Gun belt hand stitching...is there an easy way to do it?

[PJ234]

Hello,

I'm a newbie hobby leather maker (made a few knife sheaths and holsters so far) and I've been thinking of trying to make myself a nice heavy gun belt. Is it possible to hand stitch a belt? I'm thinking about how long and fumbly the thread is at the beginning of something small like just a knife sheath, so I think my thread would have to be 30 ft long to stitch all the way around a belt. Is there a trick to stitching a belt that makes it easier or more practical to do by hand?

Thanks for any suggestions!

[Lobo]

Hand-stitching a belt is a major undertaking, sir. After you do one I doubt that you will want to do another. I hope that you are doing it for yourself, because no one will pay you enough to do one for sale.

Best regards.

[PJ234]

Yes, it would be for me and I have lots of time on my hands currently so that's not a big problem. One thought I had was to stitch it in sections using several shorter starting pieces of thread and over/back stitching where the sections meet. This would be easier to handle, but would it make a big difference in the strength or appearance of the finished product?

Thanks for the input.

[kevinhopkins]

Hi PJ

First of all, no, there's no easy way. (well, there is, but it's called a sewing machine ) And you've got the right idea with the shorter lengths of thread. If you don't do that, you'll end up with grief that you don't want. I've heard of folks actually inadvertantly strangling a housepet while trying to pull 30 ft of thread thru a belt!!! pulling all that thread thru all those holes just isn't a happy deal. it wears the thread out before you can get it all sewn in... But, like I said, it sounds like you've got the right idea! Happy stitching!

Kevin@springfieldleather.com

[PJ234]

Thanks for the advice, Kevin...strangling of pets doesn't sound worth it. Your sewing machine prompted another thought. Could I assemble it and then take it somewhere (like maybe a saddle shop or shoe repair or something) and have it machine sewn for a reasonable fee, or at that point am I better off just buying a belt from someone already made?

[dbusarow]

PJ234,

It's not that bad. It is time consuming, no doubt about that.

Use shorter pieces, I use as much as I can hold with my arms outstretched, somewhere around 6'. Sometimes I make it a little longer than that but not much. Where you join together is just a variation on backstitching. Tie the thread ends together when the first strand gets too short to keep going. Take a new thread and start it 2-3 stitches back. Pull the stitches extra tight for those last couple stitches of the first thread to help eliminate bulk.

Here's the thread I started when making my first belt. There's some good comments in the thread.

http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=16905

I've made two more. They get easier, and your hand stitching WILL get better. Either that or you'll quit.

Dan

[DCKNIVES]

I agree with the others, use shorter pieces and then backstitch.It's not really that bad, just going to take some time.Dave

[MADMAX22]

Just my little bit of experience as I handstitch all my stuff and have made 4 double layer belts and am working on another. The first one is a pain in the butt, you will realize quickly the above comments how helpful they are.

The first one will be a pain, the second one will be alot easier but still kind of a pain, by time your on your third itll be like lets watch a movie and do some stitching.

One good thing about doing a few belts, itll make stitching a sheath or something smaller seem like a piece of cake.

[tonyc1]

You wont like hand stitching harness traces 5/8" to 3/4" thick then.

Tony.

Edited October 16, 2009 by tonyc1

[Bronson]

If you don't have it yet, Al Stohlman's book "The Art of Hand Sewing Leather" will clearly show you how to utilize smaller pieces of thread.

Are you using a stitching awl or diamond punches. The one belt I made I was still using diamond punches so I chucked the four prong punch in a drill press and used it like an arbor press to pre-punch all the holes. It was much easier than pounding them all in with a hammer. I've since switched to a stitching awl but really have no desire to hand sew another one. But that could change at any moment

Bronson