How Hard Is It To Learn?

[LoyalNine]

I am considering getting a sewing machine. I am doing all my stitching by hand now and think in the next 6 months ill need a machine. Problem is this... I have never used a sewing machine let alone one to sew think pieces of leather and such... Question is this: How hard is it to learn? I am worried Ill spend the money and get completely frustrated with little to no knowlege on the matter. Likely will get a Cowboy 3500 or similar.

[Hi Im Joe]

I was in your situation not long ago. Long story short there is a learning curve but it is not steeper than anything else I've found in leatherwork. You can do it with time, patience, and pratice.

[Colt W Knight]

I recently got into using a sewing machine. There are some tricks and nuances, but it was pretty easy. Practice on lots of scrap of various thicknesses and you will get it figured out quickly.

[Tramps Leatherworking]

There are some great instructional videos on youtube, and like anything else, it takes practice... You will not regret buying a machine.

[Samalan]

A year or so is all it takes

[Red Cent]

If your are going to build stuff like holsters and belts, squeeze the pocketbook a little and get the 4500. You will have a second thought or two with the 9" arm length as compared to the 16". The Cowboy series is good stuff. And a lot of good stuff heard here about Cowboy Bob.

I bought a Cobra 4 (twin to the 4500) and with it, I got Cobra Steve. Great guy and great customer service.

The other thing to running one of these machines is to read, read, read.......................................and ask questions. Other forums are rather blunt about asking the same questions. RTFM and scour this site. But they won't give you grief about asking the same questions that I asked and those before me. Great site, great people, great information. And remember, carry it forward.

[JLSleather]

You learned to put messages on a forum from your computer. Stitching leather is easier than that.

[JREESER1]

I found so much helpful, vital information and encouragement on these forums that enabled me to decide to take the plunge and select a Cobra 4P from Cobra Steve, in April. You can not imagine the on again-off again roller coaster I rode up to the decision to commit. Buy the largest machine and you will save money and effort. Better to have more that enough machine and potential than too little and $1500-$1800 regrets.

I have had 2 huge struggles with stage 4 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma twice since 2009. An original onset of the insult to my immune system that allowed my resistance to fail and brought on by a bout of viral infections including shingles lead to the cancer taking a hold and starting the nearly impossible, deep trench that is cancer. I could not justify the commitment without knowing my lifespan and how long the Chemo, radiation therapies and finally a stem-cell transplant would take or more important let me stay here and be strong enough to even learn what I needed to know to use a 200 lb machine to do delicate stitching and quality, good looking products. Don't get me wrong I am still a very long way from where I want to be but I learn something every day that I can file into the process to make better pieces faster and easier.

I began with hand sewn bags, pouches and have graduated into holsters, belts and Harley accessories. I get tired easily and wear down quickly so I have to dole out my energy the smartest ways possible. And I must strike quickly, when I feel good enough to get going and run the feeling out until I begin making errors. Without the Cobra 4 and Steve's unyielding commitment to his customers I would have given up and quit or continued the time consuming efforts of hand sewing. I need to see progress or I loose the enthusiasm and I cannot loose this craft. Leatherwork and the people on this Forum have become very, very important in my life and a big reason to keep going. I enjoy and will do anything I am proud of and want to learn to do. I also know anyone that will commit to finding their own learning processes and practice, practice, practice can, with the hundred years of collected knowledge and wisdom found in this wonderful forum must and will aid us all on the journey of making all of the things we need to make for what ever reason. And be very proud and fulfilled. Might not be happening on the first stab but it must happen!

jr

[lws380]

If you could borrow a regular sewing machine for cloth/material it would give you some basic knowledge. I knew how to sew material from our old Kenmore from Sears. Leather certainly is different but many of the concepts are the same.

[LoyalNine]

Everyone -- Thnaks for the replies and pm's I received. I am going to sign up for a beginners sewing class so I can hang out with a bunch of old ladys and make paisley quilt pieces and cloth Xmas ornaments... BUT I am sure (CERTAIN) that they will have a thing or two to teach me about using a sewing machine. Like anything else a bit of basic knowlege is sure to go a long way. This I bet will make my purchase and startup a but less taxing.

Cowboy... Cobra... who knows. I will get the bigger one (4500?) as that seems to be a recurring theme of advice. Ill do this class first and at least then I can do some basic sewing at home. Then I can join my moms quilting club, and eat their cookies, and get fat, and start selling my quilts at the fair...

Ill keep you posted. Thnaks Again.

-Joe

[Itch]

You learned to put messages on a forum from your computer. Stitching leather is easier than that.

Just do it ...

[silverwingit]

To answer your question, LoyalNine, I had only a smattering of experience sewing cloth in high school, where I was much more likely to be found in leather shop than sewing class.

I bought a Cobra Class 4 two years ago and haven't looked back. Like Joe says, there is a learning curve but for me sewing leather is actually easier than sewing cloth. For me manipulating leather workpiece is easier than dealing with cloth flopping all over the place.

But, do go ahead with your sewing lessons and I would even advise getting a simple cloth machine of your own. You'll be wanting to sew cloth liners or such sooner or later.

I'm amazed each time I sew a project on my Cobra. It is such a time and pain saver for me. I love hand stitching but it is very hard on my arthritic hands and back. When stitching even a belt on the machine, it'll be over before you know it.

Good luck and please tell us what you decide.

Michelle

Edited December 7, 2014 by silverwingit

[johnv474]

I was recently given access to some very nice sewing machines that had not been used in a while. I have since gone back to hand sewing. If I was in larger production, with many repeated pieces, then I would go back to machines for some things. Here was the problem I faced: you can spend three hours tinkering and adjusting a machine to get it to work, and end up with no stitching done. With machines your time is spent setting it up, and adjusting. When all is well, then all is well indeed... but when it is not, nothing gets done,

[Tramps Leatherworking]

Once you learn the nuances of your machine, setup isn't that time consuming... Hand sewing is great, but it can sometimes be a "pain" to us older folks...