not relishing the 1-2 hours of picking stitches

[bruce johnson]

I have had a running email deal with a guy today who is relining some skirts. Fairly common repair, and it started out to be a "Barge vs. rubber cement discussion". He was not relishing the 1-2 hours of picking stitches, and wanted to use the old stitch line. It is an older family handed down saddle, and sentimental as well as moderate collectible value. If you use a seam ripper, flat knife, or anything else between the sheepskin and the leather, it cuts the stitches, and never fails, the lock is buried in the skirt. You have to take each stitch out one at a time. They are old, they are hard, they don't want to come out. You cheer when you can pull a tag and get 3-4 stitches at once. .

About 10 years ago, an older maker took pity on a younger guy and shared this tip. Since my pal who has done this sort of work for longer than me hadn't heard it, he shamed me into passing it along. Before you do anything on the wool side, take a stitch groover on the top side and run it over the stitches. One with the loop blade like Osborne's compass style groover works best. Running it over the stitches cuts and removes the top stitch, or severely weakens it at least. Start pulling on the woolskin and it pulls the stitches out as you pull it off. If the woolskin is weak and tears, you still can get the bottom thread and pull that. I took him 11 minutes total to skin the stitches and pull the wool off. BTW, this also works for handsewn things too.

[rdb]

Common Sense wins again. Great tip Bruce.

[gtwister09]

Bruce,

WOW! This was one of the first things that I observed in removing stitches for skirts. Every time that I think that something is common sense I am reminded that even the simplest of things are overlooked if they aren't taught to someone. Once again a great reason for sharing this information before it is lost forever.

Regards,

Ben

[Art]

Hi Bruce,

Another little tip, after you rip them apart, try using one of those big gummy rubber sticks like I use to clean the belts on my belt grinder to rub out the stitches. It works.

Art

I have had a running email deal with a guy today who is relining some skirts. Fairly common repair, and it started out to be a "Barge vs. rubber cement discussion". He was not relishing the 1-2 hours of picking stitches, and wanted to use the old stitch line. It is an older family handed down saddle, and sentimental as well as moderate collectible value. If you use a seam ripper, flat knife, or anything else between the sheepskin and the leather, it cuts the stitches, and never fails, the lock is buried in the skirt. You have to take each stitch out one at a time. They are old, they are hard, they don't want to come out. You cheer when you can pull a tag and get 3-4 stitches at once. .

About 10 years ago, an older maker took pity on a younger guy and shared this tip. Since my pal who has done this sort of work for longer than me hadn't heard it, he shamed me into passing it along. Before you do anything on the wool side, take a stitch groover on the top side and run it over the stitches. One with the loop blade like Osborne's compass style groover works best. Running it over the stitches cuts and removes the top stitch, or severely weakens it at least. Start pulling on the woolskin and it pulls the stitches out as you pull it off. If the woolskin is weak and tears, you still can get the bottom thread and pull that. I took him 11 minutes total to skin the stitches and pull the wool off. BTW, this also works for handsewn things too.

[Elton Joorisity]

Another tool that works great(if you have one and I happen to have two) is a patent leather tool( freehand stitch groover made by Osbornes and Gomph) Jeremiah Watt also makes them. It is a breeze to knock the tops off the stitches then pull things apart. Usually not much picking left to do.

[mulefool]

Well, Good Grief, I've been pulling those things out with tweezers for the last 25 years. Now I guess I won't get to charge extra to use the old stitch line.

[Bar C Leather]

LMAO!! Thanks guys! I'm glad I'm not the only one who thoroughly enjoys stitch picking!! My farrier plays polo and wreaks havoc on tack.... LOTS of sweat and NO cleaning. Always brings the dirty hard sweaty leather with stitches to match to me. Unfortunately most English tack has no stitch groove but at least most repairs are small areas!! I have a saddle awaiting relining in my shop and was dreading that chore so thanks for the tip!!