How Do I Stitch Thinner Leather?

[thefanninator]

I stitch the way Valerie Micheal teaches in her book. Left needle in first, pull the thread forward and down & the 2nd (right) needle goes behind (far side) of the 1st needle.

[YinTx]

From my distant perspective, I would guess you most likely have an issue with thread size versus hole size. I fought exactly what you are showing here for many months in the past. I kept buying different stitching irons, different awls, different threads, different leathers. Then one day I sat down and stitched up a bunch of stuff with different irons and different thread sizes side by side. You can see the result here:

http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=64153&hl=yintx

Hope this helps. It was a Eureka moment for me, and I almost feel like I am sharing a deep secret that I shouldn't lol. But I didn't get to learn to stitch on my own, I learned from everyone here at this site, so hopefully this helps someone else out as well.

YinTx

[DR80]

From my distant perspective, I would guess you most likely have an issue with thread size versus hole size. I fought exactly what you are showing here for many months in the past. I kept buying different stitching irons, different awls, different threads, different leathers. Then one day I sat down and stitched up a bunch of stuff with different irons and different thread sizes side by side. You can see the result here:

http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=64153&hl=yintx

Hope this helps. It was a Eureka moment for me, and I almost feel like I am sharing a deep secret that I shouldn't lol. But I didn't get to learn to stitch on my own, I learned from everyone here at this site, so hopefully this helps someone else out as well.

YinTx

Thank you. And i think it is like you are saying. The thread is to big to make a nice slant when the leather becomes thin enough. It is simply not enough room for the threads to cross each other without overlap.

Maybe i can share some secret in the future when i have more experience

[lilwaysleather]

I cast the stitch and don't cast the stitch depending on the leather and if the back is visible.

If the leather is too thin casting the thread will make the front look straight and there isn't much you can do about it in my experience. Its a bit complicated because some thinner leathers will still slant both sides if the temper is very firm. You just have to experiment with the different types

Basically anything over 6oz in total thickness slants on both sides. 3-6 depends on the leather, and below 3 rarely slants on both sides.

[DR80]

I cast the stitch and don't cast the stitch depending on the leather and if the back is visible.

If the leather is too thin casting the thread will make the front look straight and there isn't much you can do about it in my experience. Its a bit complicated because some thinner leathers will still slant both sides if the temper is very firm. You just have to experiment with the different types

Basically anything over 6oz in total thickness slants on both sides. 3-6 depends on the leather, and below 3 rarely slants on both sides.

As you know there is a big problem with the strip on the backparts on wallets (like my latest) i don't like to stitch wallets from outside either. I'm practice with my awl instead of punching the chisels through. Then i'm going to buy some european pricking irons. Even if it doesn't improve the results, i think i will like to work with them.