How do I perfect straight holes while I use my awl to make the holes as I stitch

[gmace99]

You should use a pricking iron to mark the stitches. This does not go all the way through the leather.

I have several videos on hand stitching and will add more when I get time.  I have resisted doing the video where you stick your two needles through and twist over the back.  Lots of people have done this already.  Most don't show you the important tip to get your stitches at the correct angle.  This is the way you hold your hands.

I have a play list with several tips on hand stitching on you tube. If you look at my video titled hand stitching leather tip you will see the marks I made using the pricking iron.

In this video I had already punched all the holes using my awl.  I would normally use the awl as I go along but it was easier to explain the way you hold your hands with my holes already done. I would imagine on my other videos there will be some showing the marks and me using my awl.  I don't watch my on videos so can't say what one will help the most. 

This link might not show you my playlist.  If it only shows you one video look on youtube for uksaddlery  I have 50 videos on there.

 

I hope this helps

 

 

[Boriqua]

I also prepunch but not all my holes. I am quite capable of using 2 needles and awl in hand but find I just get a little nicer result if I poke about 7 holes set my awl down, stitch, punch 7 holes stitch and so on. Might take a little more time but I definitely think the finished product just looks a touch nicer and hell ... I'm not in a rush .. my goal is to try and make as nice looking a product as I can. If speed were my primary concern I would buy a machine.

Doing it this way I can focus on making sure my angles are as consistent and the awl is held as straight as I can make it. My primary awls are Siewa which are straight sided so I don't run into the problem Bikermutt mentioned but I do from time to time use a tapered awl and then you do have to focus on consistent depth as well.

[bikermutt07]

2 hours ago, Boriqua said:

I also prepunch but not all my holes. I am quite capable of using 2 needles and awl in hand but find I just get a little nicer result if I poke about 7 holes set my awl down, stitch, punch 7 holes stitch and so on. Might take a little more time but I definitely think the finished product just looks a touch nicer and hell ... I'm not in a rush .. my goal is to try and make as nice looking a product as I can. If speed were my primary concern I would buy a machine.

Doing it this way I can focus on making sure my angles are as consistent and the awl is held as straight as I can make it. My primary awls are Siewa which are straight sided so I don't run into the problem Bikermutt mentioned but I do from time to time use a tapered awl and then you do have to focus on consistent depth as well.

I had seen someone mention it. My craftool pro is tapered and the "tip" (HA!) seemed to help. The results I were getting was one stitch deep into the leather and the next just kind of sat where it was supposed to. It was causing me fits because my elbow is precisely calibrated.

Now they lay down pretty even. I use the stitching chisel but have backed off punching all the way through. Like you mentioned I use the awl for 5 or 6 holes. Then concentrate on the stitch itself, and repeat.

[bikermutt07]

 

 

 

How do you make a signature? I couldn't find an option on my profile.

Edited October 11, 2016 by bikermutt07

[bikermutt07]

5 hours ago, TinkerTailor said:

You should add this to your signature. It is perfect.

I think this comes from stitching unglued stuff. In traditional stitching you follow the awl back through the hole with the needle, keeping the hole alignment intact. If the layers shift after you take the awl out, it is a bear to get the needle back through. With modern glues, tapes and techniques, most of us glue then stitch so the layer shift is not a problem.

An old fabric type singer treadle machine, hand wheeled with an awl instead of the needle, no thread, and an edge guide makes a hell of a nice row of stitch holes in the tighter stitch lengths with up to 8 oz of leather.....you can even punch pieces separate and the holes line up when you put them together......

 

[Boriqua]

41 minutes ago, bikermutt07 said:

I had seen someone mention it. My craftool pro is tapered and the "tip" (HA!) seemed to help. The results I were getting was one stitch deep into the leather and the next just kind of sat where it was supposed to. It was causing me fits because my elbow is precisely calibrated.

Now they lay down pretty even. I use the stitching chisel but have backed off punching all the way through. Like you mentioned I use the awl for 5 or 6 holes. Then concentrate on the stitch itself, and repeat.

Worse yet is if you dont poke with Consistent depth with a tapered awl you are creating different sized holes. That results in a nasty stitch line with different length stitches. Its one of the reason I lean heavily on my Seiwa. Its one less thing I have to worry about. With straight sides I just poke and go. No matter how deep or shallow I always have the same size hole.

[TinkerTailor]

34 minutes ago, bikermutt07 said:

 

 

 

How do you make a signature? I couldn't find an option on my profile.

Its under account settings not profile settings.

[bikermutt07]

Thanks. And here it is.

And it's not showing?.....

[Northmount]

1 hour ago, bikermutt07 said:

Thanks. And here it is.

And it's not showing?.....

It shows on my end.

Tom

[bikermutt07]

Thanks for that. I guess it won't show it to me.