Making Holes For Saddle Stitching Your Leather

[MorningStarL]

Mum taught us to do fancy embroidery when we were kids. I think it kept us out of her hair on weekends and summer holidays. First rule was always, "Don't bleed on the fabric!" So we learned some self-protection. Thanks, guys; I'll look at a stitching pony too.

[camano ridge]

Morningstar, I make kniofe sheaths to as well as holsters and other gun leather with welts. Like they said get a good sharp awl , however in additon to getting a good haft and awl blade get an extra just awl blade. If you are doing large sheaths or belts the arthritis will kick in even with a sharp awl. I have a awl blade chucked in a drill press. Don't turn the drill press on just simply lower and raise the chuck to punch your holes just like when you drill them except the awl is not turning. It will pierce thick leather with little effort on your part.

[MorningStarL]

That's exactly what I need to know; thank you. I'm wondering if I have to buy an awl handle. We're pretty handy here and make knives and other tools. I was thinking I'd buy one slim and two regular from Bob Johnson, and we could make our own handles and set them in permanently.

[camano ridge]

If you can make your own handles nothing wrong with that.

[TRHLeather]

When I started stitching, I bought an awl and stitching wheel from Tandy and assumed it was sharp enough. I quickly became frustrated and gave up and used my pricking iron to drive all my holes. Receintly, I have done a lot more reading and realized that even though i thought my awl was sharp, it was not even close to being sharp enough. I watched a really great video on youtube where Nigel Armitage shows you how to spend hours sharpening your awl. At first this seemed crazy to spend all that time doing it but it really is the trick to making awl work less painful and more productive.

If your awl seems like it is too sharp, it's probably not sharp enough.

[dikman]

Regarding the original question, I do neither - I run the work (very slowly) through a sewing machine, without thread. This gives me even hole spacing, straight lines, is quicker than manually marking/punching and makes it much easier to get the awl through.

Sticks, if you're referring to Metric 20 thread, I would think that would look like rope on a watch strap!

[dikman]

You might be right. Just when I thought I was beginning to understand thread sizes..........

[Todah]

Hi there,

I've been punching the holes with my awl before stitching.
I want to use my awl to make the holes as I stitch. Anyone knows how to improve
the technique and make it perfect like the craftsman at Hermes.

I tried using my awl to make hole as I stitch and it turns out not straight and unappealing. 
Any tips to for improvement? 

Thank you,