Hand Stitching Leather

[Missouri Half Breed]

Yes JD it works verry well for me i use what i got if you knoe what i meen

[Ned Buckshot]

Well MHB, I've been hand stitching for a long long time. About 10 years ago I broke down and bought a Tippman Boss and hated it! Hated the way it worked, hated the way the stitches looked, just everything.

I sold it 2 weeks later and never looked back!

Ned

[MontanaSlick]

I also use a double needle stitch on everything. I don't do enough to warrant buying a machine and besides, it's stronger.

Goood thinking Will you have the right way of doing those fine pieces of art.

Never had use for a machine, hand stitching is craftmanship, no comment on the other.

Thick project, I use a drill and small bit, not too tight of a hole as it takes a toll on the needles.

Good work Pards,

M.Slick

[Arizona Cattleman]

The one thing that helped me the most with my stiching is halter needles, much stronger and I haven't broken one yet.  I use the small eye type.  Used to break 4 or 5 each project with the cheap Tandy needles. 

AC

[MontanaSlick]

AC, thanks for the tip, I'll check it out.

MS

[JD Alan]

Osborne harness needles seem to be the way to go. Those Tandy needles break mighty quick.

Missouri HB I use a dremel as well whenever I can get way with it!

[MontanaSlick]

Thanks JD, I'll do a search on Osborne.

MS
Da Law

[JD Alan]

I bit the bullet today and bought a box of Barbours Pure Flax Linen thread. I could 't remember the size number everyone suggested, so I went with 4 in the natural color. Now I read some people use 3 for one weight of leather, 5 for another, so hopefully 4 will do it. I got the left twist.

I haven't opened it yet, so if I hear from someone that a different weight or twist would be better, I bought it at Oregon Leather so I can return it. I want to be sure it's strong enough to use on the main seam.

I think I have enough thread to last a lifetime with 1354 yards! Thanks to Little Al, I have some wax blend to use.

Oh Boy!
   

[MontanaSlick]

JD, if the #4 is a 20lb test line it should do great, yer in the middle, kind of a yeng and yang.

Just a sugestion, never look at what I use, I know it's black er brown flax linnin waxed and 20 pounder.

Good luck Pard

Cawffee is on, Ima sharin'.

[St8LineLeatherSmith]

I hope yall dont mind me bumping up these old threads up, I figured I could share some stuff that may benefit another CAS.net member for someone wanting to know how to make the saddle stitch Nigel Armitage has one of the best tutorial videos I know of that explains the procedure in detail.

I would also like to show off my stitching clamp that is IMO

the best one you can make yourself. I think I have a whopping fifteen dollars in the whole thing




heres a pic of the first one I made as you can see in the above pics I have made several upgrades to  the original


here is a diagram I made of some dimensions of the stitching clamp

[Hambone Dave]

I hand stitch for a few reasons
1) the imperfections look more natural
2) scared of the needle shattering on machines....had it happen on heavy wool...leather oh my god...
3) get to control the stitch spacing
4) too cheap to but a machine
5) don't do that many projects to warrant a machine

I will awl, nail or drill the holes.

Question:

I always see everybody uses thread where I use artificial sinew.
I was told sinew was stronger so why thread? Is it to get different colors or the economy of it?

[Marshal Will Wingam]

That's a fine stitching clamp, St8. Well thought out. I like the storage in the base. Thanks for the pics.

[Camano Ridge]

Str8line, can you show a little more detail on the strap anchoring and spring. I can see how the strap is anchored to the foot lever. How and where is it anchored on the other side? It apears that the strap runs throuugh the spring, what size spring and did you drill out insets for the spring in the arms of the clapmp? Over all looks like a pretty good design.

[St8LineLeatherSmith]

Thanks Marshall Will
CR actually there is no spring
if you notice the strap is tucked under the jaws and is screwed to the bottom side of the pivoting jaw.
I can take some detail pics if you need.

DHass
I think it has more to do with preference more than anything else not to mention thread is pre twisted or braided. the benefit of sinew is that it can be split if you need a thin stitch.  I use Artificial sinew on some projects, if I need a heavier stitch I use nylon or polyester on other projects.
a good way to make starter holes on thick leather projects is a drill press with a small round awl blade chucked and on slow speed
(I recommend NOT to use a drill bit).
the blade pierces the leather effortlessly and the holes are good and straight. then when you start stitching follow up with your stitching awl with the dimond pattern going at a 45 degree angle, this way when the saddle stitch is pulled tight the hole will close around the thread.
Oh and I cant wait for the day when I can afford a good Cobra Class 4 or a Tech sew machine Ya The saddle stitch is far superior to a lock stitch but the production time is a killer

[Cliff Fendley]

Great video on saddle stitching. Thanks for posting this.

That is a very nice stitching pony but I found after spending a bunch of time making a fancy pony that simpler is better.

The pony I use now is one I made that is sturdy but simple with a carriage bolt and wing nut through the spring. This way the stitching pony can be moved around and held in different positions with the work piece clamped in it.

When stitching toe plugs and such I reposition the pony under my legs and rotate it 360 degrees as I stitch around the toe plug of a holster.

How do you keep the thread from constantly hanging on the little shelf? That would give me fits.

[St8LineLeatherSmith]

I have used just about every vairiation of stitching ponys, stitching horses available and this is the absolute best design that I have found for me. i can re-position the clamp by pivoting the base with my feet  the shelf is mounted low enough that the thread don't catch or hang up on it otherwise I would have taken it off by now actually the little shelf is handy for keeping my pliers on it for when I need a little extra gripping power to pull a needle through a hole.

[Cliff Fendley]

My pliers, awl, beeswax can sit in a pocket on the inside of my jaws.

[dwight55]

For the last several years, I have used Tandy's 346 white waxed nylon (?) thread, . . . with almost no problems at all.

The one situation I cannot fix is the thread will not take dye permanently, . . . it eventually rubs off, . . . and generally turns some color between white and the product dye color.

I'd like to find the same thread, . . . in brown and in black.

I bought the offering Springfield Leather had to offer, . . . was very much disappointed with their thread (but to my pleasure they offered to take it back, . . . full refund  ).

Anyway, . . . it is a heavily waxed thread, . . . wonder if you all know where I can get something equivalent.

May God bless,
Dwight

[Marshal Will Wingam]

I learned on flax thread and switched to the waxed nylon for a while. I often looked for brown or black but never was able to locate any. I finally ran out of the nylon and switched back to the natural fiber thread. One advantage is it takes color nicely. Early on, old Charlie taught me to wax the thread from both ends to the middle. That lines up the fibers so it goes through the leather easily without fraying.

[onegunred]

Dwight, What did you not like about Springfield's thread ?   Thanks, Jerry