How Hard Is It To Learn?

[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...