SUP Report post Posted April 3, 2023 I bought this yesterday from Facebook marketplace. Love it! The stitching arms are detachable from the seat and just long enough to use when sitting on a chair. So very easy to use, on or off its seat. There is a wooden lever to control the arms and hold the leather in place. I am loathe to do anything to it but I need to attach some leather to the insides of the arms to protect the leather being stitched. I plan to do so with some water soluble glue because I do not want it to be permanent. In case anyone wants to buy one, there are at least 3 other sellers offering similar items on Facebook marketplace as of yesterday. I was lucky that this was being offered close to where I stay else shipping might be a bit of an expense. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tugadude Report post Posted April 3, 2023 Glad to see it go to someone who obviously will treasure it. I've never even sat on one, but it seems to me that it would be cool to have one. I consider stitching one of the most satisfying, really the most satisfying component of leatherwork. And I find it easy to lose myself in the process and just enjoy the repetition. Thanks for sharing! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SUP Report post Posted April 3, 2023 Yes that is so true! It is relaxing and satisfying. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Klara Report post Posted April 3, 2023 How does it work? I can't see a hinge, so how do the jaws open? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tsunkasapa Report post Posted April 3, 2023 The lever opens the jaws. It is made such that the jaws are in a closed position until levered open. Pull down on the handle and the cam will force the jaws apart. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SUP Report post Posted April 3, 2023 Thank you, tsunkasapa. Yes. It opens with the wooden lever, Klara. You push the lever down and the jaws open. Push it up parallel to the ground and the jaws close and hold tight. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hags Report post Posted April 3, 2023 Neat! Wish I had the room for one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SUP Report post Posted April 3, 2023 Yes. It does take a bit of space but it is so convenient to use. I like to use chrome tanned leather and that I cannot stitch holding it in my hand. Anything larger than a tiny coin purse does not fit in the tabletop stitching pony, and that, with difficulty. You know, earlier, I made one for myself, using a pair of steel tongs to which I attached some flat pieces of wood with leather on the surface. The tongs were not the type to use on food but on utensils - I got them from an Indian store - we use them to get vessels out of pressure cookers these days - called 'pakkad' in Hindi. It can be easily held between the knees when stitching. I stopped using it because again, it was a little small, but if you find larger tongs, that might work and not take up so much space. Mine looks something like this. The jaws need to be forced apart or closed, so no need to hold the jaws together actively. Before that, I used plain wooden tongs with again, flat pieces of wood with leather attached. Got the tongs in Ikea. Those I held together with my knees. rather like French clams - also helped me decide against French clams once and for all! Tiring to actively hold the jaws together for long periods. Unfortunately, I dismantled both, so cannot show them being used as stitching ponies. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tugadude Report post Posted April 4, 2023 The photo link seems to be broken. It is best to paste photos or images directly into the post because many "disappear" over time when people change hosting sites, etc. And when the pictures are lost, many threads don't seem to make much sense anymore. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SUP Report post Posted April 4, 2023 (edited) Thank you for letting me know that, Tugadude. Pasting the pictures again. Finally, the tongs I used to make a temp stitching pony. I hope these remain! Edited April 4, 2023 by SUP Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tugadude Report post Posted April 4, 2023 (edited) When you boil it down, a stitching horse or pony or clam is just a utility device. It is a "third hand" so to speak. In bike repair there is what is called a third hand tool, and when you have one you understand how easier it makes certain tasks. I just ask the Mrs. to "come and hold this". Cheaper in the short term, but not so much in the long term! Some people get really creative. I've seen linear "ponies" for stitching belts. They look great. Here's one I just happened to find in a quick search. That's just one, there's a dozen or more that came up when I searched. I've also seen folks use different methods for holding their ponies closed. I got the idea of using a plastic "C" clamp by watching a video of Ian Atkinson. Not elegant, but darned thing works perfectly for what I need. Takes literally a second to release and adjust. When people come over, I'll hide it! I'll admit it took a couple of times for me to understand exactly where to place the clamp so as to not interfere with the dangling thread. But once I got past that short learning curve it was smooth sailing. If you want to have fun, just look up stitching pony or stitching horse or stitching clam on the web and admire the plethora of options and the creativity. I just did and have ideas for my next one. Edited April 4, 2023 by Tugadude Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chuck123wapati Report post Posted April 4, 2023 its awesome the clamp looks like hands at prayer to me, i think i need to make one of these. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
doubleh Report post Posted April 4, 2023 Relaxing and satisfying? I spent many an hour straddling one of those things on Saturdays working for the local bootmaker/shoe/saddle/tack repairman many years ago. Really anything that was made of leather got fixed there and my job was mostly hand stitching tack and saddles that couldn't be machine done. I can only describe it as work and not fulfilling work either. Just dull, dreary stitch after stitch work. I detested sewing cantle rolls back on saddles after a padded seat repair. Of course you can't stick a saddle in a sewing horse. I had to bend over those. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billybopp Report post Posted April 4, 2023 18 minutes ago, doubleh said: Relaxing and satisfying? I spent many an hour straddling one of those things on Saturdays working for the local bootmaker/shoe/saddle/tack repairman many years ago. Really anything that was made of leather got fixed there and my job was mostly hand stitching tack and saddles that couldn't be machine done. I can only describe it as work and not fulfilling work either. Just dull, dreary stitch after stitch work. I detested sewing cantle rolls back on saddles after a padded seat repair. Of course you can't stick a saddle in a sewing horse. I had to bend over those. LOL! It's probably like anything else - when you do a thing occasionally and for your own gratification it can be relaxing and satisfying. When you do it for a job, not so much! I have friends that liked to make home-brewed beer, and got very good at it. They decided to go into business brewing, and took all of the joy out of it. To quote one of them "The best way to ruin a perfectly good hobby is to make a business out of it." - Bill Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tugadude Report post Posted April 4, 2023 21 minutes ago, doubleh said: Relaxing and satisfying? I spent many an hour straddling one of those things on Saturdays working for the local bootmaker/shoe/saddle/tack repairman many years ago. Really anything that was made of leather got fixed there and my job was mostly hand stitching tack and saddles that couldn't be machine done. I can only describe it as work and not fulfilling work either. Just dull, dreary stitch after stitch work. I detested sewing cantle rolls back on saddles after a padded seat repair. Of course you can't stick a saddle in a sewing horse. I had to bend over those. that's what happens when you take something fun and make it work! I don't suffer from that affliction! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tugadude Report post Posted April 4, 2023 Getting back to the horse itself, it is a wonderful example of beauty in simplicity. No extra moving parts required. It is minimalist before minimalist was even a thing. Honestly the more I look at it the more I appreciate it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
doubleh Report post Posted April 4, 2023 58 minutes ago, Tugadude said: Getting back to the horse itself, it is a wonderful example of beauty in simplicity. No extra moving parts required. It is minimalist before minimalist was even a thing. Honestly the more I look at it the more I appreciate it. It does it's job very well. I would imaging it was cutting edge technology when it was invented. I still don't enjoy hand stitching when making something. It's just work that has to be done. The rest of the project is enjoyable though. I especially like to do floral tooling. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SUP Report post Posted April 4, 2023 I enjoy hand stitching. I enjoy working on the stitching horse or keeping the clams separate and sitting on a sofa while I work. It is a personal thing. What each of us enjoys, i different is it not? The world would be so boring if we were all the same. e.g. I do not much enjoy cooking but my hubby loves it! (lucky me!). And Billybopp and Tugadude, you are right.. Something fun can become tedious if it becomes a profession. On a different note, the stitching horse design is indeed exquisitely simple. It is a thing of beauty and I enjoy looking at it as much as I enjoy working on it. A bit besotted with it right now! LOL Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
