Need Help With Sewing Watch Straps

[deloid]

I'd like to add watch straps to our inventory, especially since I also do watch repair.

Despite all the sewing I've been doing I can't figure out how to use a sewing machine to sew sports type straps...especially with a central filler.

I can't find any youtube videos, books or tutorials. Help with this (visually especially) would be much appreciated.

Sample of type I would like to sew below:

Edited September 3, 2014 by deloid

[Northmount]

The way the thread is finished off around the outside edge of the strap, I would say the example you posted is hand sewen.

Tom

[deloid]

I know what you mean by that horizontal stitch and that stitch might be hand started/finished but I do know that these were machine sewn. Most, if not all of the Chinese inexpensive straps are machine sewn.

I can leave the bottom of the strap wide so that the pressor foot rides on that but the needle's walking foot is too wide.

[ANeat]

You should buy one and see if its actually machine sewn (lock stitched?) or saddle stitched. It looks hand sewn to me but who knows. They may have had some special narrow foot made up.

Actually seeing one in person may give some clues

[ramrod]

i just can't bring myself to machine sew a watch strap. i don't think that i could have the control over the sewing machine that i would need to make it look even half way decent. plus, they're not that big to begin with. it doesn't take much time.

[deloid]

Hand sewing is relaxing and fun and that would be my approach if I were making a strap for myself. When you have a lot of hand made leather goods and hundreds of straps to sell hand sewing is no longer a possibility.

[ramrod]

i see your point. yeah - the youtube videos i've seen are all hand sewing their watch straps. i'd like to see a production line for machine sewn just for my own info. all of the videos i've seen of hermes are all hand sewn.