Peppercorn

When I see how the Saddle Stitch is done and understand how the sewing machine and similar devices do a stitch, just my opinion, the Saddle Stitch is what you would want for construction. For repairs? As far as I'm concerned, we can then embrace the whole Russian proverb of, "The best is the enemy of good enough." I can't rightly remember it ver batim. 8-) But I don't think it is "good enough" for the original construction of a piece. As a matter of fact, for hard use items, it would seem that you would be guaranteeing that you will have to be making a repair in the field in the future by not using a hardier stitch.

If it stitches like a sewing machine, that means that two different threads meet in the multiple layers of leather and the two loops entwine once and that's it. That's all right for emergency repairs in the field I reckon, but on something that is handmade that I want to last for as long as possible, I would not be interested in that when you compare it to the Saddle Stitch.

Ferg, That's excellent news! It looks so buttery in that video.

Ferg, For being that thin, do you rate Kangaroo Leather as being incredibly tough? If you wanted to make a little pocket case for slipping a pocketknife into, would the chrome tanning discolor the knife? Thank you. They do look like an overcomplication for that whole process. I reckon I will end up with a couple of awls anyway, I use them now and I don't even do this stuff! But I understand what you are talking about.

To answer multiple quotes of information. First, thanks to all of you, very much so. Thank you. Are there any other potential pitfalls in the way we measure leather versus everyone else in mils? In your experience, what are the incorrect ways of doing it? Not necessarily the lesser of the correct ways, but the things to absolutely avoid. Thanks for all of the information. There wasn't really any use wasting space quoting it all again. That having been said, both of the Gents on YouTube use the chisels with Nigel Armitage using them as you suggest, as an Overstitch Wheel and with Ian Atkinson driving the chisel to drive all the way through, taking the place of a awl or punch and making the holes with the chisel. Are both ways okay and just a matter of style and personal preference? Thanks again to everyone and anyone else that wants to kick in more info, that's great, too. Snaps and the tools to set them and hole punchers are going to be a must-have set of tools/skills/supplies as well. Ferg, For the Four Card Wallet that Ian Atkinson made? What would you suppose the thickness/weight of that leather would be? Besides simply "Kangaroo," what would that type of leather, finish and everything, be referred to? Eventually I would like to get into dyeing and more complicated things like incorporating high-quality zippers like YKK Zippers, etc.

Oh, that would help, wouldn't it! I'm on The East Coast of The States. That leather in Ian Atkinson's video, I think, is going to be incredible for some of what I want to do. I am having problems trying to equate millimeters into the ounces system we have here. I'm usually a Dirty Colonial when it comes to American stuff but I must say, measuring leather by thickness instead of weight is probably going to be a lot better for me... Also, I have been studying Mr. Armitage's videos on YouTube as well. He has stated that there are differences in needle nomenclature between our two countries as well. So, any help with that would be awesome. I shall read what you posted...and a whole lot more... Thank you.

I'm literally so new, I'm not wet behind the ears, I'm still pink. 8-) I will be 45 soon and I really cannot believe that I have finally decided to do this. From time to time, I have repaired certain things like wallets when they started to unravel, etc., but I am basically unskilled at this. Except to say that my repairs have lasted for a long time. Might not be the prettiest, but they have lasted! My specific area of interest is wallets and wallet-like small pouches that are (heavy-duty) velcro closure and snap closure items. I have no delusions about this stuff. I know I am nowhere near being able to do zippered cases, so I'm not even ready to soak in that information. I do need to know about snaps and the snap set tools to set them, etc. What I do need to know about is, saddle-stitching. Do I use an Overstitch Wheel after using a Stitching Groover or do I simply use a Lacing Chisel after making the groove? Do I need to use Compass Dividers or will the Groover work just as well? Are Lacing Chisels the same as a Pricking Iron? If not, what is the difference? This looks to be about the kind of leather I would like to use on some projects, would anyone have a source for the tools and the type of leather you see in this YouTube Video? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neQa0vm_zOc Any help would be greatly appreciated.