Tool For Hand-Stitchers

[Kelvandor]

For all those who hand-stitch on a stitching horse or pony and who's off-hand fingers are sore on the tips from supporting the back of your work while you push the awl through:

I came up with a small tool that takes the place of my fingers. Since I have an awl in one hand all the time, I figured getting used to having something in the other hand as well wouldn't be too hard.

It's a short piece of broomhandle that I cut a notch in to allow the awl blade to clear.

Hope this is a help!

-Kel

[MADMAX22]

Pretty cool little tool.

I know some people use the a similer idea with a short blank with bees wax at the end. Then the awl pierces the wax and helps the awl do its thing.

[skipj]

Thanks for sharing, good idea.

SkipJ

[esantoro]

great idea

[TexasJack]

Nice idea. Somebody posted a version of this using wax inside a coil of wire. Re-waxes the awl on each pass.

[Kelvandor]

When I made this thing, I thought about just a thick pad of leather or some such on the end of a stick. I didn't think about the wax thing.

The reason I ended up with this was so that I could still see how far through the leather I put the awl blade, so's I don't push too far

-Kel

[DaveT]

When punching holes in thin leather, I'll often use a block of Styrofoam, or an old eraser (dry erase or an old felt chalk board eraser if you can find one.) This supports the leather and gives you something to punch into. Hadn't thought of using wax, but that's a good idea too.

Dave T.