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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.