studioaudrey

oh, and I also just found this needle & thread size chart now: http://www.tolindsewmach.com/thread-chart.html

Dear Tor, Oh, really good to know, I think I have been using too small needles in general, also for the canvas. I've been using the TKT 20 the whole time because I like the look of the thick thread. I was just about to order some needles right now. The guy at the industrial machine place suggested 110 needles and TKT 30 thread when I said I was busy with canvas. But I forgot to mention that I wax the canvas, which also makes it quite thick and I have indeed been having a hard time finishing the seams of the bags with twill tape (because there are some spots with 5 or 6 layers of canvas). Enclosed are some photos of bags that I made with the 110 needles: Best, Audrey

Dear Tor, Thanks very much for the response. I will get some 120, 130, 140 & 150 needles to see if they will work…I don't think I need to go heavier than this? My thread is TKT 20, I have both polyester upholstery thread from Gutermann and some nylon Serafil thread. I didn't glue or staple the leather together, I just wanted to fold it over double and stitch it to make a round bag handle. I ended up using a rivet instead. Thanks again! Best, Audrey

Hello, I am new to this forum and excuses for adding to this topic 8 months later, but I recently bought a used Adler 167-73 for making canvas and leather bags and I have a question about sewing tanned leather with it. I had no problems sewing a single layer of tanned leather for a strap to the canvas, but this past week I tried a double layer of the leather and it just wouldn't work. The leather is 4 mm thick, so a double layer is 8 mm. The top and bottom threads won't connect and I hear a clicking sound somewhere in the bobbin when I try sewing this this layer. I'm using size 20 upholstery thread with a size 18 leather needle and I am turning the wheel by hand for leather sewing (I don't have the control over the clutch motor yet for small detail work). So my question is particularly for Tor, how did you manage to sew 11 mm tanned leather with this machine? Do I need a thicker needle and do I need to make some adjustments with the hook and how do you do that? Best, Audrey