How To Mark Sewing Lines On The Face Side Of Black Chrome-Tanned Leather?

[goldenstonebazaar]

What pen/pencil/chalk will leave removable trace on very smooth black finished leather?

I'm trying to transfer sewing lines from pattern to the front, finished side of a black smooth chrome-tanned leather (Mission pigskin and ostrich print on pigskin from Tandy, if this matters). Construction is similar to tool or pencil roll, seams must be on finished part.

Tried:

- To order from US silver pen. Out of stock, and I would prefer not to spend another $30 for shipping of one pen, as you understand.

- Silver metallic marker. It leaves quite bright trace, removable by wet finger of cloth. If stitching is over it, particles of glitter become embedded in thread and holes, looks dirty grey, not good.

- Chalk. Leaves some trace, brushable off, but again, if seam is over or near it, particles are all over the thread, whitish powdery residue.

- White water soluble pen for quilters and white soap, same result: they leave no traces on the finished side of leather, faint trace on the back side.

- Ball pen. Leaves visible trace, but not removable, still visible under the thin thread.

The only option left is use masking tape as a stitch guide, but layout accuracy will be affected and there is a possibility that foot of the sewing machine (domestic kind) would drag and maybe displace making tape.

Any other solutions?

Thank you.

Edited November 28, 2014 by goldenstonebazaar

[billybopp]

Tandy's silver pen is on sale for $2.59US. Not sure what that would be, CDN, nor what shipping might cost.

Bill

[Northmount]

The Tandy pen leaves permanent marks too!

Tom

[olenawills]

Any metallic gel pen from staples, michaels, etc

I am using silver or gold.

[Dwight]

Go to a welding supply shop and tell them you want a piece of soap stone and a holder for it. You'll be out about 3 bucks.

Mark your line just to one side or the other to your sewing line, . . . to the shoe edge if you are using a machine.

It makes a nice grey mark on almost any leather, . . . buffs right off, . . . but won't blow off, . . . and doesn't scuff the leather.

Works on most material too.

May God bless,

Dwight

Edited November 29, 2014 by Dwight

[cardinal leather]

You can get soapstone and holders in round and square. if you get round you can sharpen it in your pencil sharpenter.

[BDAZ]

Why not just use a ball ended tool or a Stitching Groover.

The stitching will cover the lines made by either method and the groover will give a more professional look.

Cya!

Bob

[DavidL]

dull scratch compass - 2:45

On stiffer chrome it should be ok.

sewing machine magnetic guide - from the video description looks to be a strong enough magnet for leather. http://www.sailrite.com/Magnetic-Sewing-Guide

[goldenstonebazaar]

Thank you all, it gives an insight what else could be done. Appreciate your help!

I'll try to find soapstone in Art Supply or on online marketplaces and will get today metallic gel pen from Staples.

Unfortunately, ball ended stylus would leave no mark at all on this leather, stitching groover will damage finish and this leather is too thin for it (half of mm or so), magnetic guide, at least what I tried to use for domestic sewing machine, is not reliable enough. The recommended magnetic guide is surely more powerful, but it's nowhere to attach to plastic body of this sewing machine, even if internal mechanism is steel, the only metal on outside is needle plate.

Edited November 29, 2014 by goldenstonebazaar