Sewing next to a lump

[LePoisson]

Still very new to this forum and to leatherwork in general so please forgive my ignorance.

I have a sewing machine (Pfaff 545, walking foot) and I have some projects in mind for it, but I really have no clue what I'm doing. Most of the projects I work on involve either strapwork and hardware (BDSM stuff - so many rings and buckles) or wet-formed leather (folding knife sheaths). Can you sew these with a machine? Currently I just rivet everything together or hand-stitch but I'd like to play with contrasting threads, and I've been asked to make some machine-washable (webbing) items - the queue of small projects seems good as learning exercises on the machine. Everything I make involves sewing next to a ridge of some sort though... I can't see feeding it into the walking foot. Is there a way?

[TomE]

If you search the leather sewing machines forum for "inline presser foot" and "paddle foot." you'll see some options for sewing next to a raised piece.  I don't know the available options for your machine.  I use the inline presser foot for the Cowboy 4500 on my Cobra Class 4 machine.  It requires about 3/16" of edge allowance to operate.  If you have the option you can trim the edge after sewing.  In tighter spaces I sew by hand.

[Northmount]

@LePoisson This seems more of a machine question, so I have moved it to Leather Sewing Machines.

[RockyAussie]

The paddle foot @TomE mentioned can be seen in this thread on page 2.

 

[Wizcrafts]

The O.P. has a Pfaff 545, not a CB4500. The inline and paddle feet don't apply to him. Instead, he can look for a single right toe presser foot and a narrow inside foot that will get very close to hardware and raised shapes on the left.

[tsunkasapa]

41 minutes ago, Northmount said:

@LePoisson This seems more of a machine question, so I have moved it to Leather Sewing Machines.

Not totally true. MY lump sleeps in a bed under the stitching horse. And growls every time I hit the foot lock. 

Edited February 1, 2022 by tsunkasapa

[LePoisson]

4 hours ago, Wizcrafts said:

The O.P. has a Pfaff 545, not a CB4500. The inline and paddle feet don't apply to him. Instead, he can look for a single right toe presser foot and a narrow inside foot that will get very close to hardware and raised shapes on the left.

Perfect Wiz - I'll have to order one of those and see if it works for me!

[Northmount]

15 hours ago, tsunkasapa said:

Not totally true. MY lump sleeps in a bed under the stitching horse. And growls every time I hit the foot lock. 

LOL!

 

[LePoisson]

Taking my thread sideways here - sorry for the poor netiquette.

So... Rifling through the drawer and I may have found a "Single Toe" similar to what Wiz mentioned. Or at least a part of one. I think I will still order a new one just to be sure it's all there. 

There was also a Schmetz needle pack which I believe will work for the stuff I'm sewing - reading the needles and threads thread, I think I want Bonded Nylon #69-#92 thread. These needles are Nm:130, which I believe are a little big, but passable for practice projects at least. The code at teh bottom of the pack for tip type is SY 7225. I think we are supposed to DP. What is SY? 

There was also a little pill bottle filled with needles in 2 different lengths. Is there any way to identify what all these needles are (size/tip)? Is there anything to beware of with the different lengths if I try using them? Should I just assume that these are old, dull needles and toss them?

[Wizcrafts]

I used to have a Pfaff walking foot machine (1980s). I believe it took System 134-35 needles. These are slightly shorter than the System 135x16 used in Singer 111 and clone walking foot machines. System 135x16 needles are about 1 3/4 inches from stem to stern.