GritMercantile

We started out with the Stitch Master (Leather Worker). We sold it earlier this year and I still miss it. It was replaced with a Techsew 4800 Pro. We found that once you get used to how the machine works it can do a pretty good job sewing things. Sailrite has a good library of presser feet and feed dogs to accommodate most materials. We purchased ours when they went on sale for $999 right before COVID. We don't regret our purchase. It was a great machine to get started on and if you know the limitations you will be good. The only two gripes I had was a a max of 92 thread (prefer 138) and it was not a compound walking foot. Parts, service etc are prevalent and support for the Sailrite machines is really good.

We have on our Techsew 4800 Pro. The EPS is invaluable for us and speeds up the process. I would agree that if you have good treadle control and EPS may not be needed. Is it nice to have? Yes, Have to have? No. Would we purchase another machine without it? No.

We were on the fence with a Class 26, Techsew 2750 Pro and the 4800 Pro. We decided to go with the 4800 Pro for several reasons. The dial on top to raise the presser foot is invaluable. We sew a lot of bags and when you get to a double seam and thicker leather that is stacked, you are able to raise the presser foot to accommodate going up and over that seam. We use this feature a lot. After using the Pro model with EPS, we will never own another machine without it. We have zero issues with ours. It sews extremely consistently and once dialed in leaves very little if any marks on the leather. It also comes with a smooth feed dog and presser foot. It also comes with the left zipper foot which allows a very close edge stitch with the included drop down guide. These are what you will need to be out of the box ready to sew leather. We sew with Vinymo #5 thread only with a #20 needle and the machine loves it. We do not use the aluminum table that in included. It works great but I just have not had a need for it much. My wife likes to use it but she is slowly converting to sewing without it. We have zero regrets with our Techsew purchase. Take a look at Little King Goods review of the 4800. Ryan does a great job of covering the pros/cons.

When we started to hand stitch we went through this question as well. We ordered everything brand of thread we could find (all the ones mentioned in this post) and then some. We tried every combo with multiple brands of irons as well. In the beginning, we landed on Crimson 3.85mm chisels and Vinymo #8 & then #5 thread. I love the look of 3.85mm but after hand stitching a good while we changed to 5mm Crimson chisels and Vinymo #1. I know there are folks that say you must wax the thread but we never have. I find it dulls the sheen and does not server much purpose with the Vinymo thread. We do use Ritza but only for internal panels where the thread will not be seen as it will pound flat much better the the round Vinymo. Think the bottom of internal wallet pockets. Vinymo is every bit as strong as Ritza and has a true round look. It is more elegant but can also look robust. We will be getting a new machine this year and we will be using Vinymo thread in that as well. Yes, you can hand stitch with Vinymo thread and we recommend it. The attached pics is our Iris Womens wallet in W&C Chestnut. It is stitched with 5mm Crimson chisels with #1 thread.

It depends on the level of detail you are looking for. I cannot speak for an iPad app but can say that Adobe illustrator is a fantastic application for building digital designs. We have been doing this for about 2 yeas and sell a good amount of them. Our designs are as simple as the outline of an individual panel to that same panel with 1mm stitching holes. We use these the digital designs we create to make consumable templates to try out any new designs for pototyping.

We use an Adobe Illustrator subscription. We have not really used any other app but we have not found anything that that AI can't do. If we want to create an offset line that is comprised of 1mm holes for a laser cutter it will do it. We use AI for our digital downloads that we sell as well and files can easily be exported in various formats.

We have been doing this for some time. We use Adobe Illustrator to design the panel, export as SVG, import into the Cricut software cut out the template on quilters plastic. If you choose the .37" chipboard as the material and choose "More" in the cut setting it will go over the design twice. Then when it is done cut it again. It will pretty much cut thought the plastic and you have exact size panels. We have also use chipboard in our Cricut maker as well to make templates.