Stitches Ripping Leather

[silverwingit]

Andy, no one asked about your leather. It looks OK in the picture but really dried out leather can be the root of the problem.

Another issue I see is your stitching technique. Properly done, saddle stitching should have a zig-zag appearance. This helps distribute the stresses along the stitch line. Your stitches lack this zig-zagging and are all in a straight line. This puts all the stresses on the seam right along that line where it tore.

My bet is that if you learn proper saddle stitching your tearing problem will disappear. You can start with Nige's superb instructional video:

Good luck and please tell us what you decide and how you fare.

Michelle

[electrathon]

Think of it this way, you can cut through cheese with a wire. You can cut through leather with thread. You were pulling too tight.

Also, the only issue using a different punch/chisel will creat is a different stitch pattern. A different angle on the punch will not magically cut leather where the punch did not cut.

[unicornleather]

Andy, no one asked about your leather. It looks OK in the picture but really dried out leather can be the root of the problem.

Another issue I see is your stitching technique. Properly done, saddle stitching should have a zig-zag appearance. This helps distribute the stresses along the stitch line. Your stitches lack this zig-zagging and are all in a straight line. This puts all the stresses on the seam right along that line where it tore.

My bet is that if you learn proper saddle stitching your tearing problem will disappear. You can start with Nige's superb instructional video:

Good luck and please tell us what you decide and how you fare.

Michelle

THIS^^

Get a pricking iron, it's the right tool for the job for hand stitching, don't pull up so tight when stitching and your leather is too dry and fibrous, try using a bridle butt instead of shoulder, it's more expensive but the fibres are a closer grain and you won't get such a fluffy fibrous leather.

Oz