Sewing Vs Stitching--Which Do You Prefer And Why

[katsass]

Well, Tex and I are in about the same age bracket. I learned to hand stitch from a WWI 'horse soldier', and a tougher, more demanding teacher I have never experienced since. I figure that since I went through the verbal tirades and (one sided) discussions about my intelligence until I finally earned from him a "well, that's not too bad", that I might as well make use of the teaching. I find that I can watch the evening news on the tube and stitch things up at the same time -- and I enjoy it.

[macimago]

Thank you for the topic. I have been looking into getting a machine over hand stiching. I am concerned over the quality of the machine stich over hand. Also, how do consumers perceive the 2. I am concerned that if a consumer wants to pay for a hand made object would they balk over machine stiching.

Also, I also feel that hand stiching is very therapeutic.

[snubbyfan]

I hand stitch only because for me it is therapeutic. -- Tex

I thought that too until I did my first 50 something plus inch strap....

But seriously it is pretty relaxing.

Thank you for the topic. I have been looking into getting a machine over hand stiching. I am concerned over the quality of the machine stich over hand. Also, how do consumers perceive the 2. I am concerned that if a consumer wants to pay for a hand made object would they balk over machine stiching.

Also, I also feel that hand stiching is very therapeutic.

For me there's nothing else that takes my mind off of all of life's little troubles like leather work. It's the experience of creation that I enjoy and doin' the best that I can, just as much as the finished product. Doin' a long stitch line is actually relaxing and good physical therapy for my hands.

I recently finished this for a customer.

He paid for hand stitching, dying and finishing and that's what he got.

When I lost a bunch or weight and needed another belt.

In todays world of instant gratification, I find it gratifying to be able to sit down, relax and make my own leather products. It's also nice to make a few bucks while I'm at it.

[Redochre]

Hand stitching for me. Mainly because I want my products to be hand stitched.

[tboyce]

I was in a car accident about a decade ago. Went from 70 to 0 a tad too quickly. Gripping the steering wheel tightly while the air bag went off shattered both my wrists. I went into 18 hours of surgery being told I would likely wake up without either of my hands or my right leg.

During the years of physical training that followed, the two skills I honed were tying balloons and leather working. Hand sewing literally was therapy for me and while my arthritic hands curl up and cramp after about an hour of it, I am reminded of the story of Matisse who was so arthritic he could manage but a few brush strokes an hour. When asked why he put himself through such pain, Matisse replied, "the pain subsides. But the beauty remains "

[Colt W Knight]

I have messed up hands, and hand stitching a project like a guitar strap or padfolio would leave me sore for days or a week or so. A machine alleviated all that nonsense. I think my hand stitching looked better than my machine stitching, but, I willing to accept that.