Hand stitching type? (not saddle for sure)

[Big Sioux Saddlery]

20 hours ago, JLSleather said:

This is a myth, and not even a particularly good one.  I have a copy of stohlman's sewing book around here somewhere, and all due respect to Mr. Stohlman,.. TRUTH is:

I have -- on more than one occasion -- made a mistake of some sort, and needed to remove the stitching put in by machine.  After cutting the top AND bottom threads, I can tell you that it does not "fall out" or "unravel".  Fact is, removing the thread -- though done by machine -- is a pain in the back, and requires that each stitch be "unlocked" .... not a 2-minute deal!

That, right there! 

 

15 hours ago, HENDREFORGAN said:

Hand stitcher's should never forget that the real work in machine stitching leather is to use the right machine, needle and thread BUT to make sure the machine is set up correctly.  If so then the passing point for the lock stitch is half-way through the hides being stitched.  Get the tension right and . . well . . @JLSleather said it all . . nuff said.

And that!

I'm going to, yet again, refer to equine equipment.  Cheap equipment sewn on a poorly set up machine will unravel in short order once a stitch is worn through, which will happen in fairly short order also, BECAUSE the machine was poorly set up and the leather not prepped properly.  Very rarely does a SINGLE stitch get cut through.  Normally what happens is several stitches wear through, and then hand stitching is going to come apart about as quickly as good machine stitching.  I've seen old harness tugs with the machine stitching (three rows) worn completely through from rubbing on either another part of the harness or the horse, and the three layers of leather have not yet started to separate because the wax and the thread that is still in the holes are still holding the layers together.