Perfect Hand Stitching Photos

[TroyS]

Here's a set of BMW Saddlebags that I recovered a few months back...

[MADMAX22]

Those look real nice Troy, thats alot of stitching.

[shehog]

Hi Kevin,

I don't think it's been mentioned anywhere on this board yet but the best awl blades going come from Bob Douglas. As for the edges, the only thing you missed was elbow grease.

Darc

Hi Darc,

Your stitching is beautiful. Where can one find a Bob Douglas awl?

Shehog

Great hand stitching requires three things - Patience, Want to, and the Right Tools! This one is an example of my early holster work from the 90s. I made my Awl from an old ice pick with a three sided point that make a perfect hole every time. The thing never needs sharpening and makes life easy.

How does one go about modifying an ice pick to an awl?

Thanks.

Shehog

[8thsinner]

I would think most small ones are close to the right size anyway... If it was too thick, just stick it in a drill with some rough wet and dry and smooth it down slowly moving up the wet and dry grits until it's mirror buffed.

FOrgot to say, I'm loving all these examples of good stitching.

Edited December 26, 2009 by 8thsinner

[J Hayes]

All this hand stitching looks amazing! What thread is everyone using? Waxed or unwaxed? I've been using white waxed nyltex and it comes out looking dirty, any tricks to clean it up?

Jeremy 012-03-19_11.26.50.jpg]

Edited March 20, 2012 by J Hayes

[katsass]

Well, FWIW from the old grumpy guy; I don't know if one considers this is 'perfect', but it's about as good as this old fart can do;

[ouchmyfinger]

Here's a couple of photos of some sewing I did the other day that turned out pretty good. The cantle binding and inlaid seat were both handsewn in the first photo, the second photo shows a handsewn horncap. People sometimes ask if I sew saddles with a dremel drill... personally, I find it insulting but I guess it's people who just don't know any better.

D.

good work, what thread do you use? it seems like that is the one thing that I'm missing, i am never happy with the thickness of the thread in ratio with my stitching holes

[D.A. Kabatoff]

good work, what thread do you use? it seems like that is the one thing that I'm missing, i am never happy with the thickness of the thread in ratio with my stitching holes

The thread used in the photos was an 8 cord linen that I picked up at a local shoe repair supply house... it's really heavier than necessary and more often than not I use a six cord thread for a more refined look. I usually sew either six or seven stitches per inch and use a Bob Douglas awl. When I got my awls from Bob, he was only making two sizes but since they are handmade they are all a bit different... I asked him to pick out the narrowest ones he had.

Darcy

[ouchmyfinger]

The thread used in the photos was an 8 cord linen that I picked up at a local shoe repair supply house... it's really heavier than necessary and more often than not I use a six cord thread for a more refined look. I usually sew either six or seven stitches per inch and use a Bob Douglas awl. When I got my awls from Bob, he was only making two sizes but since they are handmade they are all a bit different... I asked him to pick out the narrowest ones he had.

Darcy

i was looking for the linen thread and saw that they sell it in both left and right spun options, i figured i would ask why? i mean i didn't think there would be a difference but there must be if they make both options

thanks

[Kevin]

Some of the older sewing machines require one twist on top and another on the bottom.

Kevin