Best Way For Marking And Making Stitching Holes In Already Finished Leather

[stomper4x4]

Hey gang,

So for the most part I use veggie tan for my projects. For marking stitching holes I use a groover to mark my line, then a stitching wheel to space where my holes will go, then an awl to punch the holes. However I am wanting to tackle some new kinds of projects and I'm kind of stuck.

I want to make some belt pouches and bags for woodsman use, and I'm planning to use oil tanned or buffalo, or something similar along these lines http://www.waterhouseleather.com/full_grain_oiltan.htm

What I plan to do is to make the bag panels, stitch everything together inside out, then turn the back rightside out so the stitching is on the inside, does that make sense? What I want to know is what is the best way for marking my line, and my holes, for sewing this kind of pretreated leather? I can't see a groover being the best option, and marks from a stitching wheel probably won't show up well like it does on dampened veg tan.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!!

[bruce johnson]

_{I still groove. It gives you a target to keep the stitches in line. This is even more important in a turned seam than a regular seam. If one stitch is higher it will take more stress and also be pretty obvious. An overstitcher with strong points or a pricking wheel will mark stitches well enough to feel or see.}

[Dwight]

Bruce is very much on the money, . . . unless you have some serious vision problems, . . . the pricking wheel will mark the back of the leather plenty well enough to see it. I even use it on suede, . . . and have no problems seeing it, . . . with 68 year old eyes and no glasses.

You can also use a pair of calipers, . . . dragging one tip against the edge if you don't want to gouge the leather, . . . it will give you a defined line on the skin.

May God bless,

Dwight

[lightningad]

the other option is to use a scratch awl to mark the line, then Pricking Iron and mallet to mark the stitch holes along the line.

[stomper4x4]

Awesome thanks guys! So business as usual, I appreciate the answers as always!