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Hello everyone, looking to identify this sole stitcher. The plate only reads Vilh. Pedersen model 313 but could come up with no exact matches online. I have read the older forums and pictures only to conclude it could be a Sutton 317 or Landis type but looks fairly different from them as well. Looking to find out more about it and hopefully a manual as well. Any info would be appreciated!

I am very new to leather working. I am starting off with making bronc halters, earrings, hat patches and similar western style accessories. I have goals to make western horse tack in the future when I have more experience. My question is what is the best sewing machine for these types of items that is simple enough for a newbie to use? I have tried reading through the forums but there’s so much information it’s overwhelming. Would it be better to hand sew them for now? I apologize if these questions have already been answered on here this is my first post and still learning how to use this site. Thanks in advance. Also I am located in the United States.

Right I apologies for posting question after question however I am so new to this machine stuff I really am just trying to find things out as I go. My lower thread is not pulling the upper thread down which looks unsightly (I can't upload the picture because it is too large) but i hope my description helps. But the images I can upload are of the tension assembly, I have tried turning the upper tension from tightest to middle to loosest As well are the lower tension I have done it so it's lose and tight (doesn't take much turning to get from one to the other) is my lower tension wrong? Or my assembly is wrong for my machine? I have seen mulitple pictures with people having a lot more allowance/room to tighten and loosen (hope that makes sense) Any help will be appreciated. Thanks

Hello! So i am a fashion student from portugal and the leatherwork always amazed me, so i am using this new project at college to do some experiences with veg tanned leather. And, of course, as a newbie i have encounter some problems with the art... would really appreaciate if i could get some insigh, helps and tips from the pros! Help please? So on the 1st two pictures i wet molded veg tanned leather and then tried to dye it with the fiebing's pro dye (used the deglazer first), burnished the edges with tokonole and as i really want a really high gloss finish i tried to aply the fiebings Saddle-lac spray and as you can see it is really baaaaddd! all uneven, full of little spots of dirt, just bad. And on the last three pictures, i have cut some straps of veg tanned leather and again, deglazer, dyed with the black pro-dye, burnished edges and this tip i tried to apply the Eco-flo top finish gloss diluted on 50% of water, and again, all uneven, some parts glossy and other not, and as i want this strap to go over a D-ring, as i tried to bend it got those tiny ugly bumps/wrinkles. HELLLLLLLP????? For how long should i wait between applying each product? (i think i did it quite fast, tbh like in 10 minutes gaps) With what should i apply the different products? And i kind don't like using the tokonole to burnish the edges as i get on both sides of the leather these sticky imprints that you can notice in the end and it is really ugly. Is the leather i got just bad quality? Thanks! I would loooove to get some tips, help and insights from the pros!! Please, thank you and much love from portugal!!

Hi everyone! I think I may have worked myself into a corner and now I'm stuck in paralysis by analysis. I'm making a satchel from Hermann Oak 1881 and while the color and feel are beautiful, the leather behaves like a chrome tan in that it has a soft temper. So: being one who learns as they go, I decided to line it with more of the same leather. It wasn't looking like the bag would stand on its own, so I got some 1mm reinforcement from RM Leather Supply, laminated the front, back, and sides, but left the flap/cover unglued for now. Here's where I am stuck: do I commit and fully laminate the entire bag? Or save on materials and weight by only laminating the front, back, and sides? I currently have it cut to support full lamination, but I worry the bag will be too stiff in all the wrong places. However, if I cut out the bag reinforcement, then I can't go back. What would you recommend? The satchel is 16" x 10" x 5" (ish). Maybe a super soft/floppy lid is okay?? Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone! I am planning to buy a sewing machine for a small business that I will start preferably next year. The sewing machines that have been offered to me are the following: 1. Juki DU 141NH 2. Juki DU 1181N 3. Mitsubishi LY2-300 BOB The machine that I need must be able to handle medium to heavy materials (I’ll be using a combination of canvas fabric and leather), as I’ll be making bags (backpack, small pouches and totebags). Also, the machine must be user-friendly and if changes need to be done, the machine parts must be easy to source. Each of the machine is being offered to me at $650.00. So I really need guys your expertise and recommendations as I am very new to this thing so my money and first sewing machine will be worth it! Looking forward for your suggestions. Have a good day everyone!

Help!! Being a noob to the whole staining/dyeing/finishing part of leatherwork, I took the Tandy Lady's advice and bought the little sampler pack of water-based Hi-Lite Stains by Eco-Flo. Tandy Lady said that I could just use the stain like the Fiebings dye I've used before, wipe it on, wipe it off, then finish with my choice of super shene, neutral shoe polish, resolene, whatever. So off to the races I went. Stain went on really nice, gave me a nice little antique-y look too. But now when I apply Super-Shene or Resolene the stain pulls right up off the leather, leaving almost no color on the leather. If I use my trusty old shoe polish, the stain starts to come up if it gets any water on it. I tried pulling out a spray bottle and spraying the Resolene on, we'll see how that one turns out. Is there a good way to finish this leather with the stain on it? Or will I have to pull it all off and find some dye then finish it?

Hi Everyone, I'm making a pair of chaps for a customer who wanted a pair like these. The only thing is I can't work out how to tie this knot holding the back belt onto the chap. I've spent ages trying to figure it out and it's got me beat! If anyone would be able to help that would be greatly appreciated!! Cheers, Jason