not squashing detailed carving in a stitching pony

[LakeOtter]

Hello and thanks in advance!

I am practicing to make pieces that can be small or narrow (hat patches, hat bands, belt) but that have detailed work including figure or pictorial.

You spend hours of time and effort on depth and 3D relief for animals and flora with fine textures etc., you know...

But then even master Al Stohlman's "The Art of Hand Stitching Leather" front cover shows a tooled belt clamped right there under the wooden vice grip of a stitching pony.

 I just feel like it wouldn't take that much pressure to at least slightly compromise certain, painstaking work. People always talk of accidentally, barely nicking or scratching their work with xyz tool. I do not want to even slightly compress the shoulder of a bear or something, and almost considered a Speedy Stitcher, but I want to learn quality-with-efficiency, for an indefinite commitment. And stiches look great even when not needed structurally.

Are there any tips you can think of other than:

1) Let the work dry good and hard before clamping into the pony

2) clamp it just tight enough not to shift or wiggle, but do not over-tighten

I see some ponies have material buffering the piece from the direct wood jaws; maybe I can try some different rubbers, leathers as a buffer?   I thought of felt but maybe it allows movement too much unless too tight....?

Any experience or thoughts here are appreciated,

Jeff in FL

Edited June 7 by LakeOtter

[BlackDragon]

The important things are your #1 & #2. Veg tan should be completely dry before clamping for stitching and it shouldn't move while in the clamp.

With that said ponies should have something in between the wooden clamps, preferably something softer that the work piece. I use a couple pieces of 3oz English bridle on each side (not glued together). The English bridle will comform to the tooling when snug.

When the work piece is in the clamp you don't have to use a lot of pressure to do the stitching, if you are your holes may be to small. Also make sure when you're stiching you aren't pulling the piece so it moves towards you or away from you. The pressure should go to the left and right.

 

[AlZilla]

Can you sew your small items without a stitching pony?  I don't care for them.

[chuck123wapati]

Pretty much what you said!! put leather on the jaws and remember it is meant to hold as an extra hand would, not squish the life out of it. You're not intending to do anything but hold it in place while you work, so don't over-tighten it.  Also, most times, you can find areas on your project that have no tooling to apply the clamp. Most important to remember is you're the brain part of the tool, just don't put it where it will ruin your work.

[LakeOtter]

23 hours ago, AlZilla said:

Can you sew your small items without a stitching pony?  I don't care for them.

Thanks for the replies, guys!

AlZilla -- I don't have much stitching experience at all with leather. I've either glued and/or run leather lace through big, punched holes up one side of an easy, folded-over holster build. Just that kind of stuff so far. Lots of crafting and shop experience in other ways, so I'm no noob at craftsmanship in general. I pick up on stuff fast. 

How do you like to stitch without a pony? Are you using the two-handed saddle stitch method or a Speedy Stitch or some other method?

I do think about maybe stitching a premium, hand-tooled hat patch directly to a trucker hat (not a $5 laser engraved one, or one stamped with one big stamp) instead of just gluing it (esp. when you want at least decorative stitch anyway) and am trying to learn the different options out there. The book I got is pretty much one method, I think (saddle stitch with pony). The Speedy Stitch thing gets looked at as unprofessional, it seems, but I want to know my options. And I guess you can do the same thing as a Speedy Stitch just with an awl and needles, just a different stitch(?).

I know people often advise not over-equipping oneself as a "beginner" at any one thing (like stitching leather), but I also go through long, dry periods of not having the money to buy much of anything but food and meds, so I want to get most of whatever I might need for the next long while (while I have a little bit of cash now, left) so I don't need something new when I'm broke, lol. Right now I'm looking at stitching supplies like awls, forks, needles...holder, etc.

Thanks for your input!

(that goes for everybody)

 

[AlZilla]

On 6/8/2025 at 3:28 PM, LakeOtter said:

How do you like to stitch without a pony? Are you using the two-handed saddle stitch method or a Speedy Stitch or some other method?

Saddle stitching, 2 needles, like most people. I have a speedy stitcher and it can make a decent stitch, too (it's a lock stitch, by the way).

I prepunch my holes for saddle stitch and have not tried punching on the fly with an awl.

With the caveat that I'm only at this a couple of years, I just find stitching ponys fussy and inconvenient. Clamp the pony to the bench and the work into the pony and half the time, one of those things is going to move.  Then you only get so many stitches before you have to shift the work.  Projects like hats and holsters don't fit in them very well. I'm sure they do for somebody, but not for me. Knife sheaths, wallets, small stuff fits ok, but still fiddly.

I find it easier to hold whatever I'm working on in my hands either on a workbench or just in my lap.

Just my rookie outlook on stitching ponys.  That said, a stitching pony is probably a good investment for most people who intend to saddle stitch.

On the subject of not overbuying, I'd refer you to a couple of recent threads by an experienced crafter, making nice pieces using a small set of beginner tools.  There are so many tools and methods out there, it's just hard to know what to buy when you first start out.

https://leatherworker.net/forum/topic/125186-leather-projects-using-50-dollars-of-amazon-tools/

https://leatherworker.net/forum/topic/122892-back-at-tooling/ 

Practice - it's free except for the leather. Maybe grab a bag of scraps and practice sewing.

There's a "Getting Started" forum. It might be worth poking around over there and maybe ask for advice on a beginner tool set.

 

[chuck123wapati]

On 6/8/2025 at 1:28 PM, LakeOtter said:

 

 but I also go through long, dry periods of not having the money to buy much of anything but food and meds, so I want to get most of whatever I might need for the next long while (while I have a little bit of cash now, left) so I don't need something new when I'm broke, lol. Right now I'm looking at stitching supplies like awls, forks, needles...holder, etc.

Thanks for your input!

(that goes for everybody)

 

I've been there and still am. If you are handy, you can make a good portion of your tools, for free or very little outlay of money, including a stitching pony. I made mine from scrap wood, it sits under my legs on a chair, so no bench clamping is needed, and I can sit anywhere and sew. Most of the great old-time famous names made their own tools and stamps it was about the only way to get them before modern commercialism.

[TonyV]

Saddle stitching without a pony is certainly doable.  On Youtube  Corter Leather has a very good vid on how to do it. A few practice pieces and you're off to the races.

 

[chuck123wapati]

21 hours ago, TonyV said:

Saddle stitching without a pony is certainly doable.  On Youtube  Corter Leather has a very good vid on how to do it. A few practice pieces and you're off to the races.

 

notice the thickness? not so easy on thicker stuff! 

[BlackDragon]

I'm not a big fan of stitching ponies myself, although I do use one from time to time. I've stitched my belts, 10oz vegtan and 5oz liner, both with a pony and without and I prefer not using a pony. Now if I hand stitch a wallet I may use a pony but usually I don't.

One of my contentions with the pony is I have to continuously tilt my head to see the one side or the other. I have neck issues so this constant back and forth causes neck pain and headaches. 

[LakeOtter]

Hey, to each of you, thanks for the considerate and thoughtful replies including extra resources I'm genuinely checking out.

I have a nice little Jim Linnell library and most of the stamps I should need, having gotten some years ago and then now... a variety of brands (you know how a lot of cheap ones are fine but some either need to be either premium ones, or modified). 

When I was learning before, I don't remember how I stitched on the straps to this poorly-beveled archery arm guard I made years ago (Pics attached, LOL)

Pretty beginner-looking but it works great, still!

I made the conical pattern by holding thin cardboard up to my arm. The Hobby Lobby ReaLeather veg tan has held up pretty well with conditioners.

Over Time:          

I am and will be practicing small carving patterns for skills to eventually design and make unique FL/tropical-influenced pseudo-western patches to sew onto trucker hats, hand tooled instead of the laser ones popular now. You'd think some of the folks dropping a mint on tack and belts and boots still don a cap instead of a cowboy hat sometimes, and might drop a few extra bucks on a hand-tooled patch. Even buckstitch around it maybe sometimes. And I'll be doing collars for my dogs which would be great collar or belt practice.

I also aspire to eventually make sheaths or cases for Native American-style flutes.

I'll check out every link sent, thanks!

The Linnell videos will continue to have me practicing a lot doing the walk-thru pieces repeatedly and finding hatchets and things to strap the practice pieces on (maybe starting with the next one... I ain't showing my recent piece, lol... it's that beginner Stohlman flower he and Jim start you with except I sized it down considerably, to fit on a tall trucker hat, lol.... so it made it harder and I ain't showing it, lol. 

The decision was made for me to move to this craft I admire, from wood and Native American-style flutes I spent years on and developed a trusted name (Otter Lake / Jeff Burris)when I moved to a wonderful forest cabin (but tiny with no garage) and wasn't able to afford the expected add-on shop to my new place. I could no longer set up my machines and continue flutes , and so my lathes and gun drills etc. will all be pickled in a 10x10' shed or maybe sold.

So I'm starting over one last time at 54 and re-entering carving leather with the same dedication and zeal, to glorify God and make things pleasing to hold and look at, that I had for the studio-ready wooden instruments that, once sold on occasion to instructors and recording artists, are now permanently out of stock, while I've set up to practice leather daily and give it my all for years to come (if the creek don't rise).

Thanks -- you all are like the flute crowd in that there is a bunch of stand-up, friendly help.