What Thread To Use When Hand-Sewing?

[SouthernCross]

What thread do y'all recommend I use when hand-sewing 5 oz. leather for holsters and other items of general use (armguards, etc.)?

In Stohlman's Art of Hand Sewing book, he recommends "unwaxed 5-cord linen". I didn't find any such thing in the Tandy store today - in fact, the number of cords was not specified in any of their selection. I ended up picking up a small bobbin of "cord" that is used in their hand-sewing awl.

[Shorts]

What thread do y'all recommend I use when hand-sewing 5 oz. leather for holsters and other items of general use (armguards, etc.)?

In Stohlman's Art of Hand Sewing book, he recommends "unwaxed 5-cord linen". I didn't find any such thing in the Tandy store today - in fact, the number of cords was not specified in any of their selection. I ended up picking up a small bobbin of "cord" that is used in their hand-sewing awl.

I use waxed nylon thread for handstitching. I was stitching 6/7oz and up.

[Fredo]

I bought pure white linen cord at the local fabric store. That way I can dye to color, I just use a cake of bees wax to wax my thread after I dye to the color I need.

I think I paid about 4 bucks for 100 yards.

[TwinOaks]

I've been using thread from Hobby Lobby, found in the jewelry making stuff. White/Brown/Black are the choices and it comes a little bit prewaxed. I think it's sold under the name "On a String" or some such. It is 3-cord, and I think it's linen....not 100% on that one, though.

Big important tip: Ditch the needles with the oversized eyes. You can buy a pack of needles at HL, or even Walmart for about $1.50, that has several sizes in pairs. They have a regular (small) eye and resist breaking a whole lot better than the large eyes. I've broken more of the large eye needles than I can count before I had my "AH HA" moment. If you're scared of the sharp point.....just dull it.

Another important tip: Use the needle to guide the string through the hole, and help pull it through. After that, pull on the thread, not the needle.

[billymac814]

I always had trouble finding thread as well, I used the prewax nylon from tandy before with pretty good results. It's very waxy though so I'd pinch it between my fingers in a paper bag to remove some wax and drive it deeper in the thread. I don't know how many cord it was. I also bought some from the local shoe repair guy but found it too big, it was linen. Tandy sells linen thread as well but I think its only available in natural.

I pretty much had the same experience as TwinOaks with needles, I use the smallest possible after breaking a bunch. I always tapered the ends. It's very time consuming but makes the rest of the stitching go much smoother.

[Kevin]

If you're just starting out, linen is easier on your hands and you'll learn a lighter touch and not bury the thread too deep (cut the leather).

Have fun,

Kevin

[Dwight]

Our local Tandy store carries machine coded thread. A lot of folks like 270 for holsters and belts, but I prefer the next size up, 346. I use is almost exclusively. I'm working on a heavy duty set of leather gear, . . . it will probably have I believe 416 is the size, . . . but that is some heavy stuff.

Lift up the black plastic spool, look on the little white tag on the underside, it will tell you the machine size of the thread if your Tandy salesperson does not know.

The thread I get from Tandy for my sewing machine also works fine for hand sewing in my opinion.

May God bless,

Dwight

[katsass]

What thread do y'all recommend I use when hand-sewing 5 oz. leather for holsters and other items of general use (armguards, etc.)?

In Stohlman's Art of Hand Sewing book, he recommends "unwaxed 5-cord linen". I didn't find any such thing in the Tandy store today - in fact, the number of cords was not specified in any of their selection. I ended up picking up a small bobbin of "cord" that is used in their hand-sewing awl.

I use waxed linen for all of my stitching. I do use 4/5 oz leather for holsters, however, I double it up........two layers of 4/5 oz bonded flesh side to flesh side. This results in a single piece of leather, smooth on each side and 8 to 10oz overall. I believe that the thread is 7 strand. IMO 5 oz is way too thin for most holsters. Mike

Edited October 14, 2010 by katsass

[Reaper]

Tandy also has a heavier thread a step up from the 25 lb Waxed Linen, it is also waxed but not near as much as the 25lb stuff, it comes in Black, Brown and White. The spool is about 3 inches tall and 2 inches Dia. The cord is about 3/32 nds in Dia also. I wax as needed...

[MADMAX22]

I use this stuff My link and I use a rosin/bees wax mix. It lightly waxes and makes very tacky the thread. The thread holds like a gem once tugged and is very easy to work with. Springfeild leather also carries as many others do the harness needles. I beleive tandy does as well. These are the best ones to use IMHO. Plus make sure all the other basics are covered to make your stitching easier.

http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=18307

http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=16552