Stitch Groover!

[sbrownn]

I think too it depends on how the item will be used. Leather work stuff, like saddles for working cowboys, used recessed stitching in wear areas. Maybe like where your leg always rubs when you are riding. In a lot of those items the leather is heavy and the recessed stitch locations are not necessarily high stress locations.

[25b]

By contrast, I can't think of a valid reason to cut a stitch groove on things like Field Notes cases, for instance. So I just mark my stitch like everyone with my divider and have nice, neat, slanted, 10SPI stitches.

[club49]

I always had a problem putting a groove in my holsters, I thought that you had to do it or the stitches would wear. I messed up more than one holster by grooving, especially on the back side. I have to try one without using a groover.

[Art]

Glue and Stitch. Cut all the grooves you want in it, it ain't going anywhere. Assembly is also easier. Also you can hammer or slick your stitches down for a little extra protection. I used to groove for stitches when I started, but quickly changed over to pressing in a groove as opposed to cutting one in. When using a machine, keep in mind that it is easy to run out of a groove and it is obvious; if the groove isn't there, well it is creative license.

Art

[dikman]

As a result of this thread, I've made two holsters and a belt without grooving. I have mixed feelings about it. Personally, I think the grooved stitching looks a little neater, but there are problems when using this method on anything but nice simple lines. Freehand grooving (when stitching a pattern) is a pain to try and get it neat, it's very easy to mess it up, grooving the back of a holster can be problematic when trying to get the awl to come out in the rear groove and although I haven't tried machine stitching when grooved I had already deduced that it would be very easy to make a mistake!

I'm guessing that I may not be doing as much grooving as I first thought.