Traditional English Stitching Clamp

[chouinardragon]

Hi,

Anyone uses traditional English stitching clamp? The one like Blanchard sells. Picture attached (picture from a Japan leather tool seller).

I can't stab the awl vertically to the leather and it's not laying flat on my left thigh, it's kind of facing toward me.

Any tips when using it? Thanks!

Chris

[gary]

Chris,

I use a saddler's clam (or clams or clamps or clamp - depends who you talk to).

They are used with the base on the floor and the jaws are held between the legs with one jaw to left and one to the right. The leather is held in the jaws vertically so you have to stab and stitch horizontally left to right (or vice versa). You'll need to sit on a high chair or stool to get the leather at a comfortable working height.

I'm not sure about the set you are looking at but traditionally, saddler's clams were made of barrel staves - hence the shape - and are held together at the base ('1' in the attached photo) by a bolt. There is a bolt with a wing nut part way up the clams (at '2') that allows adjustment of the jaws' tension. At '3' there may be a staple on the inside of the jaw to which an adjustable strap may be attached and passed through a corresponding hole at '4' and then down to a stirrup which allows you to adjust jaw tension with your foot and can keep the clam more stable.

I keep a stack of odd-shaped bits of wood, plastic and foam nearby so I can put them inside anything I'm sewing that isn't a plain, flat shape which helps hold them in the jaws. You can also make or buy additional smaller clams that fit inside the jaws to allow you to sew rounds or keepers.

You may want to dress the inside of the jaws so they don't mark any leather you are sewing.

Hope that's of some help.

Gary

[chouinardragon]

Gary,

You said "The leather is held in the jaws vertically so you have to stab and stitch horizontally left to right (or vice versa)" but my stitch clamp is made to fold. So, the leather is not held in the jaws vertically.

The stitch clamp I have is used with the base on the floor and is held between on my left thigh and right let. I'm not a native English speaker, I can't express myself exactly, so please see attached picture.

It was taken at Hermes Festival of Crafts, showing a leatherworker who stitched a Kelly bag.

It seems that this kind of stitch clamp is not common in the US...

I have no idea if anyone here stitches in this way ... but I really need to know how to stitch in this way perfectly. Do you have any idea?

Chris

Chris,

I use a saddler's clam (or clams or clamps or clamp - depends who you talk to).

They are used with the base on the floor and the jaws are held between the legs with one jaw to left and one to the right. The leather is held in the jaws vertically so you have to stab and stitch horizontally left to right (or vice versa). You'll need to sit on a high chair or stool to get the leather at a comfortable working height.

I'm not sure about the set you are looking at but traditionally, saddler's clams were made of barrel staves - hence the shape - and are held together at the base ('1' in the attached photo) by a bolt. There is a bolt with a wing nut part way up the clams (at '2') that allows adjustment of the jaws' tension. At '3' there may be a staple on the inside of the jaw to which an adjustable strap may be attached and passed through a corresponding hole at '4' and then down to a stirrup which allows you to adjust jaw tension with your foot and can keep the clam more stable.

I keep a stack of odd-shaped bits of wood, plastic and foam nearby so I can put them inside anything I'm sewing that isn't a plain, flat shape which helps hold them in the jaws. You can also make or buy additional smaller clams that fit inside the jaws to allow you to sew rounds or keepers.

You may want to dress the inside of the jaws so they don't mark any leather you are sewing.

Hope that's of some help.

Gary

[gary]

Gary,

You said "The leather is held in the jaws vertically so you have to stab and stitch horizontally left to right (or vice versa)" but my stitch clamp is made to fold. So, the leather is not held in the jaws vertically.

The stitch clamp I have is used with the base on the floor and is held between on my left thigh and right let. I'm not a native English speaker, I can't express myself exactly, so please see attached picture.

It was taken at Hermes Festival of Crafts, showing a leatherworker who stitched a Kelly bag.

It seems that this kind of stitch clamp is not common in the US...

I have no idea if anyone here stitches in this way ... but I really need to know how to stitch in this way perfectly. Do you have any idea?

Chris

The clams are held vertically between the legs. This means that the leather is held vertically. You can lean the clams to one side or the other by about 40 dgrees.

I see in the picture that one of the jaws folds but I presume this is not to change the angle of the clams in use but to allow one jaw to move relative to the other so that they will open and close.

I would say from the photograph that, if I was using those clams, I would sit on a higher chair so that the clams are vertical.

I do not always need to see the stitch holes as I use a stitch pricker and can usually feel where the next stitch is to be. The position that chap is in looks awfully uncomfortable.

I will try and find someone to take a photo of me using my clams so you can see what I mean.

Gary

[gary]

The clams are held vertically between the legs. This means that the leather is held vertically. You can lean the clams to one side or the other by about 40 dgrees.

I see in the picture that one of the jaws folds but I presume this is not to change the angle of the clams in use but to allow one jaw to move relative to the other so that they will open and close.

I would say from the photograph that, if I was using those clams, I would sit on a higher chair so that the clams are vertical.

I do not always need to see the stitch holes as I use a stitch pricker and can usually feel where the next stitch is to be. The position that chap is in looks awfully uncomfortable.

I will try and find someone to take a photo of me using my clams so you can see what I mean.

Gary

I did a quick bit of research. The clamps you illustrate is/are a French Clamps used by harness-makers. Only one arm is hinged and there is no pressure to hold an item in the jaws apart from leg pressure.

I haven't found anyone to take a photo of me but I have hashed out a quick diagram (pardon the quality) that shows how they are held.

By using it upright (or nearly upright) I reduce back-ache and can see what I'm doing on both sides of the leather by moving my head a bit without having to reposition the clams to see the back side.

[chouinardragon]

Gary,

Nice diagram, thanks. I probably know how you use stitching clamp. Basically, it's the same as stitching pony,right?

Regarding to French clamp, on the end of the French clamp is tappered, that's why they don't sit higher but lower.

It's quite uncomfortable in that position but the marks made by the pricking iron are visible.

Still figuring out how to stitch perfectly by using French clamp.

Maybe all I need is practice and practice and practice ... ...

Chris

I did a quick bit of research. The clamps you illustrate is/are a French Clamps used by harness-makers. Only one arm is hinged and there is no pressure to hold an item in the jaws apart from leg pressure.

I haven't found anyone to take a photo of me but I have hashed out a quick diagram (pardon the quality) that shows how they are held.

By using it upright (or nearly upright) I reduce back-ache and can see what I'm doing on both sides of the leather by moving my head a bit without having to reposition the clams to see the back side.

[fivewayswelshcobs]

Hi I also use clams with a stirrup to keep the pressure on the leather being stitched but mine are normally fastened to a bench with 2 straps (one on each side) just so they do not move about and they are easier to lean to the left so you can see the stitch marks. In theory the stitcher shouldn`t look at the back but I think everyone does. We were also told to sit with the legs on the left with the right foot in the stirrup (do not know if this is the same for both sexes?) but I never got the hang of that so I use the left foot in the stirrup. The advantage of fastening the clams is that when you get up the angle is much easier to find again- but everyone has their own preference and it gets easier with practice. You will need to match the seat to the clams as you need to find a comfortable height for your arms to avoid too much strain. For shows I take a stitching pony/horse as the stitching feel is very similar but at a lower height and I do not need to take my bench with me !

[gary]

Gary,

Nice diagram, thanks. I probably know how you use stitching clamp. Basically, it's the same as stitching pony,right?

Regarding to French clamp, on the end of the French clamp is tappered, that's why they don't sit higher but lower.

It's quite uncomfortable in that position but the marks made by the pricking iron are visible.

Still figuring out how to stitch perfectly by using French clamp.

Maybe all I need is practice and practice and practice ... ...

Chris

Chris,

I hope my input helped.

Gary

[evandailey]

Hi,

Anyone uses traditional English stitching clamp? The one like Blanchard sells. Picture attached (picture from a Japan leather tool seller).

I can't stab the awl vertically to the leather and it's not laying flat on my left thigh, it's kind of facing toward me.

Any tips when using it? Thanks!

Chris

Try this video.

[chouinardragon]

Thanks, buddy.

I've been watching this video over and over and over again. It really helps.

Thank you.

Chris

Try this video.