherwork.
Students will try their hand at traditional hand stitching and make either a card holder or sunglasses slip using high-quality vegetable tanned leather.
During the workshop, you will get the opportunity to learn some traditional leather skills, including saddle stitching, edge-finishing, burnishing
Walk away with a new skill and your very own handmade item.
- Suitable for ages 8+. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
- This workshop is £10 per person
- There are 8 places available each session.
- The workshops will last approx 1 hour 30
Saturday workshop times:
- 11.30am - Card holder
- 1.30pm - Sunglasses slip
- 3.30pm - Card holder
Sunday workshop times:
- 11.30am - Sunglasses slip
- 1.30pm - Card holder
- 3.30pm - Sunglasses slip
The workshop is taking place on the lower-ground floor of The Exchange (Blackburn’s historic Cotton Exchange) - access is via the main entrance on King William Street. The venue has a new lift operating to all floors of the building.
Please arrive at the venue 5 minutes before the workshop. Unfortunately your place may be allocated to a participant on the waiting list in the event of late arrival.
Advanced booking required.
Pricing Guidance
The National Festival of Making is delivered through a combination of public funding, partnerships, sponsorship and ticket income. This session has been partly subsidised by the National Festival of Making to provide a low-cost opportunity for people to try this technique at the festival weekend. Day courses can be arranged with Diamond Awl at full rates to learn more techniques and complete larger projects - check out their website or talk to Jason at the festival!
To see what else is going on over the festival weekend, click here.
About Diamond Awl
Diamond Awl Leather Workshop, founded by Jason Stocks-Young, has over 15 years’ experience delivering high-quality traditional leatherwork teaching and demonstrations across the UK and internationally. Recognised as one of the UK’s leading leathercraft workshops, Diamond Awl offers structured courses from beginner to advanced level, teaching traditional hand techniques using premium vegetable-tanned leather.
Alongside its established teaching programme, Diamond Awl regularly delivers live demonstrations, public workshops, and large-scale offsite events for organisations including Liverpool John Moores University, Festival of Making, and RHS Chatsworth Flower Show. Internationally, Diamond Awl was invited to deliver five-day training programmes in Riyadh and Al Ahsa, funded by the Social Development Bank, supporting students to develop creative businesses.
Diamond Awl has also worked with leading brands including Timberland and DS Automobiles, delivering public-facing workshops, live activations, and premium craft experiences.
Website: www.diamondawl.co.uk
Instagram: @diamondawlworkshop
The National Festival of Making: Saturday 4th & Sunday 5th July 2026, Blackburn Town Centre.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
GBP 10.00
