Handstitched

I was thinking the same thing. However, if its machine sewing sheep skin..... good luck . I try to part the fleece as I'm sewing. Sometimes the fleece gets caught around the feet or needle . Have some bubble wrap on stand-by to ' relieve the tension'....in your head. HS P.S. I'm glad its not just me that uses pliers when hand stitching , phew !

For plain belts, no lining. Tooled belts, occasionally some lining, but if concho's, studs or any embellishments are to be used, then I might line them . I have made belts with either Croc or Cane toad. The lining helps to cover up any untidy bits on the back . Well said I'm still proud to put on my old grotty , rough looking frequently repaired stained leather apron to carry on a century's old craft HS

It depends how lazy I'm feeling at the time, and sometimes on the size of the job. If I'm lazy, I just give the thread a little twist on itself , the wax seems to hold it together, or on a small job, I twist it. On a large job, the full length of both arms, thread the needles, & put back through the thread once. So there HS

Here ya go. I'm sure I've posted these before somewhere on here, but anyway. A Seiko STW 28B ,set up as a single needle, not twin, mostly #40 thread Juki clone with 180 #24, needle, I use mostly 277M10 thread standard feet & dog, I use other threads too , and a Singer 29K patcher on stand-by. The rubber mat is to stop it moving. And in the far background covered up, is a Pfaff 60 for thin leather , wallet liners, fiddly jobs etc , and a drawer full of assorted threads, some more in the drawer above it. Tools etc in the top drawer . Ignore the mess...please HS

Its been years since I've used a chocolate antique, or seen it anywhere. Look out for a mahogany antique. No good to you there in AZ , but I get my mahogany antiques from Mac-Lace Leather Queensland , Australia . Its a bit ' chocolaty ' . You could also try experimenting by mixing a few other colours . HS

Right there with you , Amen Peace HS

@RockyAussie & @fredk Thank you to you both. It was nice. A nice roast dinner, pavlova & cake...and champers, and a few Tassie beers Now time for a jog around the block...maybe later Thanks , HS

Now you're asking... ...um.. The fabric I used wasn't a velvet, but 'velvet like ' from ' Spotlight' . The proper stuff is too ex$y . This was used for hand bags, not wallets . I sprayed some sealer on the reverse, let dry. Its goes a bit stiff-ish once dried , but still very flexible. Hope that helps, sorta HS

' Happy-birthday-to me, Happy-birthday- TO - me, I -don't - have - a - so-cial - life That- rea-ll-y does- suck !! Hip Hip Hooray !!! ' Yep, its my 21st birthday....again today . Doing a roast goose, with vegies, birthday cake & pavlova ( thats an Aussie delicacy....not NZ ) and champers Never had roast goose before ( or roast politician....boom tish ) Best wishes to those that are celebrating something special on the same day HS

G'Day, I can't say I've used the combo you're using on a wallet, , but the CA I have used in the past is Selleys Kwik Grip. I find that quite flexible. Or Parfix Fast Grip CA, thats what I'm currently using atm on repairing a brief case. ( its also 5 bucks cheaper ) , that seems to be flexible. . The gel versions are good if you don't want the ' stringy bits' going everywhere every time you dip your brush in the tin. This may not be important, when I've used fabric for a lining on a hand bag, and CA is required, I have used a ( Boyles) spray sealer on the reverse side to stop the adhesive working its way through the fabric. HS

Thats quite a sad sight to see. May you win 'Lotto' soon with enough to buy you a new car , or restore your old friend . HS

I think I might sit it out from here on , and carry on eating my popcorn , buttered. HS

I second .... triple that Thats what happened with me, luckily . It sewed exactly as I expected, and as advertised in the horsey magazine . I can see this thread continuing for a little while yet . HS

I consider myself quite lucky after reading the posts on here. I got my 441 clone ( new) from 'Q Stitch' , Queensland. Once set up ( I was like a kid on Christmas Day) it sewed perfect. Just a few minor adjustments to the tensions, and foot pressure,that was in 2005 . And, to this day still works great...in both directions ( touchwood) . I've bent and broke the odd needle over the years, thats about it. HS

Forgive me for chiming in, but theres a huge lack of industrial sewing machine/ parts dealers here in West Oz. Theres one over 2 hours from me, that isn't all that helpful and ex$y , and mostly domestics, and just one towards the northern burb's in Perth , also 2hr's + from me. That one doesn't even have a web site. Geez !! I know it can't happen these days, but I'm a bit 'olde fashioned', I like go into a shop, see what I'm buying and get good help & advice.....pffft ....none of that here in the west. All my parts etc. come from 'Sewing Machines Australia' Queensland . They know their stuff and are helpful, even if it is over the phone My 2 cents worth + tax @kgg Quite an interesting observation and comparison . HS

By the job. Some are just small holes on the top layer, but some have gone all the way through to the lining. Small holes ( on top) take merely 5 - 10 mins to repair . Through the lining may take only 20-30 mins at best. But, quite often theres a number of holes to repair, and maybe a belly strap... and a leg strap etc. If new hardware, and new webbing is required, thats added to the invoice . It soon adds up. Some rugs I've done have been completely destroyed, some just a few days old, they do take a while, , but I re-build them and cheaper than buying a newie for the client . I've done enough rugs in a week to earn me a weeks wage ( pre-covid) . Never a seen a bald horse before . Rugs do come with hair on them . After doing rugs for over 10 + years, never had any issues . I've also been wormed ..ha!! ...... so true As for seat belts, no scrap yards anywhere near here, much heavier to sew . Webbing is reasonably cheap anyway. HS

Thats where things are different here. Thats not required. I charge differently, but not by the hour, I wouldn't get any repeat business if I did that ( here in Oz) . Theres someone that I know that charges just for a quote , hmm ? needless to say the customers come to me. We're all going to have differences in the way we do things, depends on your market. At the end of the day, so as you, and the client is happy with the work........ and they make recommendations to others......and they come back, reputation is everything in a small town like mine. Thats exactly whats happened to me However, COVID slowed things down a bit. HS

Its a bit different here in Oz. No ' stable managers' , just private horse owners that attend clubs, and various horse events etc., and some that own horses for leisure/ pleasure / for the love of horses. A lot of my horse rug trade is ' word-of-mouth'' and some local advertising, and attending some of those events to get known. That didn't take long. Its a case of ' know your customer and the area ' . The market may be a lot different in your part of the universe HS

@Catharina Good idea putting this thread here Can't think of anywhere else. Later, I will give a you a full run down of what bits 'n' pieces you need for horse rug repairs, the most commonly used/broken parts etc. , what I've been doing , a few ' before & after' pics etc. , and, what to do about those smelly rugs, sourcing materials and so on . I've lost count the amount of times I end up smelling like a horses butt . I've been doing it for quite a while now. Get back to you soon. HS

By all means, you're welcome to ask . Thats what this forum is here to do. Although, you may try a new thread like Northmount suggested. But I wonder if horse rugs could be considered as a form of 'tack' ? They are an integral part of horse care/ownership ? And, some rugs do have leather components. But thats for another discussion on another thread HS

No, I repair them. I don't have the space to make them, but I have effectively fully re-built rugs in really poor condition. Theres quite a few horse owners around me, to my advantage . The machine (was going to be donated, I paid for it in the end, knowing its value), it was an opportunity I couldn't pass up, as theres no-one else that repairs horse rugs . HS

I do that when I'm lacing m/c tank covers . Looking from above, the lacing forms an imaginary ' \ / ' shape, not / / , if that makes sense. @OldCanuck You done a great job so far. Basket weave of any sort can be quite challenging, but you managed that quite well HS

@Catharina Welcome from Western Australia . I have a Seiko STW-28B, was also a twin needle, but I only use it as a single needle machine. I use it for horse rugs, webbing, canvas, wallets, kangaroo hide leather goods. Your machine should be quite a strong machine . ( I also have a Pfaff 60) Have a look on the ' Sewing Machines ' thread, heaps of good info on there. HS

G'Day Selvune , Welcome to the world of leather Heaps of good peeps on here from beginners to experienced that are happy to help. HS

Me Don't laugh . What do you think I'm using typing this ? HS