Hand Sewing leather

My goal is to present enough basic information, to teach the novice how to get started stitching leather, with two needles,

and length of the proper thread. Its been done this way for as long as man has been making things of leather, and it still

works, and is in many cases, much much more durable, than any machine lock stitch.

I try to approach things from the idea of " It is not what you have, it is what you do with what you have." Except for

perhaps the needles, and perhaps the stitching thread, all other tools needed are likely in your home already. I even

recommend re stitching an existing damaged sheath, or pouch, to get your feet wet so to speak.

That is what I have done here. This pouch, while quality leather, the belt loop had come loose from the back. The only

way to repair the loop, was to pull out all the existing stitching, and re-stitch the loop, and then re stitch the side. One can

often find sheaths that need repair. To re store one, is a great way to learn the basics of stitching, as well as giving

personal statisfaction.

I hope the pictures, along with the few paragraphs, will show enough to offer the confidence to try one of your own.

THREAD BASICS

You will not likely have the proper size, or type of thread laying around. On the other hand, you might. If you happen to

have a spool of standard three cord nylon, or polyester utility cord, used for tying packages, you are all set. Simply un ravel

one strand from a length about 5 or 6 feet, that is about the max length that can be used with much success of keeping it

untangled. Natural linen thread was used in the old days. Due to the fact few folks quilt, and make rugs, etc, its not found

very many places at present. Kite string, while perhaps looking like a good bet, is cotton, and not strong enough for this

use.

You local hardware store has many acceptable products if you just use your imagination. If you have a local boot maker, or show

repairman, maybe a box of donuts, could be traded for some of the cord he uses to repair shoes? This type of thread, is

sold normally, in 1 lb spools, and costs about 40 bucks a lb, so I am trying to show some substitutes. Do not be afraid to think out side the box, no one is having a test on your work at this time. Just do not get tunnel vision, thinking every item has to be exactly correct.

Never forget, "its not what you have, its what you do with what you have"

NEEDLE BASICS

You need two needles, and these are not typical sewing needles with a sharp point. Some might call them "darning"

needles, while a saddle maker is going to call them something else, they are pretty much the same thing, the "eye" might

be an egg shape from the saddle guy, and might be a long oval, in a darning type needle. If you happen to find someone

who knows the sizes, a 0, or 00, is the size that works good for general work, 000, is the largest, while 1, 2, etc, getsmaller.

Makes sense? Me neither.

THREADING THE NEEDLES

Traditionally, beeswax is used to "lube" the thread. It is also used to apply to the ends, to allow them to be scrapped to

somewhat of a point, to thread through the needle eye. Take one end, lay it on a cutting board, take a dull knife, and

scrape the ends a few times to reduce the size of the thread a bit. Then, rub the end through the beeswax, several times,

and this will force the ends together, to form somewhat of a point, to allow threading of the needle.

Candle wax, orparaffin, is a good substitute, if you cant find beeswax. rub what ever you use, the whole length of the thread, till it feels

slick, or you can tell, the wax has been worked into the body of the thread. Waxing, is a very important step, if you want

success, with the thread lasting long enough to complete the job

Prepping the the thread for the needle

With using beeswax, or parrafin, rub the length of the thread between wax and forefinger. Really rub it well into the thread. Finally, polish and remove the excess by stripping it through some scrap cloth, which still leaves the thread totally "waxed"

In example A, it shows bare thread. B shows the end scrapped and thinned using a dull edge of a knife, you want to remove the excess material. C shows the end and thread waxed and tapered as per above description.

In the picture too the right, the thread has been passed through the eye, and the NEEDLE then passed through the body of the thread, then forming the loop shown. Use plenty of wax on this portion to assist in securing the needle in place while sewing.

Generally a thread length of a couple of feet is long enough to do most small projects.

AWL BASICS