Stitch Grooving

[gazoo666]

So I haven't made to many items so far and seem to always have huge issues with freehand stictch grooving.

So basically I have a stitch line that curves. Is there some magic to making a groove to follow that line. I have a Tandy freehand groover ( basically a pencil with a groover at the bottom) and its almost impossible to see to follow the line. The second thing is once I have the groove what technique should I be using to groove the other side. I have tried drilling the stitch holes then try to groove after and it dosen't work. Well not for me.

The whole thing is making me crazy and ruining many chunks of leather.

Any tips ... please.

Randy

[JustKate]

Do you use anything to guide your groover?

[gazoo666]

No I just try to go slow.

[immiketoo]

Gazoo, there are two options here as we have all gone through this. Practice a lot or use a guide like a french curve or some other template. Its a pain for sure. Good luck!

[Dwight]

If you are stitching through the hair side and the back is the flesh side (almost all my holsters are like this) you reall don't have to stitch groove on the flesh side.

Simply dampen (NOT SOAK) the back side, . . . and roll over it with a wallpaper seam roller, . . . or the tip of a really wide tablespoon. You can also take a very flat faced hammer and pound the threads down into the leather.

On the hair side, . . . use 1/16 inch plexiglas, . . . make the template for the stitching you want to do, . . . then follow the template. It will take 10 minutes to cut and sand the edge where you want it, . . . but then you have it for any other project that needs that line.

May God bless,

Dwight

[gazoo666]

Thanks for the replies. I'm going to make a template and give that a try.

Randy