Handstitched

G'Day from downunder, Western Australia to be more precise. I recently went to an auction in the south ,in a place called Mundijong, where a livestock auction is held every few months.Its held over 2 days . Day 1 is mainly poultry, ducks, chooks, etc.and sometimes farm machinery. But on day 2, horses , saddlery, & tack etc.are auctioned off. The first time I went a few months previous, I came away with quite a fair bit of old tack( which is often valued amongst antique dealers & collectors), mainly for display in my workshop,and a couple of cheap G/P saddles, ( just $10.00 ea),as I would dearly love to learn to make saddles or at least be able to repair them, ...it was suggested from a dear saddle making friend, that I get some old saddles ( with trees in tact) so I can re-use the trees just to learn on. At that same auction, there was a child size western saddle, in appearance it was in very poor condition, sheep skin very worn, covered in hay, bird crap and a mountain of dust & grime but underneath, was a beautiful handcarved design.My intentions were give it some minor repairs, some much needed TLC( learn a bit about saddles) and sell it.I had a $$ figure in my head , but amazingly it went for $350.00 (aus) , the same price as some of the full size western saddles in better condition ( go figure !!). This recent auction, ( conducted in abismal weather, cold,windy, rained the whole time), I came away with loads of old tack , leather,hames etc for about $100. However, there was also a western saddle (adult) which I had my eyes on the whole time , in good condition,lovely hand carved design, fleece slightly worn, stirrups need recovering,and a very minor repair on the pommel, very basic repairs really.I had my heart set on it!!! I really wanted my very first western saddle!! ( and besides , I wasn't gonna stand around all day getting my arse wet and come away with nothing.......nooo sireee.!!!!!!) So,heres me thinking ( from experience) about $400- $500 (aus), but .....because I was so weighed down with all the the tack I just bought , I had no choice but to load it in the car... and in doing so ...I missed the bidding for the western saddle....*#$&*.....bugger!!!!...but luck was on my side, I was able to speak to the buyer of THAT saddle...she said to me : " I bought it , but I don't know what I'll do with, it's a bit big for my young daughter....do you want it ????" "How much?" "You can have it for $125, the price I paid" My wallet came out quicker than Clint Eastwood's quick draw. In the end,I gave her $130 just for being a sweetheart....in some pretty bad weather too... and despite the fact we were all soaked to the skin , I had a GREAT day!!! I love a good bargain!!!!!

G'Day from West Australia, I sell 'Cane Toad Products' ( I don't make these) These are wallets, bags , purses etc. made from Cane Toad Skins,( a very very destructive pest here in Oz) and I get them from a supplier called 'Marino Leather Exports' in Cairns , Queensland, Australia ( they're very helpful too, they also sell just the skins and in different colours other than the natural colour. They export all over the world. google 'toad factory' or 'marino leather exports'. Buy as many as you can , you'll be doing us a favour. Hope this helps. All the best, Handstitched

G'Day , Just reading some of the posts on this web site, a lot of people don't seem to be very happy with Tippman (?) However, there seems to be a LOT of praise for the Artisan machines, and similar clones, for versatility, great after sales service etc. I can vouch for that too, my machine (441 clone) comes from Queensland ,Australia and my after sales & service dude has always been very helpful even when I ask some of the silliest questions. As for the machine itself, I now have all the adjustments just right for what I do, and its absolutely fantastic and its a joy to use All the best, Handstitched

G'day from downunder, I have a 'Q Stitch Colt ' machine (441 clone) from Queensland, Australia. It did take me a while to get all the adjustments just right after a LOT fiddling and test pieces, and (touchwood) it's working great, so, it would be a shame for me to adjust it all again for a different job and having to go through the whole process again...and again.I have learnt to do just about all sewing jobs on the 'big' machine ( a nice simple nick name) without having to constantly change needles , thread , tensions etc.For those who are more experienced than me ( I admit I'm not the sharpest tool in the tool box ,) changing needles, constantly adjusting etc may be second nature to them. For lighter leathers, I have a old Pfaff 60, I know its not a leather machine, however its ideal for sewing lighter leather , wallets , garment, and small projects etc. it can sew up to 2.5mm veg tan ( providing its not too stiff) with ease and I use an upholstery thread with a leather needle , and having 2 machines eliminates the need to to keep changing needles thread & tensions. What can't be done on either machine, I hand stitch....which I still very much enjoy All the best Happy Sewing

I had a similar problem when putting a stitch into a single layer of leather, as decorative stitch for example. But then I read rdb's response, and I did the same , unscrewed the tension all the way out on both aux & main tensions ....and ...it worked !!! The lock of the stitch is just in the right place ,as before it was close to the surface.Thanks rdb. Also, I was having the occasional problem of the thread 'popping' out of the aux tension at the back, but after watching the video for a little while I did learn to run the thread back through the guide, ....problem solved The more I learn , the more confident I become All the best, Handstitched Western Australia (..........where its REALLY HOT right now , like 40c to 48c )

Finally ,a instructional video for learners like me. Well done Artisan!!!!The machine I have is a 'Q'Stitch Colt' but both machines are very similar ( but the people using either brand have the very same enjoyment and passion for leather) I was only able to watch 10mins of it as our internet isn't very fast, but I did learn one or two things in that time. Can't wait to get a copy

My Mother decided that she wanted new covers/cushions for the outdoor furniture ( these are the ones that are green / white striped 'shade cloth type' material), as they were discoloured form the sun, constant use etc., so after seeing the price to replace them or buy material ,she thought "nup , there has to be another way". So, she decided to unpick the thread on the old ones and had a look inside, she took out the wadding ,there was nice shiny new covers inside, so it was pretty obvious just to turn them inside out.All she had to do was re-attach the velcro straps . But she then realised that her domestic machine wasn't up to the task of sewing them back up again. I have a Q Stitch Colt machine very much the same as the Torro machines, and is set up for leather( standard foot, plate & feed dog), so good ol' Mother asked me if I could sew them on mine. I was going to change it over to the canvas set up( with teeth), but out of curiosity, I thought "I'll just try something first Mum". I was able to sew in the top parts of all the cushions and sew all the seams without changing a single thing or adjusting any of the tensions, in fact ,it never missed a single beat or a single stitch ,and the stitches were just as neat and tidy as they would be on leather. I was pretty bloody impressed!!!

yeah, you're right , the tension will need adjusting, but now that I am able to sew canvas, the adjusting is the easy bit, but I will look at the ideas that have been mentioned here, because I would like to set the machine up so the 'change over' from leather to canvas (or vice versa) is smooth and simple, which will be a lot easier now. All the best HS

G'Day again, WOW, thanks for the help everyone, but I think I have it sussed out. I decided to think logically rather than techincally. I have an old Pfaff 60 which sews thin leather up to a 2.5 mm leather , now that has nothing special to make that work, just standard everything, so I set the big machine up the same as the Pfaff, the feed dog with teeth and standard (twin toe) foot and standard needle foot.........and it worked!! I tried it on a scrap of old canvas. Now I'll try to show you a pic, my photographic skills are not that good and might not be all that clear. Thanks heaps once again. I'll certainly keep all your ideas in mind for the future.

Thank you for your responses. I might try some of the ideas mentioned here, but if I can't get it to work on canvas , then I'll just have to accept the fact that these machines are just not designed for thin materials like you said, which is a shame , because I was hoping that I wouldn't have to buy a separate machine to do horse rug repairs. I'll have to be a bit careful when trying some of these ideas as the machine is still under warranty. 'Where there is a will there is a way' ( theres more than on way to skin a cat !! ) Anyway, thanks heaps once again . All the best HS

G'Day, I'm back ...with some more (possibly silly) questions. I am slowly learning bits and pieces about my machine, so last night I decided to fit the 'blanket set ' to my Q Stitch Colt, (I was given a small canvas job to do). I fitted the twin foot with teeth , and the standard plate, feed dog with teeth and adjusted it to suit (the Qstitch colt machine comes standard with a smooth feed dog).The next thing I did was adjust the needle foot, that was fine, it gripped the canvas, however no matter what I did , the twin presser foot (with teeth) didn't quite press the canvas down the way I thought it would have , even at it's lowest point , there was an approx. 2mm gap between the presser foot and the bed.I just couldn't get it down any further.As a result , and because the material wasn't feeding through properly, the thread was 'bunching up' underneath.Is that as far as the foot will go ? Maybe this machine just isn't designed for thinner materials? Or is there another adjustment I can make? I am going to try the standard needle foot and (twin toe) presser foot but with feed dog with teeth, and see what happens. Otherwise the machine hasn't missed a single beat and has been working perfectly.

I recently bought a machine called the Colt from 'Q Stitch' in Queensland Australia, which would be the equivalent to your machine. Mate , you've made a good choice. I still have my 'learner plates' on so I still have a lot learn about the machine which will come with practice, thankfully 'Q Stitch' have also been very helpful . All the best , have fun with your new machine Handstitched Western Australia

G'Day , From my own experience, ( and that of my Mothers, she does handicrafts) when we have had stock on consignment in small in retail shops (Western Aust.), the stock isn't always looked after very well, and if it doesn't sell , it does become shopsoiled and some retailers are getting a bit greedy with their % .So now, I'm quite happy to sell my wares at markets , fairs etc. With markets, I have made the effort to be consistant and turn up every time, and it has paid off too, because as a result, I have built up a lot of good will and a good reputation. If a shop want my goods, then they can buy some product outright, but I'm quite happy to give them some discount on the price depending on how much they buy. I won't ever do consignment again. All the best, Handstitched

Ahhh.......um ?....yes I see your point LOL. I don't think the romance of handstitching will ever come to an end for me , there is quite an attraction to it......?....... maybe not the sore fingers

I went one of my local craft market/ swap meets on the weekend ( Western Australia), and found an old-ish sewing machine on the ground at a stall , it turned out to be a "Necchi- Supernova - Ultra Mk 2", and sitting right next to it was ALL the accessories in a nice "Necchi" accessory box, instruction manual, spare needles & thread etc.There is evidence that the machine has been serviced regularly, plus it runs so smooth and quiet, no knocks, bonks, or any strange noises of any kind. Now this particular machine , in its day, was maybe one of the top models (?) , as it does 'gazzillion' types of stitches like a lot of embroidery stitches and mostly automatic , plus it takes twin needles and has all the accessories for embroidery. Now, I know this is not a leather machine, however it does do thin leather, like garment etc. (I tried it and works great ) as I do intend to teach myself to make leather garments in the future. I can just imagine a nice embroidered design on a leather garment , maybe different contrasting colours? So, how much was it ??? $20.00 I love a good bargain.

As we say in Oz, " What a beauty mate !!" The colour looks great! Well done!! I can't wait to start making saddles one day.

After having a good close look , the marks are being left behind from the 'teeth' or 'grooves' on the standard plate not the feed dog as it is smooth. I did adjust the feet pressure and it has helped to some extent. I have contacted Q Stitch in Queensland for some info on different plates as well as info on a 'blanket set' for canvas/ webbing etc. as I did buy the machine with intention of making it multi purpose, for both leather goods and horse rug repairs etc., instead of buying different machines for different applications . But for me to do that, I am just going to have to really knuckle down and teach myself almost everything about this machine, get all the correct bits and pieces for different applications, so I can get the full potential out of the machine( as well as earn its keep).... and no doubt become a machine mechanic at the same time. But I do really appreciate the advice that I've received and theres a good chance I'll be back for more. All the best and thanks, HS

Thank you very much for your advice. I've learnt more in the last few weeks about my machine on this web site than I have since I've owned it for the last 4 months. Thanks again. HS

G'day , I have a machine called a 'Q Stitch Colt', ( a 441 clone) I had it transported over to Western Australia from Queensland Australia, and works just great, and being very new to machine sewing, reading the posts on here has been quite informative as I do intend to make bags with it.Making belts , sheaths etc.( all the 'flat' things ) is quite easy, but I'd like to learn more about making bags ( the more 'challenging' stuff ), especially saddle bags for both horses and bikes. So I'll be watching this particular thread with keen interest. I have put a post on the "How To.." thread, in regards to machine marks on the leather, where someone has given me some really good advice. I'll have to teach myself how to use one of those digital camera gizmos and post some pics of what I have done to get some feedback. I would like to know how to get the stitches a bit closer to the edge , be it bags or belts etc. I am using the 'twin toe' foot, that came standard with the machine? The stitches are approx 5- 7mm from the edge. Apart from me doing lots of practice,is there a particular foot that I need to use ? All the best, HS

G'Day again, Thanks for the great advice. Theres a couple of things that you mentioned that made me think, the leather was slightly damp , as I did wet the gusset part to get it into shape for sewing ,plus I was pretty eager to make my first bag , and the other thing was that I could try to adjust the pressure ,as I think it maybe too great , however I might try to adjust the pressure on both feet as the marks are from the bed , as I was sewing with the foot on the inside of the 'lip' or 'edge' This has made me think again just while I'm here typing ,when I received the machine (in a wooden crate) there was a piece of sewn leather under the foot , it was 20mm thick , I suppose it was put there to demonstrate that it can sew the thickness as advertised as it is a 'saddle making machine', so no doubt the adjustments were for set for that thickness.So I'll go and try to adjust the feet. As for the tensions, I seem to have that just right, ...after much practice. I might try to find some demo dvds on sewing bags etc. Once again thank heaps.

G'Day from Western Australia. After a lot of saving and research on umpteen different machines , I have finally taken the plunge and bought myself an industrial machine.This machine is called a 'Q Stitch Colt' distributed from Queensland ,Australia, very much the same as a Juki 441 , or the 'Artisan 'machines etc.(its almost identical). It's been working great , however I am still learning how use it to it's full potential ,so I do have my "L" plates hanging around my neck , ....or so to speak. One question that I do have is, how do I avoid the marks left behind on the leather by the machines's foot and the bed. I was making a handbag on the weekend (my first one, as I normally use lace) , leaving a bit of a 'lip' or an 'edge' on the gusset to accomodate the width of the foot , the bag looked quite good for a first attempt at a 'machine made bag', but it did leave machine marks on the leather? Can this be avoided or is this just something I'll just have get used to using a machine ? At the moment , I'm using the standard walking foot and needles that came with the machine.The leather that I used was a 3.5-4.0 mm veg tan on the main body of the bag and 2.5-3.0 mm veg tan on the gusset. ( Sorry , I don't know the conversion into ounces). (What a great web site!!!)