Sewing Holsters With A Machine

[Sixer]

If you drop a stitch, you can cut the thread a few stitches before it and a few stitches after it, melt the ends of the threads, and then overstitch.

I think casing before you stitch would cause a mess -- the presser foot would chew up the surface of the leather.

Stitching close to the edge is easy with a little practice. Cut or press a line along the edge and SLOWLY stitch the groove. The trick is to keep tracking where the NEXT stitch will go. After a couple of dozen, things will start to move faster.

tk

So no guides other than what you mark!? Sounds tricky

tk, I thought the same thing about the casing... but who knows...

Rick, thanks for the link! I will check it out.

Man... I can NOT wait for the day that I look back on this thread and laugh at how little I knew and how much it worried me. I'll be making beautiful stitches with my eyes closed, thinking to myself... "those guys on LW.net are the BEST" haha

Keep it coming! Great stuff!

Thanks again... MUCH appreciated

[Lobo]

When I started my assistant on the stitcher I had her watch me do several pieces, discussing each step such as curves and changes in direction, stopping the machine at the proper time to avoid skips, etc. Then I assembled dozens of practice pieces from scrap and let her spend a couple of hours per day for several days just practicing on the stitcher. Her work improved steadily and very quickly. The key is practice, practice, practice, making mistake after mistake, and learning to avoid mistakes, then learning to correct (some) mistakes. At the same time you will get familiar with bobbin changes, the occasional bent or broken needle, and everything else involved.

You have already gotten past the really big hurdle by selecting Leather Machine Company. Lots of other sources, but none of them are run by Cobra Steve and none of them can compare for service after the sale.

[malabar]

When I started my assistant on the stitcher I had her watch me do several pieces, discussing each step such as curves and changes in direction, stopping the machine at the proper time to avoid skips, etc. Then I assembled dozens of practice pieces from scrap and let her spend a couple of hours per day for several days just practicing on the stitcher. Her work improved steadily and very quickly. The key is practice, practice, practice, making mistake after mistake, and learning to avoid mistakes, then learning to correct (some) mistakes. At the same time you will get familiar with bobbin changes, the occasional bent or broken needle, and everything else involved.

You have already gotten past the really big hurdle by selecting Leather Machine Company. Lots of other sources, but none of them are run by Cobra Steve and none of them can compare for service after the sale.

Amen on all counts. When I got my Class 4, I thought I would immediately start cranking out great stitch lines. But it didn't happen that way. So I got my wife, who is a skilled seamstress, and loves sewing machines, and told her to stitch the darn things. She didn't fare much better. Stitching heavy leather isn't much like other sewing. And practice makes perfect -- and I'm far from perfect.

Back when I was doing a lot of woodworking, I used to go to trade shows. They would always have folks there doing demos with tablesaws and and bandsaws that were like magic. To make a long story short, these guys impressed on me that a huge amount of the magic involved knowing the machine inside and out, and having it tweaked until it ran like a Swiss watch. I think leather stitchers are the same. And that takes time (or a great mentor).

tk

[starving artist]

Thanks guys... honestly, I feel better already!

Luke, never been to Memphis but I might be due for a road trip, haha... I am a visual learner and I think you're absolutely correct.

Haha... dickf, you just read my mind! My first thought was to panic and find a new hobby

I really appreciate the words of wisdom and encouragement.

While we're on the topic, just a few more questions...

-Steve had metioned something about casing the leather before sewing... does anyone actually do that?

-Ho do you guys get your stitches so close to the outer edge of your holsters?

-IF at some point I have a dropped stitch on a project... is there any way to fix it? Or is it just scrap at that point?

-I don't really have anyone locally that can give me "hands on" instruction, so are there any good resources online that would help?

I'm sure I'll have plenty of future questions, but you guys have put my mind at ease for the time being, and I certainly appreciate it! Thanks so much

I too have just received my class 4, what a machine. but yes alot to learn on the do's and don'ts I am having a buddy of mine come show me the ropes on leather sewing machines, to comment on your question about stitching so close to the edge. a good way to cheat while your learning is to leave your pattern large, sew your edge then cut off excess next to stitching ( BUT not too close, that's holding your piece together ) , bevel, burnish, and finish your edges... plus this gives your edges that one piece of leather look waaaay easier than trying to stitch close to the edge and risk running off and junking up your artwork. good luck to you and practice practice practice.

[Sixer]

I too have just received my class 4, what a machine. but yes alot to learn on the do's and don'ts I am having a buddy of mine come show me the ropes on leather sewing machines, to comment on your question about stitching so close to the edge. a good way to cheat while your learning is to leave your pattern large, sew your edge then cut off excess next to stitching ( BUT not too close, that's holding your piece together ) , bevel, burnish, and finish your edges... plus this gives your edges that one piece of leather look waaaay easier than trying to stitch close to the edge and risk running off and junking up your artwork. good luck to you and practice practice practice.

All great advice guys! Anyone interested in doing a little video tutorial on sewing holsters!?

Seriously, I'll pay you