How in the world can setting a boulder problem in a gym ever help with designing and making leather products? Obviously, they require two completely different skill sets, however, they surprisingly share very similar processes.
In routesetting, it isn't so simple as to picking out some holds and putting them into the wall. We first have to think about who will be climbing the boulder and what angle of the wall the boulder will be built on. Depending on the angle, this will dramatically narrow down which holds you will be able use to set for your climber. For example, crimp holds may be acceptable on a slab wall for low grade ranges, whereas, those same holds will be completely unacceptable for the grade on any steep overhang. If we look at how this translates to leathercraft, we start to ask similar questions. Who are we building this bag for and how will it be used? A firm veg-tan may be a good choice for a messenger bag made to hold paper documents but may not be a good choice for a casual slouchy bag for bike riding. Having the right resources will always prevent a headache down the line.
Now, when it comes to the construction of a bag, a balance must be struck between function and desired aesthetic. When I attempted my first hand bag, I struggled with finding a suitable leather to meet this criteria. If the leather was too firm or thick, the bag would not turn out properly and seams will look like it is bursting. Too soft or thin, the bag will not have the necessary support. Unfortunately, some styles of bags are locked into a leather with a very specific criteria. When we apply this to setting, we still have to choose between movement and aesthetic. Holds can be grouped in a certain way but are locked into the same movement. The right hold quality and hold shape can determine if the boulder looks pretty without sacrificing the desired movement.
The final consideration is how our creation is going to be used by people we are making it for. The most important part of routesetting is forerunning where we actually climb the boulder. Many times, the boulder climbs differently than intended and tweaks are needed. A foothold may need to be added, angles of holds may change, or even entire moves are changed. We also forerun boulders to find breaks in beta. Similarly in leathercraft, when we make a bag that we are not familiar with, we have to put it on, zip the zippers, observe how it drapes, and use the pockets. Sometimes a pocket placement feels awkward because it is not where we want it to be or it is hard to access. The strap attachment might be in the wrong place because the bag sits on the body differently than we intended. We might have to make alterations or keep into considerations all of these factors when we start on our new creation.
I hope this helps with your future projects. We now see that two different skill sets can share similar considerations. Maybe this can apply to other hobbies that seem very different from each other, weather it be a job, hobby, activity, or perspective, remember that you will always learn something from that which could help you in anything you do in the future.
1 Comment
Good job!