Stitching Around A Belt

[Wyvern]

This is for those of you that make belts on a regular basis, or anyone else who might know. Does the stitching around a belt that is unlined do anything but decorate? Does it reduce or prevent stretch? Inquiring minds and all that stuff.

[Wyvern]

This is for those of you that make belts on a regular basis, or anyone else who might know. Does the stitching around a belt that is unlined do anything but decorate? Does it reduce or prevent stretch? Inquiring minds and all that stuff.

This is twice I have asked questions that apparently no one knows the answer to!

[Luke Hatley]

This is twice I have asked questions that apparently no one knows the answer to!

PURELY FOR DECORATION POURPOSES ONLY................

WHY NOT ATTACH A LINING AND THEN SEW ,YOU WILL HAVE A LASTING AND DURABLE BELT.

[rdb]

From my experience, it does stiffen the edges a bit for awhile, eventually even the thread stretches. You do have to have the right weight leather, thread and tension, so the interlock is buried in the leather. I do this when the customer wants one of the traditional one layer belts with the "diamond/oval stitch running the length of the belt. For the customer that wants better, I do the d/o on the top layer, then stitch a back liner to it.

[tat2]

I agree, the stitch really is for decoration. I use Weavers strap stich edge guide for the Adler 205's and the belt is down in 4 mins. The dbl guide allow you to sew effortlessly! Cheating? possibly but worth the investment when you have mulitple orders.

I would think if the stitch is set too tight/ close together you would weaken the belt and allow for tearing. Just make sure you test everything out first before sewing. The stitch did allow the belt to be stiff for a while then relaxed. The the stretch is based on the selection and grade of leather. Lastly make sure you are using a large bobbin machine or else the bobbin wil run out and you'll have to double up and at times can look unprofessional. At Green Man Leather we only use dbl shoulder or double Butt leather which is known for super strength and minimal stretch.

[iwannabeacowboy]

I have seen some belts that were one layer and the guy used the stitching wheel with some pressure and did not sew it. It did give the effect of stitching without the thread. It really didn't look to bad.

charlie

[Dwight]

The stitches would only decorate as far as I can see, . . . but there is one thing to keep in mind, . . . especially with only one layer of leather.

If you stitch any line close to 90 degrees across the belt, . . . you will also build a perforation line, . . . and will possibly weaken the leather to the point that it may fail prematurely.

Any line I sew that goes across the belt is done at less than a 45 degree angle simply for that reason.

May God bless,

Dwight