Finishing a row of stitching

[CitizenKate]

Give this a try . . . it's the way I was taught by an old-time saddler.

Go back two stitches, as previously suggested, but on the last stitch wrap the loop thread once around the needle before pulling it tight (see pic). This effectively ties a knot inside the hole, and it will never come loose. Trim the ends flush in the usual way.

That's clever! Thanks for showing us that.

Kate

[tashabear]

Give this a try . . . it's the way I was taught by an old-time saddler.

Go back two stitches, as previously suggested, but on the last stitch wrap the loop thread once around the needle before pulling it tight (see pic). This effectively ties a knot inside the hole, and it will never come loose. Trim the ends flush in the usual way.

Oh, that's kind of awesome! Thanks for sharing!

[celticleather]

Here's another way of dealing with your loose ends!

After you've tied off the two back-stitches with an internal knot (see my earlier post), drive a fine awl at an angle from the last stitch - where you tied the knot - through to the edge of the piece. Do this from both sides. Pull the threads through and cut off flush to the edge. Add a dab of dye to the point where the threads have been cut off. When boned and polished, the thread ends will disappear without trace!

If you have used nylon thread (heaven forfend!!) you may need to use a Sharpie to colour the thread ends, because the dye may not colour the thread.

[Gonnate]

Here's another way of dealing with your loose ends!

After you've tied off the two back-stitches with an internal knot (see my earlier post), drive a fine awl at an angle from the last stitch - where you tied the knot - through to the edge of the piece. Do this from both sides. Pull the threads through and cut off flush to the edge. Add a dab of dye to the point where the threads have been cut off. When boned and polished, the thread ends will disappear without trace!

If you have used nylon thread (heaven forfend!!) you may need to use a Sharpie to colour the thread ends, because the dye may not colour the thread.

Now that's SERIOUSLY cunning!

But nylon thread??? Heaven forfend indeed. I am mostly self-taught, but I came into it partly through the history re-enacting business, so you're safe there. No Nylon Shall Pass!

What I really regret is that I never met my mother's father - he died long before I ever came to be - who was a Master Shoemaker in the days of all hand-making. There I could have learned a few things!

Thanks again for the advice,

Richard.

[jbird]

I use the go back to holes method but after its finished I have super glue in a bottle with a brush its easy to control brush it over the ends both sides works like a charm.

Josh

[hivemind]

I use the go back to holes method but after its finished I have super glue in a bottle with a brush its easy to control brush it over the ends both sides works like a charm.

Josh

I do that as well. I also have a little bottle of accelerator - it's a spray-on liquid that almost instantly cures cyanocryalate (super) glue. Muy handy...

Edited April 12, 2009 by hivemind

[hidepounder]

Like Bruce, I use a fine tip soldering iron. I pull the thread back against the last stitch and actually melt the tag end into that last stitch.

[DeeAnna]

"...But nylon thread??? Heaven forfend indeed. ... No Nylon Shall Pass! ... my mother's father ... a Master Shoemaker in the days of all hand-making. There I could have learned a few things!..."

Like learning the art of stitching with hog bristles? If you eschew nylon and really wanna go for old-time authenticity, that's the direction to head.

--DeeAnna

[Mongo]

Gonnate,

My stuff is hand stiched holsters 8-9oz with a 6-7oz lining. I back stich 3 or 4 times, cut the thread off close, and then I take a needle, or the awl and poke any remaining thread down into the last hole. I have holsters that are seeing heavy use in competition 3 weekends a month over four years and I have never had one come back with loose thread.

Some of you other gents had some good ideas that I may "borrow".

Edited May 25, 2009 by Mongo

[UKRay]

I hate to say this, but I learned to stitch with a bristle waxed to a linen thread... does that make me an old timer or just authentic?

"...But nylon thread??? Heaven forfend indeed. ... No Nylon Shall Pass! ... my mother's father ... a Master Shoemaker in the days of all hand-making. There I could have learned a few things!..."

Like learning the art of stitching with hog bristles? If you eschew nylon and really wanna go for old-time authenticity, that's the direction to head.

--DeeAnna