How Do I Line Up Stitch Holes With My Diamond Stitch Chisel?

[Pablo27]

Hi all, just looking at Matt S.'s post and I am a little confused ( not unlike many other times) anyhow in the first paragraph he says not to make a stitch groove and the next paragraph he says to make one. What am i missing here?

[Matt S]

Sorry Pablo, perhaps I can explain myself a little better.

Stitch grooves are only necessary when you need to pull the stitches flush with the leather, where it would otherwise rub. Stitch grooves have the added effect of pulling all your stitches into a straight line. When using a pricking iron (as they are called over here) on ungrooved leather the stitches are proud of the surface, and look like a line of toppled dominoes. I like this look, but it's largely aesthetic preference. For instance on a knife sheath I would mark the top side of the leather with my pricking iron and groove the back side. This protects the stitching on the back side of the sheath from wearing in contact with my jeans but also means when I am stitching I can watch for the tip of the awl to make sure it is in line before stabbing all the way through. This helps to keep the backside of the stitching neat.

[Pablo27]

Thanks so much, really appreciate all of you.

[Stewart]

Thank you also. I haven't used my chisle yet and that bit of advice

will be used.

Joe