Daily Swivel Knife Routine to Build Tooling Precision

Instructor: Sarah Garvey
Course Length: 1 hour | Lessons: 9
Skill Level: Advanced

Sharpen your skills—every single day with this simple warm-up routine for both drawing and swivel knife work.

You’ll start by exploring why daily practice matters, not just for skill improvement but for boosting confidence and creativity. Sarah breaks down how to design a routine that’s simple enough to stick with, yet targeted enough to make a real difference in your leatherwork.

From easy drawing exercises to focused swivel knife drills, you’ll learn how to make each minute count. Along the way, Sarah shares valuable tips on building consistency, staying motivated, and turning your warm-ups into a natural part of your creative process.

Whether you’re new to leather carving or a seasoned maker, this class will help you build the precision, control, and artistic confidence you’ve been looking for—one purposeful practice session at a time.

About Your Instructor:
Sarah Garvey is a full-time leather artist and designer based in Arizona, known for her intricately tooled purses and accessories under the brand Western Skies Handmade. Since 2008, Sarah has been creating and teaching her signature blend of traditional leather artistry and modern design. Her deep understanding of form, proportion, and pattern development makes her one of Illume’s go-to experts for advanced leather bag design.