Members MsDragonfly Posted February 11, 2009 Members Report Posted February 11, 2009 I like to hand sew my holsters and don't use the stitching awl...just 2 needles and waxed thread. -Can I just pre-drill my stitch holes with my dremel tool? -Does it matter if the drill bit size matches the thread or not...(can stitching holes actually be too big or too small?)? -How do I determine or choose the correct distance from stitch hole to stitch hole? Some use 3/16 of an inch and some do 1/4", whats the deal with distance? Thanks for all the help, I'm just tired of guessing and assuming things...time to learn what is right and wrong.***Lisa Quote
Moderator Art Posted February 11, 2009 Moderator Report Posted February 11, 2009 Hi Lisa, If drilling leather was the proper method, then you would see sewing machines with drills instead of needles. When you drill, you remove some of the leather, so that hole is not going to close around the thread and hold and protect it. That being said, I started that way, and I know a lot of folks who still do it that way, and hey, their work looks good. You might not want to do that on something you are entering in a guild competition though. Art I like to hand sew my holsters and don't use the stitching awl...just 2 needles and waxed thread. -Can I just pre-drill my stitch holes with my dremel tool? -Does it matter if the drill bit size matches the thread or not...(can stitching holes actually be too big or too small?)? -How do I determine or choose the correct distance from stitch hole to stitch hole? Some use 3/16 of an inch and some do 1/4", whats the deal with distance? Thanks for all the help, I'm just tired of guessing and assuming things...time to learn what is right and wrong.***Lisa Quote For heaven's sakes pilgrim, make yourself a strop!
Members MsDragonfly Posted February 11, 2009 Author Members Report Posted February 11, 2009 (edited) Art, what way should I be stitching and/or making my stitch holes then? Its important to me that I do things right and that my products/holsters are strong and durable.***Lisa Edited February 11, 2009 by MsDragonfly Quote
Members celticleather Posted February 12, 2009 Members Report Posted February 12, 2009 Take a look at the tutorials here - http://www.bowstock.co.uk/tutorials.html. They are an excellent introduction to the proper (or should I say traditional) methods of stitching. Quote When everyone is somebody, then no one's anybody
Members tonyc1 Posted February 12, 2009 Members Report Posted February 12, 2009 6 stitches to the inch, but if it's thin, use 7 or 8. Tony. Quote
Members cem Posted February 12, 2009 Members Report Posted February 12, 2009 You also might want to pick up this book The Art of Hand Sewing by Al Stohlman, it should help you to learn what you want to know. I know it's helped me a great deal, you can get it from Tandy. Cheers, Clair Quote
Members Rawhide Posted February 12, 2009 Members Report Posted February 12, 2009 I'm a big supporter of hand stitching and I use an awl with two needles to do it. The 'proper' way is described in Al Stohlman's book, the Art of Handsewing Leather. However, decent instruction can be found on the interweb. Using a dremel is a fast way to do it, but the results of the holes on the back side of the project will be unpredictable. Yes a hole can be too big or too small. I have two diamond shaped awls that I use regularly, along with a set of overstitch wheels. The overstitch wheels layout the locations for the holes. there are several sizes. for a heavy weight leather, 8 oz and up, I use 5, 6, or 7 stitches per inch (spi), for medium leather, 4 to 6 oz, I use 8 or 9 spi, and for light weight leather, I use 10, 11, 12 etc, spi. For holsters, you're probably looking at 6 spi, and a four prong stitching chisel is not going to go through that thickness of leather stack (plus it makes the holes too big). you'll need a sharp awl, and the overstitch wheel. Good luck! Quote Marlon
Members MsDragonfly Posted February 12, 2009 Author Members Report Posted February 12, 2009 Thanks everyone. the tutorial post was very interesting and helpful. Where does one purchase a good sharp awl of two sizes?***Lisa Quote
Contributing Member TwinOaks Posted February 12, 2009 Contributing Member Report Posted February 12, 2009 Oh no! The "which AWl?" question!!! I'll save everyone a bunch of typing and list the top three answers: 1 Bob Douglas 2 Bob Douglas 3 Bob Douglas However, if you can't get a Douglas awl, the Osborne from Tandy can work. As it comes from Tandy, it's a little big (wide) in cross-section. This is easily remedied with a Dremel and a sanding disk or grind stone attachment. After reshaping, sharpen on a stone, and strop it. If you find the length a little long, you can stack some washers (leftovers from hole punching) on the blade to take up some space. The washers also keep the ferrule of the awl from marking the leather. The "hand sewing kit" from Tandy has some good info, but the blades are really too large for hand stitching- not bad for lacing, but not for stitching. You could modify the blade on it as well, but I don't know how good the steel is, so take your chances. Quote Mike DeLoach Esse Quam Videri (Be rather than Seem) "Don't learn the tricks of the trade.....Learn the trade." "Teach what you know......Learn what you don't." LEATHER ARTISAN'S DIGITAL GUILD on Facebook.
Members Rawhide Posted February 12, 2009 Members Report Posted February 12, 2009 (edited) Thanks everyone. the tutorial post was very interesting and helpful.Where does one purchase a good sharp awl of two sizes?***Lisa see this thread Edited February 12, 2009 by Rawhide Quote Marlon
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