Securing Saddle Stitch

[reddevil76]

Instead of cutting 2 ends, and burning them off. I looped both ends together, and burn into one. But it still leaves an ugly one. Is there any hidden method where no ends can be seen?

I tried stuffing this one end into the stitch hole with a blunt awl, but to no avail.

[alb]

Before stitching the last hole or two take a very sharp knife - xacto works well, and make a very slight slice on the grain side of the leather, between the last two holes. Take the last stitch and gently pull on the ends of the thread to snuggle the thread down into the slit. When you backstitch one hole, the thread from that last stitch will sit on top and it will look as if there is only one thread. Burning ends works better on certain kinds of thread, and not very well on others.

Is there any hidden method where no ends can be seen?

[reddevil76]

Before stitching the last hole or two take a very sharp knife - xacto works well, and make a very slight slice on the grain side of the leather, between the last two holes. Take the last stitch and gently pull on the ends of the thread to snuggle the thread down into the slit. When you backstitch one hole, the thread from that last stitch will sit on top and it will look as if there is only one thread. Burning ends works better on certain kinds of thread, and not very well on others.

Is there any hidden method where no ends can be seen?

But when you back stitch, you still have 2 ends to deal with. Do you still burn them?

[alb]

I usually backstitch 2 stitches, cut very close, poke the ends in without burning and tap all of -the stitching softly with a round-faced hammer. If the ends really don't want to stay in place, I'll singe them. If I'm using a waxed nylon or poly I won't burn as it usually leaves a hard, sharp, knarly knot.

Ann

But when you back stitch, you still have 2 ends to deal with. Do you still burn them?

[reddevil76]

I usually backstitch 2 stitches, cut very close, poke the ends in without burning and tap all of -the stitching softly with a round-faced hammer. If the ends really don't want to stay in place, I'll singe them. If I'm using a waxed nylon or poly I won't burn as it usually leaves a hard, sharp, knarly knot.

Ann

That's an idea

[RoaringBull]

Well I am kinda new to this site but have been stitching by hand a while...and I never burn or tie the ends of my thread. I use only waxed linen and back stitch three holes for one thread and four for the other so that they end up on the same side and then snip them off very close to the leather. I have never had a piece come apart... so far.

[skip]

When hand stitching you can hide your last stitch inside the leather and cut the ends off below the leather with a sharp knife. Most saddle makers will use the last stitch to make a lock stitch by doing a half hitch around the bottom thread some use two or three half hitch's around the bottom thread and then pull the knot into the middle of the pieces of leather you are stitching together. thus the last stitch is locked by half hitches and then when the threads are cut you make sure you cut the thread below the sureface of the flesh or finished side of the leather. I hope this will help it makes a very clean end to a stitching line.

[katsass]

Well, FWIW from the grumpy old man. First off I don't use any of the synthetic threads. I thought about it a number of years ago (35, maybe?) until I was at the testing (by our Department) of a new holster made by a well known commercial holster manufacturer. The holster was sewn front and rear with a newly designed 'sight track' stitched between the front and back pieces of leather. We had a clerk/typist that weighed all of 100# assist. All she was to do was grab the butt of the holstered (unloaded) gun and not let the 'officer' get away from her. She grabbed, held on like a bulldog, the officer made a hard twist away from her..........and that holster unzipped like tearing out a postage stamp. We tore up a number of holsters just to establish that the first one wasn't a fluke. We tested other holsters that were stitched with linen and had no such problems. Now, part of the problem with the first was the design I believe, yet it showed us all that the tendency of the nylon mono-filament thread used, was to cut rather than flex and give a little under stress. That first holster was never authorized for use by our Dept. All that said, I only use waxed linen thread. ..........NOW, to your question.......To finish I pull one needle through my last awl hole, (ending with two threads on the back side of my work) around that thread I wrap my second thread around the first twice........basically making a simple figure 8 knot..........then put that second needle through the last hole and pull tight. The knot disappears inside the hole and between the two pieces of leather. Trim the thread as close as possible to the surface of each side. After moistening and running the overstitch, the finish is indiscernible, and, I have yet to have one come loose. Mike

[Mike Craw]

I do the same thing Mike does, but I would add a note of caution to the "trim as close as possible" part of it. Once I have my stitches looped and pulled tight in the hole, and the final thread from the front side pulled through the next hole to the back, I take a SHARP pointed X-Acto knife and I put the point down into the hole resting on the stitch with the sharp edge against the thread that's coming out of the hole.

I then HOLD THE KNIFE STILL and pull on the thread, working it back and forth against the knife edge until it cuts, That way you will not cut a stitch and have to re-do the whole thing...

Anybody want to guess how I know that?

Mike

[katsass]

Anybody want to guess how I know that?

Mike

I'll lay you odds that you found out exactly the same way I did! Mike

[reddevil76]

That's y'all for the replies. I've ordered 12 spools of Tejas Waxed Thread in 3 different colours from Tandy a few months back and after using some, have delegated them to use as paper weight. These stuff has so much wax on them that it leaves a huge mess of wax at the stitching holes after you've pulled them through. I've tried de-waxing it some by pulling it through a piece of pinched leather. Not much help.

I've since moved on to a waxed polyester which is ok I guess, since i mostly make wallets.

[Sixer]

backstich a few times and use fingernail clippers

[Ziess]

I was taught to finish the ends this way.

Back stitch twice.

Then go half way through the third stitch and out between the two pieces on both sides.

Both ends should come up between the pieces of leather.

Tie the ends together with a simple knot and pull tight, do this twice.

Snip the ends close to the knot, leaving maybe .25 inch.

Tuck everything down.

Everything is hidden between the pieces of leather. No need to singe the ends.