These books can be ordered through the Plaiters and Whipmakers Association. Credit card or bank draft accepted, but if paying by personal check US customers will have to add $10 to cover bank charges, inflicted by our greedy bankers at great profit to themselves.
email: ramskull@tpg.com.au

All prices include GST and postage within Australia. Overseas orders please add 20%

General Books on Leatherwork

    This contains the contents of seven small leatherwork books together in the one volume. These books are Beginning Leatherwork, The Secret Plait, Leather Lacing Manual, Stockmen's Plaited Belts, Braided Belts, Plaits Round & Flat, Bushmen's Belt Pouches. All the basic information needed to begin leatherwork plus a number of projects. 160 pages 1,100 drawings.

   This volume includes 9 leather books in one volume; Beginning Leatherwork, Plaiting Projects 1, Plaiting Projects 2, Plaiting Projects 3, Money Belts, Turk's-heads, Making a Saddle Tree, Bridles Plaited and Plain, A Cheap and Simple Saddle. 
There is something for both beginner and experienced leatherworker in this volume. There are numerous plaiting projects, from simple to complicated. The making of money belts is described and there is also a section showing how to make all the most popular and useful Turk's -heads, with dozens of drawings to show the step-by-step way to form them. There is also a section on design projects and also information for horse lovers including a cheap and simple saddle, how to make a saddle tree and a section on bridles. 288 pages with over 1,300 drawings.

BEGINNING LEATHERWORK  by Ron Edwards

    A book for the complete beginner. Tells how to buy leather, the basic tools needed, how to apply designs and colour the work, and simple lacing techniques. A few easy projects are given complete with full directions 32 pages, 111 drawings.

THE SECRET PLAIT  by Ron Edwards

    The Secret Plait looks impossible to the outsider - a plait made in the middle of a strap without cutting either end! This book gives clear instruction on how to do a Secret Plait of 3, 5 or 7 strands. It also explains how to make plaits of 9, 11 or even 13 strands. 20 pages, 85 drawings.
 

LEATHER LACING MANUAL  by Ron Edwards.

    Gives step-by-step instructions on all the popular lacing techniques, Whip Stitch, Wide Whip, Mummy Wrapping, Back Whip, Cross Stitch, Round Braid, Single Cordover, Double Cordover, Triple Cordover, Lazy S, Dot Stitch, Baggin's Stitch. 20 pages, 127 drawings.

The most popular belt in the bush is one made of plaited kangaroo lace. Detailed instructions show how to make plaited belts from 8 to 16 strands. Methods of creating various patterns are also illustrated as well as the forming of a crocodile ridge down the centre of the belt. 28 pages, 90 drawings.

BRAIDED BELTS  plus - How To Make A Snake whip by Ron Edwards

    A plain leather belt can be made into a valuable and attractive item by the addition of leather braiding. The techniques explained here are simple and easy to learn. The technique for making a flexible snake whip is also illustrated (this can also be found in the big book How to Make Whips). 20 pages, 138 drawings.

PLAITS, ROUND & FLAT plus - How To Make A Bullwhip  by Ron Edwards

    All the basic plaits that you need to know. Flat plaits from 3 to 16 strands and round plaits from 3 to 12 strands. Full instructions are also included for making a bullwhip (American readers should not bother with this, you know more about bullwhips than we Australians do). 20 pages, 175 drawings.

BUSHMEN'S BELT POUCHES  by Ron Edwards

    The belt pouch is a traditional part of the Australian stockman's outfit. No true bushie would be seen out without at least one pouch hanging from his belt. This book gives detailed instructions for making plain leather watch and knife pouches, as well as complex plaited pouches. This is the first book to give full details for plaiting a knife pouch. 24 pages, 110 drawings.

HOMEMADE LEATHERWORKING TOOLS  by Ron Edwards

    Most of the basic leatherworking tools can be readily made by anyone used to working with their hands. The techniques are simple and are fully illustrated. If you make only one tool the book will have paid for itself. 20 pages, 87 drawings.

MONEY BELTS AND SECRET POCKETS  by Ron Edwards

    A good book for the professional leatherworker, it includes full details for ten functional designs. The Dagger Belt is also included, a design in which a short knife is concealed in the fastening of the belt. 32 pages, 114 drawings.

    This book gives a number of methods of plaiting crocodile ridges in kangaroo hide belts. It begins with 8 strand belts with a single centre ridge and then goes on to 10, 11,12,13,14,15,16 and 18 plaits. 14 strand double row, 6 strand triple row and 24 strand triple row are also explained. 28 pages, 150 drawings.

LEATHER PROJECTS 1 formerly Plaiting Projects 1 by Ron Edwards

    This book gives full instructions for twelve new plaiting projects, and is intended for the more advanced student. It gives five belt styles, three pocket knife pouches, two sheaths for sheath knives and a pen pouch. 32 pages, 127 drawings.

LEATHER PROJECTS 2 formerly Plaiting Projects 2  by Ron Edwards

    This book is the second in a series on plaiting projects. Though the book is intended for experienced plaiters, a beginner will find items of interest in it. This book contains information on plaiting names into whips and belts, a new type of crocodile ridge for both the edges of a belt and the centre, two unusual ways of fastening on a whip fall, plus a section on the repairing of whips and instructions for the making of a pair of plaiting pliers. 28 pages, 130 drawings.

LEATHER PROJECTS 3 formerly Plaiting Projects 3  by Ron Edwards

    Like Plaiting 1 and Plaiting 2 this group of projects is for the experienced plaiter but I have included instructions for some of the basic skills needed by beginners to complete the projects. This book contains information on a plaited money belt, pouches plaited onto belts, a crocopurse and an old style bushmen's purse. 32 pages with 230 drawings.

LEATHER PROJECTS 4 formerly Plaiting Projects 4  by Ron Edwards

    The goanna neck plait, Aztec buttons, Headhunter's knot, Fish scale braid, Scobie hitch, Tile pattern hat band, some more useful Turk's-heads, Hugo's False Crocodile plait and others. 32 pages, 250 drawings.

LEATHER PROJECTS 5 formerly THE CARRY KANGA  by Ron Edwards

    This includes a couple of novelty items, a small kangaroo made in leather and a beer can cooler shaped like a horse's head. There are also instructions for a magic wallet, a bridle or headstall with fiador knot, a plaited lead, monkey chain lanyard knot, scout coil and the Idiot's Delight. 32 pages and 160 drawings.

    This book contains a number of interesting projects for both the beginner and the more advanced leatherworker. There is a fairly even mixture of plaited work and stitched projects which should provide enough variety to suit everyone. From hats, bags and belts to pouches and bags, even a star in lace. 32 pages, 180 drawings.

HAND SEWN LEATHER PROJECTS  by Ron Edwards

    Part of the contents of this book originally appeared in Bushcraft 1 - Australian Traditional Bushcrafts, and later in a small booklet called Rolling a Thread. The present edition contains all this information, and a number of new stitching projects have been added. such as Odd Shaped Knife Pouches, Mobile Phone Case, Miner's Cap and many more. 32 pages, 120 drawings.

OLD STYLE LEATHER PROJECTS  by Ron Edwards

This book presents full instructions for the making of a number of articles noted in old leather catalogues. It provide a range of designs which combine the charm of bygone days with the look of today. The contents are as follows: Half Moon Gusset Purse, Pocket Notebook and Card Case, Old Style School Satchel, Saddle Bag, Saddle Bag as Handbag, Old Style Saddle Bag, Blocked Purse, Simple Gusset Purse and Gold Miner's Belt Pouch. 32 pages, 109 drawings.

TRACING DESIGNS FOR LEATHER  by Ron Edwards and Family Part 1

    In large A3 format this book presents full size designs and project patterns ready to be traced off onto the leather. Not really of any interest to US readers, and not even popular in Australia. 25 pages. Price - don't bother.

Books on Whipmaking

    This hardcover book is devoted to the making of whips and is available in the USA in a special edition published by Cornell Maritime. The first section gives instructions for a basic 8 strand whip, the second deals with the making of kangaroo hide whips. Other chapters explain the making of bullwhips, snake whips and whips made from pre-cut lace. Also instructions on how to plait names in whips and plaiting designs for whip handles. It contains the full contents of the four smaller books listed below, fully revised and enlarged, plus much additional material.160 pages, 740 drawings

WHIPMAKING Book One  by Ron Edwards

    Plain instructions on how to make a 4 and 6 plait red hide or green hide whip, the common stockwhip of the bush. Each step is clearly illustrated, how to form the belly, plait the whip, attach the fall and cracker and make the handle. Diagrams for 6,8, and 12 plaits are also illustrated. 24 pages, 80 drawings.

    This book is for the plaiter who has already mastered the plain stockwhip. It is a longer book and gives detailed instructions for the plaiting of the highly favoured kangaroo hide stockwhip in its traditional form. 32 pages, 192 drawings.

    This book is not intended for the beginner but for the person who can make a plain whip and now wants to work some patterns into the handle.. Most of the designs are for 12 to 16 strands but the designs will adapt to being worked with a greater number of strands once some skill has been gained. 32 pages and over 45 drawings.

PLAITING NAMES IN WHIPS and OTHER LEATHER PROJECTS

    Tells how to plait names in whips in the traditional method. Also explains how to do chain braid, saw tooth braid, 8 strand centre-weave, Lee's plait, repairing a broken whip, repairing a broken whip keeper and a tying hitch for a whip. 28 pages and 157 drawings.

Books on Australian Saddles

(Note to US readers. These books deal with the Australian stock saddle, which is unique and quite different to the one most used in the USA.)

    The traditional Australian stock saddle is the best working saddle in the world. This book gives step-by-step instructions on how to build such a saddle. All the tools and techniques are illustrated, and a number of people have already made saddles from these instructions. 120 pages, 260 drawings.

COUNTER LINING STOCK SADDLES by Ron Edwards

    Counter lining is an important part of the upkeep of an Australian saddle and will double its life. This book has been published for the benefit of bush people who wish to learn counter lining. With the aid of this book any person should be able to counter line their own saddle and add years to its life. 20 pages, 35 drawings.

SADDLE REPAIRS  by Ron Edwards

    Explains all the common repairs needed on an Australian stock saddle. Repairing the panel, replacing girth straps, replacing sweat flaps, replacing seat, fixing loose seat, sewing seat to panel. 20 pages, 35 drawings.

BRIDLES PLAITED AND PLAIN  by Ron Edwards

    This book tells how to plait an attractive bridle which will look smart on any horse. Also tells how to make a plain bridle without rings or buckles, how to make a busman's extended head bridle and a Barcoo bridle. There is also a section on how to make a permanent bridle from rope, a method used in the East. 32 pages, 194 drawings. (Note. The popular rope bridle with the Fiador knot is not in this book but may be found in the book Leather Projects 5).

MAKING A SADDLE TREE  by Ron Edwards

    This book is written for those people who wish to build a saddle but cannot buy a ready made tree. Making a tree is not all that difficult, but it takes a lot of time. On the good side it costs almost nothing to build and you will have the satisfaction of being one of the very few people who has built a saddle from the tree up. Clearly explained with 90 drawings, 24 pages.

THE MONGOLIAN SADDLE AND HOW TO MAKE IT  by Ron Edwards

    The Mongolian saddle has proved its value over the centuries as a good working saddle. This is the saddle used by Genghis Khan when the Mongol hordes swept across the grasslands of Central Asia. Its value lies in the fact that it works well as a saddle yet is relatively quick and easy to make. The main requirements are some woodworking skills and a small amount of timber. Full instructions are included. 44 pages, 75 drawings.

HORSE BITS  by Ron Edwards, illustrated by Baghita Dungey

    This booklet can be found as a chapter in Bushcraft 4. It explains the varieties and uses of bits commonly found in Australia. 14 pages.

HOW TO MAKE A SIX INCH SADDLE by Ron Edwards

    Gives full patterns and instructions for making a tiny Australian stock saddle, the perfect thing for a trophy or present. Can be made with scraps of leather at almost no cost, and can be made by a beginner. 24 pages, 57 illustrations.

KNOTS FOR HORSE LOVERS by Ron Edwards

    One of our most popular books for people interested in horses. Step by step instructions showing how to tie 29 knots plus making rope bridles, headstalls and halters. 44 pages.

Books on Turk’s-heads and Knotting
 
 TURK'S HEAD  by Ron Edwards

    The Turk's-head is a favourite knot amongst whipmakers and sailors, being both useful and decorative. It can be used on whip handles, knife handles, as a belt keeper and as decoration on any round object. This book presents the most common and useful of these knots, with step-by-step instructions. 36 pages, 406 drawings.

KNOTS, USEFUL AND ORNAMENTAL  by Ron Edwards

    This book was written to fill the need for a low priced book on knots to cover most situations. It illustrates a large number of knots used for decorative work on board sailing ships, as well as the more practical ones, monkey's fist, diamond knot, star knot etc. In addition there is a section on the common knots used on land. 36 pages, 248 drawings.

Books on Australian Bush Crafts

(Note to US readers. Although we sell these books in other countries, including Britain, South Africa and Sweden, they are really all about the crafts still practiced in the Australian bush.

    This has almost become a standard reference book. It is known to bush people all over Australia and may be found on some of the most remote station properties. Its popularity may be gauged from the fact that it has been in print for over 25 years and has gone into over a dozen editions. It gives simple instructions for all the basic bush crafts from fencing, building, leatherwork, knots, fishnets, whips and much more. 145 pages, 400 drawings.

(Bushcraft 2)

    Following the success of the first book people contacted the author from all over Australia adding their bit of knowledge, and this was put together to make a whole new book. It is full of bush gadgets and explains how to cool and preserve food, how to improvise bush lights, bush ovens, making a cord girth and many other ideas used by the pioneers to make life comfortable. It even includes instructions for a simple rowing boat. 166 pages, about 300 drawings.

    This book continues the theme of improvisation, how to live comfortably by making use of low cost - or free - materials that are readily available. To Australian bush people nothing was impossible, and this book is crammed with all sorts of clever ideas for toys, furniture, horse gear, bush cooking and general bush craft. It also explains how to make a permanent low cost water tank, home tanning and how to map your own property. 164 pages, over 400 drawings.

    Written 20 years after the first volume this book is packed with new material and will be welcomed by everyone who has ever dreamed of starting a new life in the bush. It explains how you can save thousands of dollars by using the traditional pioneer methods of preparing timber. Basic techniques are shown in hundreds of clear drawings to enable you to master the skills. There are also sections on other aspects of bush crafts such as bush medicine, bush cooking, and even a chapter on the various horse bits found in Australia and the best ones to use. 160 pages, over 400 drawings.

This volume includes lots of leather projects, full instructions for building a mud brick home and also home building with rammed earth. The book has full instructions for 8 strand to 24 strand crocodile ridge belts. Horse gear hints (including a popular rope bridle) and blacksmithing projects. Plus drawings of bush furniture. 160 pages and 700 drawings.

This volume gives more on gates and fences, stabilized soil for cheap floors, how to make your own windows, many tips for jobs around the home, toy making, including a swinging horse, bush tucker, unusual tools and what they are used for, more projects for the home blacksmith, decorative rope work and fancy knotting, and much more. There is a section on the crafts demonstrated at Jondaryan Woolshed, and also the Stockman's Hall of Fame. 160 pages and 450 drawings.

    When I started this series of books I didn't realize the variety of old crafts that are still practiced. This book explains how to make a horse collar and a pack saddle as well as many small projects. Many people have continued to send in ideas and information and these have also been included. Also featuring in this book is a section on the seafaring tradition. 160 pages, and 500 drawings.

BUSHCRAFT 8 - Bush Leatherwork  See under general leatherwork section.
 
 

BUSHCRAFT 9 - How to Make Whips  See under the whipmaking section.
  

Other Interesting Books

Advanced Leatherwork - Interesting Braids and Flat Plaits written and illustrated by Ron Edwards

    With 272 pages, 134 different projects and over 1,500 drawings this is the largest book on flat plaits to have been published, and yet it does not cover the most common plaits! Unlike the previous works of the author, this book is intended for the person who already knows the basics and is interested in developing further. Many of the plaits illustrated here are unusual, but easy to do, while others are very complex and not for the faint hearted.
   
*For those who wish to use the book as a workshop manual that will open flat on the bench, we can offer a plastic comb binding

Palm Frond Pastimes by Ron Edwards

    This book contains many projects made from palm fronds including a palm frond toy ball and how to weave a palm leaf hat.

ONE OF THE LAST     by Richard Taubman

The following book review was written in 1988 by the late Ron Matthews, longtime President of the NSW Leatherworkers Guild.

Richard Taubman is the son of a grazing family in southern New South Wales, Australia, aged 28, married with one child in 1988.

At age 14 he met Syd Bayliss, an old stockman with a lifetime of experience in out-back New South Wales, Queensland, and the Northern Territory. Richard had a burning desire to plait whips .... Syd was an expert. Syd was to become his hero....

Admiration and persistent questioning followed from the boy and over the next ten years the old man passed on the skills and wisdom forged from a thousand adventures in the bush.

When Syd died aged 83 in 1983 Richard decided to write the story of Syd's life. It is a remarkable story about an independent spirited man who, on just one of his outback journeys traversed the Australian continent by horse in the 1920's from Melbourne to Darwin and back . about 4000 kilometres each way .... working on cattle and sheep properties, right through the arid centre of Australia.

There are many such journeys, with tales aplenty about the bush, the horses, the cattle, and the men who work in that environment; not forgetting the thieves, rouges, ratbags and roos by the thousands: and then there are great descriptive chapters about the lifestyle, the gear and the methods of the stockmen mustering the huge mobs of cattle. On one property alone twelve thousand, five hundred head of cattle were mustered, drafted and sold off as well as over eighteen thousand calves branded in the same year. The property in its heyday was twenty eight thousand square miles in area, and on such properties the camps often operated over 100 miles away from the homestead!

Young Richard's hunger for knowledge about the traditional Australian methods of plaiting, whipmaking and saddle work has shaped his life. At age 19 he started a partnership making and selling plaited whips plus other gear. Whips range from 4 to 32 strands and belts from 9 to 67 strands. One of the 55 photographs in the book is of a monster fifty foot whip made from one and a half bullock hides by the author; it is a replica of one made by the ubiquitous Syd.

Later on Richard felt the necessity to completely follow in Syd's foot steps and to authenticate the stories by traveling the outback routes through New South Wales, Queensland, and the Northern Territory (using a motor vehicle, not horses), again like the latter day Syd, he hawked his products to station workers and other bushies on properties along the track.

Now Richard is a well known producer of top quality leather gear with a. thriving business, sometimes traveling over fifteen thousand kilometres on one trip selling his gear. The book works on a number of levels; a boy's wonderment fulfilled through the adventure of learning the adult skills of making bush gear; growing up with a consuming admiration for his hero - Syd; learning about the history, the men, and the workings of the Australian outback, from a man who could fire the imagination, and later from personal experience; and finally, on the death of Syd, a culmination via this book his monument to his hero!"

One senses behind the scene two caring parents wisely encouraging a very eager boy to pursue a goal and to grow into a fine young man; it is a strong affirmation of love and a rebuttal to those who would deny and repress the enthusiasms of youth in Australia many flowers bloom in the desert. Recommended to any reader interested in the Australian Outback. The story has a naive freshness which will carry you from page to page, and you will find it difficult to put down.

ISBN 0-7316-4152-3 pp 246: Indexed.

Contact: Richard Taubman
"Spring Valley Station"
Murringo Via Young
NSW 2594
email: tauweb@hn.ozemail.com.au  Ph:02 6384 6292  Fax: 02 6384 6230

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