MorningStarL

I know: it's two topics. I joined last week. I make knife sheaths and since I joined here and started reading, I haven't drilled a hole in a piece of leather to sew through. I'm using 9 - 10 ounce vegtan and by the time there's a front and a back and a welt, there's a good half-inch or more to go through. I've ordered some Bob Douglas awls cuz you guys said they were best. In the meantime I've taken the blade out of a sewing awl and chucked it into the drill press, cuz I never had strong hands anyway and now I have arthritic fingers. That's working out okay. What I've done so far looks MUCH better. But my needles are too big for what I'm doing, and I'm having to pull them through with pliers for every stitch, and back-stitching is almost impossible. I'm going to use up the waxed linen and cotton threads I have before I look at buying more, new, more expensive stuff like Tiger. It sure would help to get better needles though, and I'm asking for advice. And since I'm here, I really love that Old West look like Chuck Burrows does at Wild Rose Trading Company. Lots of fringes there and I've never successfully done fringe. I'd like ideas on that too. When I get the current sheath done, with an iguana skin insert, I'll post it on the Critique My Work forum. You guys rock, and I'm grateful for all the help.

I know: it's two topics. I joined last week. I make knife sheaths and since I joined here and started reading, I haven't drilled a hole in a piece of leather to sew through. I'm using 9 - 10 ounce vegtan and by the time there's a front and a back and a welt, there's a good half-inch or more to go through. I've ordered some Bob Douglas awls cuz you guys said they were best. In the meantime I've taken the blade out of a sewing awl and chucked it into the drill press, cuz I never had strong hands anyway and now I have arthritic fingers. That's working out okay. What I've done so far looks MUCH better. But my needles are too big for what I'm doing, and I'm having to pull them through with pliers for every stitch, and back-stitching is almost impossible. I'm going to use up the waxed linen and cotton threads I have before I look at buying more, new, more expensive stuff like Tiger. It sure would help to get better needles though, and I'm asking for advice. And since I'm here, I really love that Old West look like Chuck Burrows does at Wild Rose Trading Company. Lots of fringes there and I've never successfully done fringe. I'd like ideas on that too. When I get the current sheath done, with an iguana skin insert, I'll post it on the Critique My Work forum. You guys rock, and I'm grateful for all the help.

That's exactly what I need to know; thank you. I'm wondering if I have to buy an awl handle. We're pretty handy here and make knives and other tools. I was thinking I'd buy one slim and two regular from Bob Johnson, and we could make our own handles and set them in permanently.

Mum taught us to do fancy embroidery when we were kids. I think it kept us out of her hair on weekends and summer holidays. First rule was always, "Don't bleed on the fabric!" So we learned some self-protection. Thanks, guys; I'll look at a stitching pony too.

Thanks, Snubby. Guess the next thing I'm gonna do is order a couple of awls.

Hi, everyone! I'm new on the forum, and this is one of the things I'm here for. I've been making knife sheaths out of 8-9 ounce vegtan and sewing two layers for the sheath with at least one and sometimes more layers of the same weight for a welt, contact cement in between. I've been drilling holes cuz I didn't know better (5/32") but I hate how big the holes look. I'm getting some arthritis in fingers now, and I'm wondering about using a diamond awl for saddle stitching. I'd LIKE to. Should I be able to push an awl through that thickness, usually a half-inch, by hand? I see some of you chuck the awl into a drill press and use it just to push, turned off. I know I can do that. Thanks in advance. I'm using a groover to make a stitch line, probably not deep enough, on the face side, and a 6spi wheel for marking the holes. Can't make them any closer since I'm drilling. On a good day, I'm pretty good about the holes going straight through. On a good day.