Sewing skirts

[figthnbullrider]

Do you guys sit there with a needle and and Awl and do it all by hand or do u use a sewing machine. if you do it by hand how long does it take on each skirt.

[TracyMoss]

I typically sew my skirts on a machine. Time/cost factor and convienence is mainly the issue. I do and have sewn skirts by hand and I just don't hand sew enough to be too fast. It takes me about two hours per skirt if I use an awl and needle. I have sewn by hand and used a jerk needle for a lockstitch and it took me about the same time. I have used my machine to punch holes and then sewn by hand and it only took me a little over an hour. I only hand stitch skirts if the customer wants it and is willing to pay for it. After all, I have that expensive sewing machine to save time and make money.

TM

[Bob]

You wouldn't catch me hand sewing skirts, not ever. I did it once in saddle making school because it was a repair and the skirts were deformed and crocked. If it can't be done on a machine, it wouldn't get done in my shop. I've never turned one away either... My needle machine can sew anything on a saddle.

[Don101]

I sew By hand and it takes me also around 2.5 hours give or take a bit as mostly ill watch TV at the same time as it isnt the most exiting job and it seems at times as if it will never end, LOL, Don

[Bob]

Those of you who hand sew skirts with waxed linen. By pulling the thread through news paper print, the sheep skin will not pull through.... an ole trick i learned in school and will never forget. It toke all day to sew those skirts by hand. with waxed linen thread.

[gary]

Done them by hand and by machine. By hand at 8 stitches per inch takes about 2 1/2 hours per skirt. I used braided polyester thread on the last one and it took less time than using waxed linen thread - less catching.

Faster by machine but I prefer the handstitched look and result.

Gary

Edited February 27, 2008 by gary

[Don101]

Those of you who hand sew skirts with waxed linen. By pulling the thread through news paper print, the sheep skin will not pull through.... an ole trick i learned in school and will never forget. It toke all day to sew those skirts by hand. with waxed linen thread.

do you mean a layer between the shearing and skirt leather? Don

[Bob]

I mean holding a bunch of news print in one hand, and pulling the thread thru it with the other hand, just like you would waxing linen thread. Maybe someone here can help with this.... it's the stuff on the news print paper that gets on the thread and the wool wouldn't stick to it. I don't know what it's called, but I think it would darken the thread a bit.

[TracyMoss]

I mean holding a bunch of news print in one hand, and pulling the thread thru it with the other hand, just like you would waxing linen thread. Maybe someone here can help with this.... it's the stuff on the news print paper that gets on the thread and the wool wouldn't stick to it. I don't know what it's called, but I think it would darken the thread a bit.

Do you mean the ink or carbon powder? Interesting, never thought about that. Where did you go to school "Bob".

[Elton Joorisity]

I've always just used the brown paper that my leather comes wrapped up in. I was taught that it burnishes the wax into the thread and polishes it so that the wool won't stick. I hardly ever hand stitch skirts but I still do this to my thread every time I have to hand stitch.

[Bob]

Do you mean the ink or carbon powder? Interesting, never thought about that. Where did you go to school "Bob".

Tracy, I think it's what ever they put in the ink that makes it slide better. It makes your hands dirty like when your hands turn black on the tips after reading new papers...

It was a two year program at Olds College Alberta put on by Ken Cameron, it didn't last but only three years in total. The first group of students were 12 in all, for two years. The next group was only for 1 year and it stopped. I was one of the fortunant few who got in the first group. Ken Cameron still works out of his shop in Reddeer Alberta.

[TracyMoss]

I've heard of Ken around in circles, but never met him. It is always nice to learn in a class setting, lots of ideas and opinions. I'll have to try the newspaper thing next time, which will hopefully be far off in the distant future.