When to dye or oil

[Columbiar]

been watching a lot of YouTube videos on leather craft. Most finished with the dye or oil they are using after stitching. But, what if you want the white stitching to stick out visually? Will the waxed thread not pick up whatever you are finishing the leather with?

[kiwican]

Dye and let the thing dry. Then stitch. You will run the risk of picking up some dye on the thread as it gets pulled through the hole.  

[NVLeatherWorx]

Stitching/lacing should always be your last step in an assembly process as you don't want to get any of the coloring/conditioning/finishing liquids on the thread/lace.  You should always allow your leather to dry completely first (24 hours is a great start) then apply your conditioning agent, Pure Neatsfoot Oil is the best product for this (no compound oils/commercial conditioners) and then let cure/set for at least 8 hours (12 to 24 is better).  Once your conditioning has cured give the leather a good buff and then apply your coloring (spirit based products give the best results and are permanent, water-based products don't penetrate and create a huge range of issues for users and not really as eco-friendly as they may advertise) and make sure to follow the manufacturers instructions not those of some "internet guru" with a YouTube channel (they manufacturer made the product and tested it immensely so they pretty much know what works and what doesn't work) followed by a good drying time (8 hours minimum, 12 to 24 is better).  Buff off any excess color/pigment and then apply your top sealer (water-based products are common but are NOT water proof, they only provide some protection against UV but not much); beeswax/oil blends are a great practice and they are either readily available or can be made very easily, they also provide the finished leather with a true waterproofed finish as well as the features of protection and additional conditioning.  Once all of this is done you can stitch/lace until your heart is content without any real issue with impacting the color of your thread/lace, as long as you have buffed off all of the excess pigmentation/color, and make sure that your hands are clean when working with the thread/lace.

[chiefjason]

I dye first.  Then stitch.  After stitching I oil/wax then finish.  The only time I stitch first is with dark stitching when I have a reinforcement piece or something to stitch before forming the holster.  

If you plan ahead you can still dye that piece then stitch with light stitches but you have to be more careful.  It also depends on if I'm dyeing the inside of the holster I'm working on or not.  If I'm not dyeing it, it's one less step.  If I'm dyeing the inside I have to remember to pre dye the piece AND the inside of the piece where the stitches are going before I stitch.  

[JLSleather]

You can do this a bzillion ways.  I've dyed the leather, then finish, then stitch- didn't want the finish "pooling' in teh stitching.  And I've stitched, then dye and finish - wanted teh colors to all work together.  And I've dyed, then stitched, then finish -  when teh thread should contrast with the leather color.

I always oil AFTER dye, and always finish AFTER dye and oil.  Otherwise, don't matter. 

[Columbiar]

Thanks guys. What about with a holster, knife sheath, or anything that is going to require wet molding? I'm thinking dye, stitch, wet mold, and then oil and finish. Is that about right?