I’ll have to try burnishing the thread a bit more. I got a bit of shearling coming through the first few stitches. Maybe it was just the first couple stitches that are an issue because I’ve not had so much of a problem with the other stitches. I actually tried using a big dollar store bag clip, the kind you use on snack bags, to hold one side (excess off the leather side) of the shearling down. I think, too, using a metal dog comb and pushing it into the other side of the fleece will help keep a clearer path for the needles. But I have to try that as I didn’t have the dog comb when I was at Tandy Leather learning how to saddle stitch. There might be other hair products designed for keeping hair in a bun that might work too. I’m going to go look tomorrow and see if I find anything. And man, I wish I had a stitching horse! Just don’t feel like building one for one saddle. Wonder if I could try 2x4 pieces and C-clamps and just lay the 2x4 pieces on my legs. It would give some support to the piece.
I admire you guys who do this for a living!