Perfect stitches

[Marianne]

What machine would you recommend for the most consistently perfect stitches for leather or denim handbags? I've read a lot of posts, but I haven't seen anything that deals with consistently perfect stitches. My apologies if it's been posted and I missed it. Any advice you can offer would be greatly appreciated?

 

[Darren Brosowski]

Hi Marianne!

Did you join from the bagmaking page?

 

 

[Constabulary]

Not sure what experience you have with sewing machines but generally all sewing machines should have consistently perfect stitches when properly set up. But there are of course the factors of needle and thread for the right material. Thats usually up to the operator or the dealer when you give him order to set up your machine for a certain sewing operation. I can sew long meters of consistent stitches with all of my sewing machines. They would be useless if they can´t do the job. But I of course have to adjust top and bottom tension when sewing different materials and or different thickness and find right needle and thread combination.

When you buy a machine from a dealer it should be perfectly set up since you pay him for that! When you buy form a private seller always test the machines with your thread your needles and your materials - when ever possible. Make sure you have the manual with you when you buy an unknown machine from a private seller.

Edited December 27, 2016 by Constabulary

[Uwe]

"Consistently Perfect Stitches" are an elusive goal, especially if you're expecting perfection in all situations you may encounter while sewing a hand bag. Occasionally things come together (machine design, adjustments, operator skill, operator mood, material, thread, needles, etc.) and you really do get perfect stitches, but all bets are off if you change even one aspect.

If you're expecting one machine to master all sewing challenges involved in making handbags, you will be disappointed.

When you look at a luxury handbag with seemingly perfect stitching all around, chances are there were about twenty different machines, very skilled operators and a lot of manual labor involved.

Machines that may get you closer to the goal are likely cylinder arm machines designed with unison feed and full feed dog movement. Examples include Juki-LS1341 or Juki LS-2342 , Durkopp Adler 269 or 869, and a few other candidates, including aftermarket copies of those designs. 

Edited December 27, 2016 by Uwe
typo

[Yetibelle]

All the machines in the world still can't beat master craftsmanship. 

 

 

 

[cjartist]

1 hour ago, Yetibelle said:

All the machines in the world still can't beat master craftsmanship. 

Even those stitches are far from perfect. Nice looking bag though.

[Colt W Knight]

I'll say it, 

 

Consew 227

 

I have a Consew 206( the flat bed version) and when it's set correctly top and bottom stitches looking great on garment leather and heavy textiles. On vegtan, the back isn't as pretty. I believe you need a great big and expensive needle and awl machine for that. 

Edited December 28, 2016 by Colt W Knight

[Wizcrafts]

Very few machines can beat a Campbell Randall Lockstitch machine for top and bottom stitch appearance. The only other brands I know of that can match it are the Union Lockstitch (which I have owned), some Landis needle and awl harness stitchers and Tony Luberto's Classic (#9 clone)..