Harness Needles & Irish Linen Thread

[Lippy]

Just a couple of hand stitching questions.

Is there any difference between harness needle brands. I think we're talking "John James" vs. "Osborne". I haven't seen any other brands on the "WWW". Do you have a favorite?

Now . . . do you have a favorite un-waxed linen thread brand? Is there a real difference between Barbour's (USA, red & black package) vs Barbour's Irish linen thread? Are there other Irish linen thread brands available in the U.S.?

Lastly, do you have a preference for thread size and needle size combinations. To start . . . I've found using a No. 4 John James needle with a six cord linen thread is a nice combination for general use. It's a six chord thread from Sheridan Leather Outfitters, but it looks slightly smaller than the Barbour's (USA) 18/5 cord.

When it comes to messin' with leather I'm a happy novice who's just trying to master hand stitching before moving on to more complex tasks.

Cheers and thank you for all for making this a great forum.

[Rawhide]

Just a couple of hand stitching questions.

Is there any difference between harness needle brands. I think we're talking "John James" vs. "Osborne". I haven't seen any other brands on the "WWW". Do you have a favorite?

Now . . . do you have a favorite un-waxed linen thread brand? Is there a real difference between Barbour's (USA, red & black package) vs Barbour's Irish linen thread? Are there other Irish linen thread brands available in the U.S.?

Lastly, do you have a preference for thread size and needle size combinations. To start . . . I've found using a No. 4 John James needle with a six cord linen thread is a nice combination for general use. It's a six chord thread from Sheridan Leather Outfitters, but it looks slightly smaller than the Barbour's (USA) 18/5 cord.

When it comes to messin' with leather I'm a happy novice who's just trying to master hand stitching before moving on to more complex tasks.

Cheers and thank you for all for making this a great forum.

Lippy,

I can't answer the needle question, but I use Barbour's 18/5 cord, left twist for general hand stitching. If I want sew something real delicate I'll probably use 3 cord. A saddle, maybe 8 cord. The needles I use are from Tandy. They are egg eye, size 000.

[esantoro]

I find that the tandy needlesare sturdier than the osbourne needles. I have not tried others.

ed

[RandyScott]

"Is there any difference between harness needle brands. I think we're talking "John James" vs. "Osborne". I haven't seen any other brands on the "WWW". Do you have a favorite?"

All I have ever seen (and my experience is limited) is offered by Tandy, C.S.Osborne and John James. The C.S.O. Catalog list various harness needle sizes and the Campbell – Bosworth website offered both C.S.O. and the John James in various sizes and they were in stock! The Tandy/TLF product may be the C.S.O. product re-packaged or private labeled for Tandy/TLF. My favorite turned out to be what was available in stock.

"Now . . . do you have a favorite un-waxed linen thread brand? Is there a real difference between Barbour's (USA, red & black package) vs Barbour's Irish linen thread? Are there other Irish linen thread brands available in the U.S.?"

I think the threads you referred to are one and the same. Campbell-Bosworth also offers a Hungarian brand that has received favorable comments. There may be other vendors/suppliers that offer an 'Irish linen thread' but I am not familiar with any (again, my experience is limited).

"Lastly, do you have a preference for thread size and needle size combinations."

I use 18/5 and a CSO #1 harness needle at 6 SPI for handsewing sheaths.

Edited December 10, 2008 by RandyScott

[esantoro]

I would say that Tandy's needles are not CSO repackaged.

"Is there any difference between harness needle brands. I think we're talking "John James" vs. "Osborne". I haven't seen any other brands on the "WWW". Do you have a favorite?"

All I have ever seen (and my experience is limited) is offered by Tandy, C.S.Osborne and John James. The C.S.O. Catalog list various harness needle sizes and the Campbell – Bosworth website offered both C.S.O. and the John James in various sizes and they were in stock! The Tandy/TLF product may be the C.S.O. product re-packaged or private labeled for Tandy/TLF. My favorite turned out to be what was available in stock.

"Now . . . do you have a favorite un-waxed linen thread brand? Is there a real difference between Barbour's (USA, red & black package) vs Barbour's Irish linen thread? Are there other Irish linen thread brands available in the U.S.?"

I think the threads you referred to are one and the same. Campbell-Bosworth also offers a Hungarian brand that has received favorable comments. There may be other vendors/suppliers that offer an 'Irish linen thread' but I am not familiar with any (again, my experience is limited).

"Lastly, do you have a preference for thread size and needle size combinations."

I use 18/5 and a CSO #1 harness needle at 6 SPI for handsewing sheaths.

[Lippy]

The "Barbour Flax" shoe thread states on it's red box that it is made in the U.S.A. The Irish Barbour thread label says it comes from Lisburn, N. Ireland. Some of these threads are $40+ dollars each for a one pound spool. Some have got to be better than others. I'm just trying to do some research before spending buckets of money on thread.

Nothing against TLF stores, but they don't carry No. 4 harness needles and their un-waxed thread selection is limited.

[Hilly]

The "Barbour Flax" shoe thread states on it's red box that it is made in the U.S.A. The Irish Barbour thread label says it comes from Lisburn, N. Ireland. Some of these threads are $40+ dollars each for a one pound spool. Some have got to be better than others. I'm just trying to do some research before spending buckets of money on thread.

Nothing against TLF stores, but they don't carry No. 4 harness needles and their un-waxed thread selection is limited.

I paid $46 + shipping for my spool if Barbour's. Definately NOT cheap, but a pound will last a l-o-o-o-o-ng time.

I also buy prewaxed linen thread on smaller spools from Royalwood Ltd. online. You can get many different weights, in many colors, but I stuck with white, natural, walnut and black.