How is this for a start?

[canonitr]

Need comments on what can be improved, with regard to the stitching ...

[ScoobyNewbie]

I think it looks really good.

[canonitr]

k . maybe i need to give a bit of details before the opinions will be forthcoming.. 

the upper piece is saddle stitched by my soon to be 10 year old boy (his 4th try at stitching)  , and the lower piece was done by my 7.5 year old girl (her 3rd try at stitching) .

i find my boy's stitching has been rather consistent over the last 4 times, whereas my girl was okay on the first day, she decided to speed up stitching on the 2nd day, which resulted in uneven stitching, and after telling her to slow down and be consistent, this is the output of her 3rd day...

funny thing is, their stitching seems far better then mine.. i showed my son how to saddle stitch, and he in turn, taught his sister..

was trying to teach my kids about consistency, perseverance and patience ...

both of them didn't have the ability to cut the leather cleanly, so i decided to just let them sew it.. if their stitching is considered ok, i might cut out some simple items for them to sew and let them call it their own.. right now, they are having 7 weeks of school holidays, and I hope the smaller Wuta ponies i order, come in time for them to use it

[immiketoo]

That stitching is better than a LOT of stuff I see on the web.  You now have shop workers!

[fredk]

I see nowt much wrong with either piece. As your dottir has learnt, slowing down can lead to better sewing, but at 7 1/2 who wants to slow down?

[canonitr]

@fredk  i would have thought that it would be my boy rushing .. he does that with rollerblading and cycling .. zooming all over the place..

@immiketoo that's what someone else told me ... i'll be running a sweat shop with child labour .. no pay .. just food and shelter and lots of parental love..

@ScoobyNewbie thanks! it seems their stitching is better than mine ..  2 months vs 3/4 days .. 

[fredk]

The apprentice is only as good as the master teaches      [old proverb or somat]

[canonitr]

9 minutes ago, fredk said:

The apprentice is only as good as the master teaches      [old proverb or somat]

eh? problem is i still cant get my stitching tension consistent...  while i showed my son how to stitch, i guess the real master is Nigel.. I watched and re-watch his video until i figured how he did it .. 

but like what i told my son, it's easier to learn it when it is demonstrated live, rather than a video..... think both my kids took less than 10 mins to get the rhythm of the sewing done ... other than punching the holes or threading the needle, they start the sewing themselves.. (i've yet to show them how to end the stitch by overstitching or back stitching, as i have varied results, plus it can be quite tight with more then 2 threads in the hole, which they might not have the strength to pull thru)

i need to watch how to end the stitch .. if i am not wrong Ian Atkinson has a video on that part.. 

[blue duck]

By all means let them make something. Card wallets are an idea. Not much leather and they can have something to give mom, or grandparents or teachers, or neighbors, or....  A gift that actually means something. The pride in their work will last forever. Something you can do with your children for many years to come. 

Ending the stitch line is just back stitching a couple of holes. Follow the same thread line top/bottom, end at the back side, clip close, if needed touch end with lighter.

[Rockoboy]

Absolutely nothing wrong with either stitchline, that I can see. Both appear even, not over-tight or loose. I would be happy with that quality of stitching on my project.