Mokosh

I did some searching but didn't find much in the way to answer my questions. If this has been answered many times before, please feel free to point me to the relevant thread. So, I pulled up the PDF manual on the Consew 226 machine I just bought and was reading over the needle and thread sizes that are recommended. All of my machines in the past worked fine with domestic all purpose thread, but I know that won't be true in this case. I can't find any websites that have pics of the needles and thread up close or to scale, so I am having a hard time selecting what will be appropriate for my work. Would you be kind enough to help me? Here is what is recommended in the manual: Needle Thread 16 40 19 30-20 21 10 22 8 23 5 My question is 1) I know to use 135x17 type needles but what size needles/thread would you use for thin/medium weight garment leather? Which would you use for thick stuff like veg-tan? 2) What are your favorite thread and needles sites? Thanks for your help!

Good tip, thanks!

Ha ha! I already have!

Cool! A friend recommended I use a scapel but I wasn't sure where I could purchase one without seeming kind of, well, Jeffrey Dahmer-like. Excellent, thanks for the link.

This website is always good for laughs about crappy customers because there is always a story worse than yours. http://community.livejournal.com/customers_suck/

Thanks for the compliments. Ah! Thanks for reminding me! These two photos were shot by Andrea Haley of Devyne Productions. It's good to have photographers as friends!

I like to do a lot of highly detailed applique work and unfortunately I've just been using an exacto knife. I am really tired of having to replace the blades every 15 minutes when I'm working on a large project. I swear, it's like trying to shave a Yeti with a pack of Bic razors! Does anyone have any suggestions for a quality knife that will let me cut such detailed work with out dulling so quickly? Thanks!

Thanks, Doc! I am definitely looking forward to pushing the limits of the craft with my new machine!

I love the grim reaper and the "Deuce" seats! Nice work!

Hello everyone! I am super excited to find this website! I found you guys when I was googling info about a sewing a machine I just purchased. I was lucky enough, after over 2 years, to finally get the industrial walking foot I have been searching for! Seriously, I almost cried. I feel like I could sew anything (hopefully the cat stays clear of me!!) I have been sewing most of my life and I come from a long line of women who like to take an art form and make it as complicated and detailed as possible, so needless to say I got hooked on leather working pretty quickly. I also have a background of about 15 years in beading and other forms of jewelry making. And I am one of those nutcases who is trying to make leather working their career. I sell custom corsets and also a whole lot of other accessories. Anyways, I'm really happy to be here and I'd love to learn more about various equipment as well as some techniques to mold thicker leathers like veg-tan while they're wet. Does this technique have a specific name? Here's some of my work on the rather attractive Tamara Mitchell. Also feel free to take a look at some others I uploaded to my albums! Thanks!