Back Stitching

[JDM]

A while back I did an experiment. Using the same thread and hole spacing (Barbour 5 cord linen at 6 SPI waxed with a rosin/beeswax mix), I sewed up a few short scraps using only 7-8 stitches. Hand sewn saddle stitching with the loop thrown over each stitch (overhand knot), holes made using an awl. Each was done a little differently. Then I tore them apart using channel lock pliers.

What I found is glue (Weldwood contact cement -- red bottle) didn't do much. Glued or not ripped apart about the same. The glue itself held, but the face of the leather tore off. I also found that with some pulling and wiggling, I could, without as much effort as I would have guessed, work loose 2 back stitches. Once they went, the whole thing came apart relatively easily.

So, I'm sold on not only starting with a backstitch, but ending with at least three. Maybe 4 for insurance. And, plan to place them at the highest stress points in the piece because they are the strongest part of the stitching.

[MADMAX22]

Thats interesting. I would say if the glue is ripping the face of the leather off then its doing its job. I think I have had a little different experience with handstitching. Ive tried to take apart things I have made before with just 2 backstitches (dont use one on the start since the string is attached from the loop you start with) and ended up just cutting the thread with a razor blade.

I use barbours 6 cord and a rosing bees wax mix to wax the thread with. Just curious but why would you back stitch at the beginning, if your doing a saddle stitch it starts as a loop so there is no where that the thread can come loose.

[Kevin]

Backstitch at the beginning so it looks like the end. When I look at something, I don't want to see how it was done, I want it to look like it landed on earth that way. In other words, no compass line down the middle of a strap to mark the center, no leftover silver ink, no beginning, no end. Of course, it can't always be achieved, but you can sure try.

We had a guest in the shop the other day and let him stitch a horn cover, no backstitch at the beginning and two at the end, it looked unbalanced to me.

Just my two cents,

Kevin

[ramrod]

Just curious but why would you back stitch at the beginning, if your doing a saddle stitch it starts as a loop so there is no where that the thread can come loose.

i wondered the same thing when i first started to handstitch. but stohlman also has that procedure in his book of handstitching. many times you'll stitch only a straight line, so it would require a backstitch to start and end with.

[MADMAX22]

You dont require one but as others have said it makes it look even. All of my projects that I started out with out a back stitch are still working just fine today. As I mentioned earlier the only way the beginning stitch is going to come loose is if the thread is cut or breaks for some reason. I can see how it would look more even if you did the same thing at the beginning and end though. I will keep that in mind for future projects.

Now machine stitching is another story.

[scooby]

I'm in no way shape or form an expert but I also backstitch start and end of stitch...... at least I think I do...... in fact I often double the ends quite a lot if it is a high stress area (ie the top of a knife sheath).

I'm not sure how to explain myself but I'll do my best. Imagine a line of stitching with each hole numbered - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 etc I start and finis the same so just reverse the steps at the other end.

I start by threading my start at hole 5 and work my way saddle stitching with a twist to lock back to hole 1. Here I either go back to hole 2, back to hole 1 then back to 2 and then continue up the hole numbers to the other end of the stitch line or if the end is an open end I will do the extra one or two loops out and round the piece through hole 1 (hope that makes sense)

so essentially in numbers it would be 5 4 3 2 1 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9........ or 5 4 3 2 1 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9.......

I've just read and reread that and even I get a little confused however I cant think of an easier way to explain it