Prefered Sewing Methods?

[billymac814]

You'll get it. Do a couple belts, that'll give you some practice.

[Bryan M]

I read the pinned "How I make a belt" thread and there wasn't anything on stitching there. So, my next question would be, what weight leather would I use for that, considering I want to stitch it for practice?

Thanks

Bryan

[billymac814]

I think that thread covered a single layer belt which generally dont get stitched unless its just for decoration. Pretty much any weight will work, it just depends on how thick you want it. My concealed carry belts are roughly 1/4" thick so I normally use two layers of 8 oz or somewhere close to that. Some make them with one layer thicker than the other. You could also do 2 layers of 5 oz for a lighter weight belt.

[katsass]

My gumbelts are 12/13oz saddle skirting, lined with 2/3oz veg tanned. They take a bit of stitching. Mike

Edited January 25, 2013 by katsass

[Bryan M]

Oh good grief. I don't think I'm ready for anything like that. I'll make a normal belt I think. I have a few I can use as a pattern. But, I think I have the idea. Now I just need to convice the wife I need to spend the money on the couple of tools I need and the leather. I still need to get a groover and get/make a stitching pony. Or, failing that a couple of boards and a C clamp.

[Rayban]

I hand-stitched a belt once.

[Bryan M]

Lol Rayban, I understand your point. I won't be using a machine, I don't have one and I can't afford one anyway. This is just practice really. I figure after a few thousand stitches I may have a clue as to what I'm doing. Or not.

[billymac814]

Haha, I think that's all I ever hand stitched too, luckily it was for me and I'm skinny. I made sure I had a machine before I got any orders.

I hand-stitched a belt once.

[billymac814]

It is good practice so don't be discouraged. You'll be able to afford a sewing machine when you NEED one, that's pretty much how it works, assuming you take payments up front and charge enough anyway. Most of us have been where you are and worked our way up to a machine, others choose to handsew everything anyway, it just depends on what route you take. I actually said at one point that I'd never get a sewing machine and I planned to handsew everything. That thought didn't last long though and soon I had enough orders that I wouldn't have been able to finish them without a machine. Now I have about a dozen that serve different purposes. They have a habit of multiplying.

Lol Rayban, I understand your point. I won't be using a machine, I don't have one and I can't afford one anyway. This is just practice really. I figure after a few thousand stitches I may have a clue as to what I'm doing. Or not.

[Bryan M]

It is good practice so don't be discouraged. You'll be able to afford a sewing machine when you NEED one, that's pretty much how it works, assuming you take payments up front and charge enough anyway. Most of us have been where you are and worked our way up to a machine, others choose to handsew everything anyway, it just depends on what route you take. I actually said at one point that I'd never get a sewing machine and I planned to handsew everything. That thought didn't last long though and soon I had enough orders that I wouldn't have been able to finish them without a machine. Now I have about a dozen that serve different purposes. They have a habit of multiplying.

Well Billy, thats if you assume I'm ever going to do this as a business. I don't think at this time I will. I'll be making sheaths for the knives I plan to make. A knife sheath doesn't take near as many stitches as a belt. Or a saddle bag for a motorcycle. But other than that, I doubt I'll do it as a source of income. I just want to be good at it. And being good means doing it well. For that I need practice. My other hobbies are the same. I've studied, worked on, self trained, blacksmithing for several years. and am only now getting, what I would consider, decient. I don't make any money on that either. I do it for fun.