Hermes Saddle Stitch

[Alden]

Brilliant, thanks mate

[Danne]

On 5/15/2020 at 2:28 PM, Tugadude said:

I urge you to check out these threads.  They should help you sort out your struggles and get you on a better path.

 

And

I am convinced that a beginner, with zero experience could produce a decent-looking stitch in one day with the proper tools and process.  Nigel Armitage himself has said that he has had students that learned the saddle stitch well enough in one day to be able to turn out aesthetically-pleasing work.  Sure, there is still lots more to learn, and they should continue their education to include the proper use of an awl, etc.  but they can get the basics down fairly quickly.

There just isn't any reason to accept rubbish.  There is help to be found.

Yes maybe one some thicker stiffer leather. And also it depends on what a decent-looking stitch is. All leather behave different, you have different thickness. One side might be softer and the other stiffer. My opinion is that saddle stitching is the hardest part of this craft. 

[Tugadude]

I'm not suggesting that anyone is an expert after one day's study.  What I am suggesting is that if you teach the proper technique and the student learns what the threads are supposed to be doing in the holes, they can fairly quickly get a decent-looking stitch.

I think for some, stitching s a mystery.  Sometimes they can get a decent result, sometimes not.  And the trouble is they have no idea why.

The mystery or mystique of the saddle stitch doesn't have to be a thing.  It is a process.  Yes, there is also an art to it and the more you practice and learn, the better you'll get, but good results can come from simply doing it right.

That's my point.  I helped someone that was struggling.  They had no idea why they weren't getting results.  I helped break the process down into the basics and when the lightbulb went off, you could see it.  They had read and watched, but never did get the salient points until we walked through it.  Their stitching went from a "D' to a "B" immediately.

Yes, there are always going to be more challenging projects.  I wouldn't teach a beginner how to sew calfskin gloves for example.

But let's try to remove some of the "smoke and mirrors" from stitching.  It is a skill that can be learned.  Maybe it takes years to master, but results don't have to come slowly with proper training.