Newbie Question On Punching Holes For Sewing

[Ferg]

It seems you have not used an awl to stitch. First off you use a marking wheel/tool and learn to hold the awl at the correct angle. You can be assured using a good awl, I don't recommend

one from Tandy, get a good one, you can pierce a lot of leather. There is a definite plus to hand stitching using an awl when you learn to use it properly, it is beautiful and satisfying.

ferg

Could you get very far in leather with an awl? Seems to me like the awl would be rather imprecise. Plus I think the awl would not go very far in tough leather (4+ ounces)? I'll be using a 4-prong chisel for lacing; I think it should work all right.

[King's X]

I have used just about every technique that I read about and after all of this time, I found two things that work for me. Seiwa tools in Japan sells nippers that were once sold by Hidecrafter's, but i later found out that these were best for lacing holes because of what you mentioned above. I ended up modifying my Tandy chisels by carefully grinding and reshaping the teeth into diamond shapes and thinning them out. They work great and my stitches 'swallow' the holes.................of course, I used a 5 cord thread so the hole has not chance.

Good luck.

[reddevil76]

Check out the pricking irons in www.goodsjapan.jp. They are essentially diamond awls in a row, made for used as a chisel. These are my stitching results.

[Scary Leatherworks]

Check out the pricking irons in www.goodsjapan.jp. They are essentially diamond awls in a row, made for used as a chisel. These are my stitching results.

I was looking at those pricking irons but wasn't sure if they were for "marking" the holes or for actually making them. I like the spacing on the Tandy 4 hole stitching punch but the tool is not the best. I got one one from SLC and it's nicer quality but has 5 prongs and I think it is too many holes per inch. Your stitching looks great!

Edited August 31, 2011 by Scary Leatherworks

[reddevil76]

I was looking at those pricking irons but wasn't sure if they were for "marking" the holes or for actually making them. I like the spacing on the Tandy 4 hole stitching punch but the tool is not the best. I got one one from SLC and it's nicer quality but has 5 prongs and I think it is too many holes per inch. Your stitching looks great!

I have a 6 prong, 2 prong, and 1 prong. One straights, I use the 6 prong. Around the corners, I use the 2 prong to mark the leather and space out the marks evenly, and the 1 prong to punch at the marks. You can use a 2 prong to go around the corners, but I am pretty anal about the orientation of the stitching hole, I like it just nice. So that's why I needed a 1 prong.

[Scary Leatherworks]

I have a 6 prong, 2 prong, and 1 prong. One straights, I use the 6 prong. Around the corners, I use the 2 prong to mark the leather and space out the marks evenly, and the 1 prong to punch at the marks. You can use a 2 prong to go around the corners, but I am pretty anal about the orientation of the stitching hole, I like it just nice. So that's why I needed a 1 prong.

Can you tell me which size you use. I looked at them all but can't quite decide which one I want/need. They have the pricking irons and the awl/punch with so many different sizes; 4x1.5, 4x2,4x3, 6x3 etc...

Thanks

[reddevil76]

Can you tell me which size you use. I looked at them all but can't quite decide which one I want/need. They have the pricking irons and the awl/punch with so many different sizes; 4x1.5, 4x2,4x3, 6x3 etc...

Thanks

Personally, i use the 5mm, it doesn't really make a 5mm hole. The hole is about 2.5mm wide. Not sure how they derived 5mm, but i find it just nice for saddle stitching where i need 2 needles going through.

My friend uses the 3mm, but he can only thrust one needle through at a time, so it slows down the stitching.

[Scary Leatherworks]

Thanks, I just ordered a 6x5 to see if I like it.

Scott

[Radthalan]

I use both chisels and awls. I purchased the Chisel kit first and used the small chisel for hand sewing when I was trying to learn how to. Then I got an awl and the Hand sewing book by Al S. And now I prefer to hand stitch with the awl. It looks nicer IMO, but I still use the larger chisels for lacing projects and they hold tight to the lace. A neat thing I learned about hand sewing is make sure your finger nails are trimmed close. I was putting little divots in the leather when I braced my thumb and fingers against my work when I stabbed with the awl. Luckily I smoothed them out with a burnisher.

[Bard Skye]

I use both chisels and awls. I purchased the Chisel kit first and used the small chisel for hand sewing when I was trying to learn how to. Then I got an awl and the Hand sewing book by Al S. And now I prefer to hand stitch with the awl. It looks nicer IMO, but I still use the larger chisels for lacing projects and they hold tight to the lace. A neat thing I learned about hand sewing is make sure your finger nails are trimmed close. I was putting little divots in the leather when I braced my thumb and fingers against my work when I stabbed with the awl. Luckily I smoothed them out with a burnisher.

That's the way I thought things were supposed to work: chisels for lacing and an awl for stitching.

Skye

Edited September 29, 2011 by Bard Skye