KelseyR89

Hey everyone, I'm looking into buying a motorized burnisher and am wondering what you all would recommend. I have looked online a bit and on this forum, but most everything I've read about is for heavy duty leather, whereas I only 2/3 oz and 3/4 oz leather. I'm wondering if there's specific ones that would work best for me since I don't need anything too heavy duty. Thank you in advance for any input!

Thanks, Art! I'll check out Hide House and see what I find

Thanks, guys! I was hoping I wouldn't have to line it but I'll look in the forum and see what I can find out. I guess my search was maybe too narrow the first time and didn't find a whole lot

I am wanting to make simple clutches using bright, pre-dyed leathers but at Tandy the leather I've bought is either too thin and flimsy or too thick. I'm thinking 2/3 oz or 3/4 oz, have any recommendations on where I can buy fun colored leather? I bought some Minelli Sides from Tandy and LOVE the color options, but it's just way too flimsy to sell any kind of clutch using it. The Tandy employee recommended using the cardboard-type stuff to thicken up the flimsy one, but if I don't need to do that then I don't want to I'm hesitant to order leather online where I can't check each piece I'm purchasing, but if anyone has some recommendations and has great reviews for online retailers I'm open to trying it out because I'd really like to find the leather I'm looking for. Thank you!

Hello everyone! Just yesterday I bought my first oil dyed leather and the guy at the store told me to be careful what I used it for because it can transfer, so I'm wondering if I can use it for things like a purse, a tote, etc? I want to make a tote like the attached picture and sell it on my Etsy shop but am now worried that it's not a good idea. The guy at Tandy was newer and didn't have too much advice other than to be careful what I use it on Also, I am wanting to make simple clutches using bright, pre-dyed leathers but at Tandy they're either too thin and flimsy or too thick. I'm thinking 2/3 oz or 3/4 oz, have any recommendations on where I can buy fun colored leather that's 2/3 or 3/4 oz? I bought some Minelli Sides from Tandy and LOVE the color options, but it's just way too flimsy to sell any kind of clutch using it. Thank you!!

Hey there! Was wondering if you'd be able to help me with something that I haven't been able to find an answer for. This post came up when searching for an answer for my loose stitching and thought maybe you'd be able to help me. I recently bought my first sewing machine, a Seiko STH-8BLD-3 and after much work have finally got the tension right. However, I've noticed all along that the beginning and ending stitches aren't super tight and I can somewhat lightly pull on the thread after cutting it and the stitches will pop right out! I'm not sure if this is related to the tension (I have the tension the best it's been yet and the stitches are still popping out) or if I'm doing something wrong. It's only the beginning and ending stitches though, the rest look excellent! I've been doing 2 back stitches starting and beginning, but even then it doesn't matter because as soon as you pull the thread it pops out. If there's any advice you could give I'd appreciate it! I am so ready to start using this for my products Thank you!

Hey Wizcrafts! Was wondering if you'd be able to help me with something that I haven't been able to find an answer for. On my searches you replied to many people with very helpful answers so I'm hoping you could help me out too I recently bought my first sewing machine, a Seiko STH-8BLD-3 and after much work have finally got the tension right. However, I've noticed all along that the beginning and ending stitches aren't super tight and I can somewhat lightly pull on the thread after cutting it and the stitches will pop right out! I'm not sure if this is related to the tension (I have the tension the best it's been yet and the stitches are still popping out) or if I'm doing something wrong. I've been doing 2 back stitches starting and beginning, but even then it doesn't matter because as soon as you pull the thread it pops out. If there's any advice you could give I'd appreciate it! I am so ready to start using this for my products Thank you!

The package doesn't say... It just says Seiko needles. Maybe these pictures will help! So if I don't need to pull the needle up 3/16" with my specific machine, does the needle still need to be down all the way before I start the back stitch? I tried to find some helpful Youtube videos on backsl stitching with an industrial machine but there was anything very helpful.

Actually, maybe I'm not 100% sure what you mean by bring the needle up 3/16". Why would the needle need to be down all the way if you're just going to bring it up 3/16"? Sorry if that's a stupid question, but I'm just so new I don't know anything!!

I'm using 138 thread and a 22 needle. I am definitely not doing that! I wasn't aware I needed to do that. So say I just stitched a line, I let the needle go all the way down, then (manually?) bring the needle up 3/16", push down the reverse lever and then stitch? I was aware that I should always turn the wheel towards me, never away, so I haven't done that! It was just weird that after probably 15+ times of trying the reverse stitching that all the sudden the thread started breaking. I'll try doing what you said and play around with that, but if you think of anything else I could try in the mean time I would appreciate it

I recently purchased a Seiko STH -8BLD-3 and am still getting used to it. I pretty well have the tension right but today I noticed a couple things when I was back stitching. It just didn't look clean, the stitches weren't aligned very well and there seemed to be maybe not enough tension or something because there were loops and it just looked so messy! So that happened for awhile, then the thread began to either break or be cut while back stitching so I'm just a little bit at a loss for what to do. Since I don't have any prior experience with machines I don't even know where to begin! Thanks for any advice!

Hi Ferg! Thanks for the input. I went ahead and threaded it like you suggested, but it almost seemed like the top tension was too tight. After I was done sewing I had to pull extremely hard to get the thread to come out enough where I could cut the 2 threads, so hard I was worried I might break the needle! I kept it how you suggested though and played around with the bobbin tension, and then the top tension just because I'm so flabbergasted as to what is going on, and nothing seemed to change any way I tried it :/ Something has to be wrong with the machine, I swear! I've spent so many hours trying to get that dang tension figured out and once I get the lower stitch to a certain point nothing I do improves it further. Guess I might have to call the store and have them come take a look at it because I'm convinced nothing I do will help! But thanks again for the advice Oooo, thank you! That's nice to have

I was wondering if that maybe was the problem. The needle(s) it came with are the ones that the store gave me, so I'm assuming they're the correct size but that might be worth checking out. Thanks!

I just bought my first machine and am having a horrific time trying to get the tension right. My machine is a Seiko STH-8BLD-3 and there is shockingly little information online and hardly any YouTube videos for it, so I'm kind of out of luck! I basically just cannot get the stinkin' tension right, no matter what I do. I can get it to a certain point, but regardless of if I tighten just the top, or just the bobbing, or a combination of both it doesn't matter - the little loop/knot on the back side never improves past a certain point. I initially adjusted the bobbin tension to the tightness they recommended - tight enough so when you hold the thread the bobbin doesn't fall. I left the top tension alone so it was loose, then when I realized that wasn't going to work I tried JUST tightening the top tension, three little notches at a time, and it would improve but only to a certain point. I did that until the top tension was quite tight, when that didn't work I loosened the top tension all the way and tried tightening the bobbin, then repeated slowly increasing the top tension. That only got me to a certain point as well, so this time I loosened the bobbin to recommended tightness and then REALLY tightened the top tension, still no improvement past a certain point. It's ALWAYS the bottom stitch that isn't correct. I can reduce the size/looseness of the knot/loop on the bottom stitch, but no matter what I do it only gets better to a certain point and then nothing I do improves it any more! So frustrating. I attached some pictures because in all the other posts I've read about tension that seems to be helpful. The first 2 pictures are of stitching on dyed leather I took the store that sold me the machine so I know what it could/should look like! And the weird thing is the front stitch when I sew it isn't near as straight as when it was at the store! Does that have to do with the tension as well? Thanks in advance for any advice, I would love to get this machine all figured out so I can start working on larger products!!

Hey everyone! I'm in sort of a similar situation - I've been using Tandy leather for the past year which is when I started doing leatherwork. The past 3-4 months I've been pretty disappointed in their leather selection, especially the 2/3 oz. I pretty much only use 3/4 oz and 2/3 oz of the Craftsman Oak, so I'm looking for a Tandy replacement. I've heard really good things about Hide and Leather House, but I'm in Utah so unfortunately I can't go and check out their stuff. Anyone have experience with their thinner leathers and were satisfied with it? I would LOVE any advice on even other companies that might be good and if anyone's worked with Hidehouse what they thought of the leather. Thanks!