My 'new' old stitching horse . So versatile!

[Tugadude]

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

[chuck123wapati]

its awesome the clamp looks like hands at prayer to me, i think i need to make one of these.

[doubleh]

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.

[billybopp]

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

[Tugadude]

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!  

[Tugadude]

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.

[doubleh]

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.

[SUP]

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