Larger Stiching Awl?

[catskin]

For doing repairs there are places you can NOT use a second needle, such as sewing inside a loop for a trace on harness and the lock stitch awl WILL go in from one side and let you replace stitches that let go by putting the thread through the loop it creates.  So YES it has its place but it does not replace a good sewing machine.

[electrathon]

9 minutes ago, catskin said:

For doing repairs there are places you can NOT use a second needle, such as sewing inside a loop for a trace on harness and the lock stitch awl WILL go in from one side and let you replace stitches that let go by putting the thread through the loop it creates.  So YES it has its place but it does not replace a good sewing machine.

For sewing into blind areas I can sew far faster and better with a jerk needle than an auto awl.  The main difference is if you use an auto awl you need to slip the thread through the loop inside the tight area.  With a jerk needle you make the loop out in the open.  A lot easier to control.

[catskin]

1 hour ago, electrathon said:

For sewing into blind areas I can sew far faster and better with a jerk needle than an auto awl.  The main difference is if you use an auto awl you need to slip the thread through the loop inside the tight area.  With a jerk needle you make the loop out in the open.  A lot easier to control.

I've never seen a jerk needle. So I use what works for me.

[carguy4471]

$0.02 for a rookie so take it with a large grain of salt.  

I use a groover to sink where my stitches will be.  Then I use an overstitching wheel to mark where my holes need to be.  Then I use a diamond awl from tandy (polished up on a stop) and punch the holes.  Lastly I use two saddlers needles (I think they are called) and saddle stitch with two needles.  My stitching looks great.  Evenly spaced and now that I've done almost a dozen holsters I'm pretty quick at it.  From what I've been told this is very sturdy stitching that will really last.  I could use almost any size thread.  

I did make one upgrade from the above, and that is putting a machine sewing needle in a drill press to punch (not drill) the holes instead of the diamond awl.  It's a little faster but it's much easier on the arm.

I didn't even bother buying one of those stitching awl things.  I don't like the lock stitch vs saddle stitch.  I'm going to stick with what I'm doing until $1700 drops from the sky to buy a cowboy machine.   

[Tugadude]

Carguy, they are called harness needles.