Back stitching and overstitching Question

[Russ498]

I have only been working with weather since May of this year but have really jumped in with both feet. I just bought a cobra class for from Leather Machine Company. I can't say enough good things about the machine, Leather Machine Company or Cobra Steve.

 

 I've been making mostly holsters ,  knife sheaths and book covers.   I have been starting with three back stitches and over stitch three stitches at the end as well as back stitching another three stitches. Is it necessary to do that or is this overkill. There is a tremendous amount of thread at that juncture.    I've changed up a little bit and now backstitch three stitches the perimeter and end at the last stitch where I back stitch three stitches. This isn't quite as bad but it doesn't always look continuous. If I simply stitch forward and then over stitch three stitches, will that lock everything in?   Thanks for your help.

[JLSleather]

I back stitch - I DO think the lock-in is better.  Some "over" stitch.  To do both likely is a bit much.. probably drawing attention to the thread more than the leather.

[RusticLeatherShop]

I discussed that "bad looking" backstitch here as well:

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What happens really while backstitching? How the machine "locks" the thread?

I dont know for sure but I assume by backstitching the designer of that System was hoping the needle will hit into the other thread and "lock" it by intertwine the 2 stitches there as such as None can back out without the other giving them strength.

I had till now just once unravel an single layer of thread (2 backstitches) but yeah it happened. Otherwise None other thread ever unraveled to me during my limited sewing history.

With #277 and an #25 needle for sure the backstitching Looks messy and is just an Overall bad look and bad appearance.

What did I do? I switched to an finer thread and finer needle.

I went with #138 bonded Nylon thread and #23 Needle. These give an very clean thread Picture when backstitched 3 times.

I recommend you to Switch over to #138 thread and the 23/160 (#23) Needle. That solves that backstich Problem.

[RusticLeatherShop]

Overstitching does IMHO the very same as backstitching. IMHO both only try to hit and intertwine with the existing thread and "lock" it that way.

Otherwise I would not know the physics about the locking of the backstitch System.

[glamb]

All back stitch don't look like that! When back stitching make sure your needle goes to bottom died center then raises about 1/4" before reversing to lo k the stitch in. I use mainly 277 top and bottom, stitches look great!