Trouble Handstitching With Paralysis

[ETW Grumpy]

I'm throwing this out there to solicit suggestions and ideas for a solution to my problem.

In 2007 I got paralyzed from the mid chest down in a motorcycle accident. I went to college after the accident and am just now returning to leather work. I can tool with no problem but my biggest problem is with handstitching.

I have been trying to use a stitching pony that sits between my legs and comes up to about my chest but because of the level of my injury I can't hold myself upright when I lean forward to see where I'm putting my awl to punch the hole. This causes me to lean too far forward and not be able to see what I'm doing because I wear bifocals and I get too close to the work.

What I'm looking for is some fresh ideas to help me get past this. There's some perspective on this that I'm not seeing and I wonder if some one else has had this problem or handstitches in a way that is different from the traditional way and I might be able to use their method etc. The major issue for me is that as long as I can sit back in my wheelchair I'm good, it's when I lean forward that I have problems.

I hope I've explained my situation well enough. If not, I'm happy to answer questions. Thanks in advance.

Levi

[bullmoosepaddles]

Levi,

I just had cataract surgery. Which cured my astigmatism, I now only need readers. I learned that bifocal sight length is easily fixed. I wear one set of readers for computer time and another for reading. Measure the distance you wish for depth of sight ( the distance between your eyes and the point you wish to see) and talk to your Dr about it. That may well be the easiest thing for you.

I work as a machine operator in a auto parts plant. I have for 15 years had my bifocal prescription adjusted to the needed sight depth. It may be as simple as buying a 10 buck set of reading glasses for your sewing time.

Not sure this will help but its how I get through some of my sight issues.

Go well

Gene

[Oldtoolsniper]

I have three fingers on my left hand that have no feeling, no where near what you are dealing with. I stab myself and by the time I figure it out I have to dye my leather brown. Here's what I started to do.. I bought some really thick shower shoes (flip flops) the foam type, I put the shoe under my leather and pre stab all the holes in my leather on the bench and then pony it up to stitch it. The holes don't close up enough to prevent stitching a long run, I just completed my first belt this way.

If that works for you then changing the stitching pony to fit your chair in a leaning back position may solve your issue. Perhaps you can make a harness to limit your front lean if leaning back to stitch is a problem.