Sewing Machines

[tsunkasapa]

It mat just be me, but it seems that the majority of posts are Sewing Machine questions. I do not sew with a machine, and never WILL sew with a machine.

I signed up on this forum to learn, hear, about the CRAFT. I don't think this forum is worth my time.

[dikman]

4 hours ago, tsunkasapa said:

It mat just be me, but it seems that the majority of posts are Sewing Machine questions.

I'm not sure how you managed to reach that conclusion. Yes, there is a section about sewing machines, and that section has a quite a lot of posts, but that's inevitable because sewing machines cause people a lot of problems! There are, however, many other sections, covering all manner of subjects related to leatherwork - tools, finishes, dyes, carving, stamping, stitching, braiding, making various bags/belts/holsters/motorcycle stuff etc etc etc.

Exactly what are you looking for that you can't find on here?

[Handstitched]

I  enjoy  reading quite a lot of the posts on here, especially the ' Sewing Machines' thread, and more specifically the vintage machines, I find them fascinating.  Machines can be quite ' fickle' , or sometimes  a little daunting,   especially for a newbie, so we all do our best to help each other out.

I hope you stick around. I'm sure there must be something on here that you may find useful.   So many have learnt so much, and I've learnt so much myself  from this thread since I found it in 2008.

HS

[Matt S]

If you don't want to read about sewing machines, don't. There's plenty of information on these boards about hand sewing leather, which is why I started visiting many years ago, back when I was a hand sewing purist who wanted to move past the Al Stohlman level. Want to know how to hand sew a bridle at 14+SPI for a saddlery competition? It's in here. How English "black harnessmakers" (makers of working horse harness) mixed their coad to last a generation of hard daily use? It's in here. How to hand roll linen thread from thrum? It's in here. Silk thread for the finest Victorian and Edwardian styles of sidesaddle? It's in here. Non-toxic alternatives to white lead for whiting thread? Hafting and sharpening awls? Tunnel stitching with a hog's bristle? Single-needle backstitch vs. double-needle saddle stitch for turnbacks? Sewing harness tugs? Sewing over an inch of thickness? Hand sewing with arthritis? Making your own awls, prickers and stitch setters? How production/professional hand stitchers work? It's all in here, often from people who make or made their living from leather (and several generations of their family before them) or from accomplished historical researchers -- and all provided without an expectation of payment. I don't know of anywhere else in the world, online or offline, that this has occurred.

Sewing machines are a class of tool that we can use or not use as we choose in our craft -- just as electric kilns are a potter's tool, bandsaws are a woodworker's tool and power hammers are a blacksmith's tool. None of these detract from their craft if used appropriately, and all reduce the time taken to do certain tasks that don't have a better end result by doing them the slow way. If you enjoy the process of hand sewing or think that there is some material advantage to doing so, great. That's your choice. I'd love to hear why you don't think that machine sewn leathergoods are a craft.