How to Hand Stitch Leather

00:26:23
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEsSbYBLxD4

Summary

TLDRIn this tutorial, Chuck Dorsett from Weaver Leathercraft guides viewers through the process of hand sewing leather using a saddle stitch. The video is tailored for beginners or those unfamiliar with hand sewing, highlighting the simplicity, speed, and low cost of this skill. Dorsett demonstrates how to use a basic hand sewing kit, emphasizing the effectiveness of the saddle stitch for strength and aesthetics over machine stitching. He shows how to use essential tools such as a groover, chisels, and a sewing pony to achieve precise and elegant results. The tutorial covers threading needles, sewing techniques, handling corners, and finishing stitches for projects like briefcases or knife sheaths. Dorsett also shares practical tips for sewing efficiently, such as managing long threads and using a clip to stabilize lengthy leather pieces. By illustrating clear step-by-step methods, he aims to make leather hand sewing accessible and rewarding for craft enthusiasts.

Takeaways

  • 🧵 Hand sewing leather is accessible and affordable.
  • 📏 Use a groover to create guidelines for stitching.
  • 🧰 The saddle stitch is strong and often preferred over machine stitches.
  • 🪡 A sewing pony helps stabilize the leather for easier sewing.
  • 🔄 Handling corners correctly is key for neat stitch lines.
  • 🧹 Maintain cleanliness by hammering down stitches for a polished look.
  • 🖇️ Using a clip helps manage and stabilize long straps.
  • 👐 Switch fingers when pulling thread to avoid fatigue.
  • 👓 Pay close attention to details for professional-looking results.
  • 🕒 Time efficiency improves with practice and proper technique.

Timeline

  • 00:00:00 - 00:05:00

    In this introduction, Chuck introduces hand sewing techniques for leather crafting, emphasizing its simplicity, beauty, and affordability. He mentions the focus on beginners and using a saddle stitch as being stronger and more beautiful than machine stitches. He reassures that all needed is a minimal workspace, such as a kitchen table, to create high-quality projects like a briefcase with beautiful suede. The video promises practical and straightforward guidance in hand stitching leather items, making it accessible for everyone.

  • 00:05:00 - 00:10:00

    Chuck introduces a groove line as a pivotal technique to guide stitching, enhancing durability by reducing snag risks. He explains tools like the adjustable guide arm for creating clean edges and emphasizes consistency in stitching through methods like trimming the leather for a clean look. Chuck suggests approaches like gluing edges for better alignment, showing how to handle corners efficiently, and preparing the leather pieces before stitching, ensuring a clean, professional finish.

  • 00:10:00 - 00:15:00

    Detailed demonstration on using chisels to create precise, aligned stitch holes on leather. Chuck explains using different chisel sizes and techniques to maintain straight, clean stitching lines, particularly around corners. He advises on the careful use of chisels to avoid widening holes and stresses the importance of maintaining tool alignment for consistency. Chuck also explains how to handle corner stitching for maintaining stitch line quality, advocating for specific tools to achieve a professional look.

  • 00:15:00 - 00:20:00

    Chuck explains the benefits of a sewing pony for convenience and accuracy in leather crafting, along with the right selection of thread and needles. He provides a step-by-step guide for initiating the saddle stitch, noting the importance of tension and proper needle positioning. Techniques for preventing damage to hands during sewing are shared. Chuck highlights the significance of maintaining even stitch tension and how to seamlessly integrate multiple stitches, ensuring the final product is smooth and professional.

  • 00:20:00 - 00:26:23

    Finalization of the sewing process involves ensuring perfect stitch alignment and aesthetics by using various finishing techniques. Chuck discusses adding final touches by hammering the stitches to settle them into the leather and attain a polished look. He shares insights on dealing with long stitches and maintaining equipment like needles for efficient use. Chuck encourages viewers that with the right methods and tools, creating professionally stitched leather products is within everyone’s reach, inspiring confidence in leather crafting for all projects.

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Mind Map

Video Q&A

  • What is the primary focus of this video?

    The video focuses on teaching hand sewing leather using a saddle stitch, aimed at beginners.

  • What tools do you need for hand sewing leather?

    You need a hand sewing kit, a groover, chisels, a sewing pony, thread, and needles.

  • Why is the saddle stitch preferred for leathercraft?

    The saddle stitch is preferred because it's strong and durable, often stronger than machine stitches.

  • How can you ensure the stitch line doesn't snag?

    By using a groover to create a trench in the leather, allowing the stitch line to sink below the surface.

  • How can a sewing pony help in hand sewing?

    A sewing pony holds the leather securely, reducing hand fatigue and allowing precise stitching.

  • What is the benefit of hammering down the stitch line?

    Hammering the stitch line closes holes, sinks the thread below the leather surface, and improves stitch consistency.

  • Can you hand sew a large project with limited space?

    Yes, you can complete projects like briefcases on a kitchen or coffee table workspace.

  • How do you handle corners in hand sewing?

    Various techniques like using different chisels or making marked adjustments ensure neat corners.

  • How can you avoid fatiguing your hands while sewing?

    Use a sewing setup that allows for comfortable arm positioning and alternate fingers while pulling thread tight.

  • What are some tricks for sewing long straps?

    Use a clip and strap setup to secure and adjust the strap, keeping it in front of you while sewing.

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  • 00:00:00
    [Music]
  • 00:00:06
    hi I'm Chuck Dorsett for Weaver
  • 00:00:09
    leathercraft and we are going to learn
  • 00:00:10
    to hand so you're gonna be amazed at how
  • 00:00:12
    easy this is and how beautiful the
  • 00:00:14
    outcome is because that's all we're
  • 00:00:16
    looking for is an outcome now this video
  • 00:00:19
    a little bit more geared towards those
  • 00:00:21
    of us who are new to the crowd or those
  • 00:00:23
    of us who works in leather but haven't
  • 00:00:24
    stepped in hand-sewing
  • 00:00:26
    here's the best part it's quick it's
  • 00:00:28
    easy and it's affordable
  • 00:00:30
    alright right off the bat we've got a
  • 00:00:32
    hand sewing kit we're gonna work
  • 00:00:34
    straight from that no fluff exactly what
  • 00:00:37
    you need to start hand sewing secondly
  • 00:00:39
    we're gonna use a saddle er stitch it's
  • 00:00:41
    almost the only stitch I use it's
  • 00:00:43
    beautiful in my opinion stronger than a
  • 00:00:45
    machine stitch but here's the coolest
  • 00:00:47
    part a project like this not out of our
  • 00:00:50
    reach we can sell this if we have
  • 00:00:52
    nothing but a kitchen table or a coffee
  • 00:00:54
    table as a workspace we can make a
  • 00:00:56
    briefcase one more point there look at
  • 00:00:58
    that gorgeous suede that's one of our
  • 00:00:59
    beautiful slates now let's do this
  • 00:01:01
    saddle or stitch let's jump over to a
  • 00:01:04
    pick get an idea of what we're looking
  • 00:01:06
    at right off the bat look at that patent
  • 00:01:09
    leather purse every bit of that is
  • 00:01:11
    hand-sewn that's nothing but a weekend
  • 00:01:13
    project at best what would that sell for
  • 00:01:15
    the top end store journal cover holster
  • 00:01:18
    we've got videos on both of those and
  • 00:01:20
    the knife sheath it's a gorgeous clean
  • 00:01:23
    tight stitch again looks just like a
  • 00:01:25
    machine alright let's do this tedious
  • 00:01:28
    yes
  • 00:01:29
    sewing can be tedious but not really
  • 00:01:31
    let's jump over to a quick clip from
  • 00:01:33
    whether or not one of our other videos
  • 00:01:35
    let's see how fast we can hand sew all
  • 00:01:38
    right I'm gonna wait for my watch to get
  • 00:01:39
    around to ten seconds till and let's
  • 00:01:42
    start alright so with that look at that
  • 00:01:50
    two and a half inches in one minute not
  • 00:01:54
    as fast as the machine by any means but
  • 00:01:56
    two and a half inches in a minute that's
  • 00:01:58
    not bad and look at the ease and the
  • 00:02:01
    outcome they're clean tight stitch
  • 00:02:02
    alright anything I use in this video
  • 00:02:05
    weaver leather craft comm or look below
  • 00:02:08
    we've got links they're gonna take you
  • 00:02:09
    straight to the website so our first
  • 00:02:11
    step we're gonna add a groove line easy
  • 00:02:13
    to do easy tool to pick up so let's step
  • 00:02:16
    over to our pattern table drop in a
  • 00:02:18
    groove line
  • 00:02:20
    now the primary job of a groover is
  • 00:02:22
    simply to sink literally a trench along
  • 00:02:25
    the edge of our leather it's going to do
  • 00:02:27
    two things for us first off it's going
  • 00:02:29
    to give us a great guide for our chisel
  • 00:02:30
    but secondly that's going to allow our
  • 00:02:33
    stitch line to sink down into the
  • 00:02:34
    leather therefore that's going to reduce
  • 00:02:36
    the risk of it snagging or catching on
  • 00:02:38
    anything so a groove is simply this
  • 00:02:41
    we're going to take my guide arm these
  • 00:02:43
    are adjustable in fact let's take a
  • 00:02:44
    quick peek there this is adjustable so I
  • 00:02:47
    can move my groover my groove to get my
  • 00:02:49
    groove line in or out for my edge now
  • 00:02:52
    you'll notice here I've got this tape
  • 00:02:54
    marked with yellow because this is set
  • 00:02:56
    at 1/8 of an inch therefore I only use
  • 00:02:59
    this on my sewing therefore if I'm going
  • 00:03:01
    to marry two pieces together I chisel
  • 00:03:03
    separately we're gonna have a nice meet
  • 00:03:05
    on the edge okay so with this here's our
  • 00:03:08
    guide arm in our cutting head simply
  • 00:03:10
    going to but the cutting arm right
  • 00:03:12
    against the edge of the leather I'm
  • 00:03:13
    gonna bring my hand up about 45 degrees
  • 00:03:16
    and I'm going to give it a little
  • 00:03:17
    counterclockwise pressure there we go
  • 00:03:21
    easy enough alright so that makes a nice
  • 00:03:23
    clean parallel line to our edge now we
  • 00:03:26
    can make multiple passes on this but the
  • 00:03:29
    problem here is we need to be careful
  • 00:03:31
    because that's going to create a tab
  • 00:03:32
    that's going to tear off thus the
  • 00:03:35
    project no durability
  • 00:03:36
    now with this I said the primary job for
  • 00:03:39
    a groover is our edge but I love it on
  • 00:03:41
    every project notice here I've got a
  • 00:03:44
    groove line on every edge here I think
  • 00:03:46
    this is a dagger frog but doesn't that
  • 00:03:49
    fill that out really gives that edge of
  • 00:03:51
    finished look so that's one of the few
  • 00:03:52
    tools that I use for my edge work all
  • 00:03:55
    right so let's jump over we're gonna do
  • 00:03:57
    this two ways
  • 00:03:59
    now with this we're simply going to
  • 00:04:01
    marry two pieces together we're going to
  • 00:04:03
    groove separate chisel separate and sew
  • 00:04:06
    together
  • 00:04:06
    secondly though we've got a piece here
  • 00:04:09
    now this is a little different because
  • 00:04:11
    sometimes we have to go a different
  • 00:04:12
    route here this is going to make life
  • 00:04:14
    very easy what I've done is I've glued
  • 00:04:16
    my backing onto my face leather we'll
  • 00:04:19
    just consider this the face because it's
  • 00:04:22
    going to be very difficult if I've got a
  • 00:04:24
    round corner to cut two pieces flopped
  • 00:04:27
    that's gonna match so therefore laying
  • 00:04:30
    that in try to glue that in get those
  • 00:04:31
    two meets a big headache but what we can
  • 00:04:34
    do
  • 00:04:34
    is simply glue on our backing and trim
  • 00:04:37
    to our body and here's a perfect example
  • 00:04:39
    notice here I've got a face leather then
  • 00:04:42
    I've got a suede then on the back I've
  • 00:04:45
    got a backing so therefore that's gonna
  • 00:04:47
    be tough to line all that up no let's
  • 00:04:49
    make it easy on ourselves let's just
  • 00:04:52
    drop our backing in over cut and then
  • 00:04:55
    I'm simply going to use the face as my
  • 00:04:58
    straight edge and you'll be amazed at
  • 00:05:01
    how clean our edge is going to be there
  • 00:05:08
    we go
  • 00:05:09
    all right look at that clean and tight
  • 00:05:12
    in fact that looks like it was die-cut
  • 00:05:14
    okay so great trick there alright let's
  • 00:05:17
    jump over here we're going to drop in a
  • 00:05:19
    groove line we're simply going to sew
  • 00:05:21
    two sides so with my groove er eighth
  • 00:05:24
    inch I'm gonna run an edge there we go
  • 00:05:27
    maybe two passes there we are okay easy
  • 00:05:30
    enough now on this we're gonna deal with
  • 00:05:33
    a square corner over here we're going to
  • 00:05:35
    deal with a round corner so let's groove
  • 00:05:38
    this other side there we go okay now you
  • 00:05:43
    notice I'm running right off the edge
  • 00:05:45
    typically I'll bevel this slick it so
  • 00:05:48
    therefore that's not going to be a
  • 00:05:49
    matter but you can start right from our
  • 00:05:53
    corner alright let's jump over here now
  • 00:05:55
    a little bit different here because with
  • 00:05:57
    this we're going to sew from one side I
  • 00:06:00
    don't want to drop my groove line in on
  • 00:06:03
    the back because in a perfect world my
  • 00:06:06
    chisel can go straight through I don't
  • 00:06:08
    live in that world so what's going to
  • 00:06:09
    happen is on my backside my chisel will
  • 00:06:12
    probably be a little bit in or out for
  • 00:06:15
    my group it's gonna look terrible but if
  • 00:06:17
    we only have a stitch line here it's
  • 00:06:19
    gonna look fine just like it was sewn
  • 00:06:21
    okay so we've got our two pieces grooved
  • 00:06:24
    now let's jump over to our courts where
  • 00:06:27
    we're going to drop in our chisel line
  • 00:06:29
    now we're going to use a 1/8 inch time
  • 00:06:32
    1/8 inch flats my favorites what comes
  • 00:06:35
    in the kit because this is what we've
  • 00:06:36
    looked at thus far but let's don't write
  • 00:06:39
    off a diamond hole these are gorgeous
  • 00:06:41
    makes a nice a nice stitch line but also
  • 00:06:44
    too on a quality point notice as my
  • 00:06:47
    spread
  • 00:06:48
    get smaller so does my time that's a
  • 00:06:51
    Weaver tool it's a sign of a quality
  • 00:06:53
    tool all right let's start without round
  • 00:06:55
    corner now with this we're gonna start
  • 00:06:58
    with a six with a sixteen chisel eighth
  • 00:07:01
    inch spread basically that's five
  • 00:07:04
    stitches per inch now four stitches
  • 00:07:07
    really gets big six kind of starts to
  • 00:07:10
    Groupon me to me this is the best look
  • 00:07:13
    so let's start right here we're gonna
  • 00:07:15
    drop in our tines right in our groove
  • 00:07:18
    line there we go in fact I can actually
  • 00:07:20
    feel that sit down in that line I'm
  • 00:07:22
    gonna do my best to get that straight
  • 00:07:24
    up-and-down there we go look at that
  • 00:07:27
    clean and straight consistent from the
  • 00:07:28
    edge now when we take this out usually
  • 00:07:31
    putting tines through or chisel through
  • 00:07:33
    is not a problem it's getting it out
  • 00:07:34
    it's the problem I don't want to go left
  • 00:07:36
    and right this is a quality tool not
  • 00:07:38
    going to really worry about bending the
  • 00:07:40
    tines but what what will happen if
  • 00:07:42
    that's really gonna rain that whole open
  • 00:07:44
    I don't want that so I'm going to take
  • 00:07:46
    my finger put it right next to the
  • 00:07:48
    leather and the chisel and I'm simply
  • 00:07:50
    going to walk it out even up look how
  • 00:07:52
    clean and straight that is that already
  • 00:07:54
    looks good alright second I'm going to
  • 00:07:57
    take the first time and I'm gonna put it
  • 00:07:59
    in the last hole I can feel my chisel
  • 00:08:02
    sink down into the groove line there we
  • 00:08:04
    go and again I have times across but
  • 00:08:06
    look how clean it's straight that is
  • 00:08:08
    that's because we're keeping this tool
  • 00:08:10
    is straight up and down as we can
  • 00:08:11
    alright we're gonna go into a corner now
  • 00:08:13
    we're gonna back down to a fourteen I'm
  • 00:08:16
    going to get close to that corner first
  • 00:08:19
    time last hole let's pull that out all
  • 00:08:22
    right let's jump down to a two time
  • 00:08:24
    because what I'm going to do is I'm
  • 00:08:26
    going to put the first tine in my last
  • 00:08:27
    hole and I'm simply going to mark that
  • 00:08:30
    I'm going to do the same as I move
  • 00:08:31
    around my corner now I could this corner
  • 00:08:35
    is open enough to where I could put two
  • 00:08:37
    holes in but let's use this as an
  • 00:08:40
    example then we're gonna come out of our
  • 00:08:42
    turn right there okay let's take our
  • 00:08:45
    single time because now as I drive this
  • 00:08:48
    through each hole is a consistent
  • 00:08:51
    distance that's going to make our stitch
  • 00:08:53
    line look very clean and tight so I'm
  • 00:08:55
    gonna work my way around our corner
  • 00:08:59
    there we go
  • 00:09:00
    all right one
  • 00:09:02
    more now I've got two more there but
  • 00:09:03
    let's go one more because now I've got
  • 00:09:06
    my mark I'm in a straight away I can
  • 00:09:08
    jump back over to my sixth time there we
  • 00:09:12
    go looking good and one more now at this
  • 00:09:16
    point we're coming into a corner we can
  • 00:09:19
    start on a corner or in this situation
  • 00:09:22
    we can start in our corner and work out
  • 00:09:24
    the problem is is I don't want to get to
  • 00:09:27
    my corner and I have that much space to
  • 00:09:30
    put one tine in or that much space if
  • 00:09:33
    that tie is too close to that edge it's
  • 00:09:35
    not going to leave enough leather there
  • 00:09:37
    to remain solid so as I get close to
  • 00:09:40
    this corner what I want to do is eyeball
  • 00:09:43
    my stitch line right there good look at
  • 00:09:46
    that alright it's a little bit short so
  • 00:09:48
    what I can do is spread just a little
  • 00:09:52
    bit so let's make a mark white mark I
  • 00:09:55
    can see where those tines are I'm gonna
  • 00:09:57
    move my chisel out just a little bit now
  • 00:10:01
    over the course of three or four good
  • 00:10:02
    hits look at that that brings it right
  • 00:10:06
    to my corner very cool and I got plenty
  • 00:10:08
    of leather there
  • 00:10:09
    alright so easy enough on the round
  • 00:10:11
    corner let's jump over to our square
  • 00:10:14
    corner alright there's our groove we're
  • 00:10:16
    gonna but this right up that looks good
  • 00:10:19
    clean edge alright so let's take one
  • 00:10:21
    piece I'm going to work for my corner we
  • 00:10:24
    have to practice the same thing as we
  • 00:10:26
    come into a square corner if we can't
  • 00:10:28
    start there but what I really don't like
  • 00:10:31
    is to have one time either left or right
  • 00:10:34
    incoming or outgoing from that corner so
  • 00:10:36
    what I'm going to do is take a one
  • 00:10:39
    chisel a one time chisel and I'll drop
  • 00:10:42
    it right in that corner and I'm going to
  • 00:10:44
    back that right up to my groove lines
  • 00:10:46
    okay from there let's take our two tine
  • 00:10:50
    now what I'm going to do here is just
  • 00:10:52
    like this tine was straight I'm gonna
  • 00:10:56
    put the inside of the edge on the
  • 00:10:58
    outside of that time just like our
  • 00:11:00
    punching it let's just mark very lightly
  • 00:11:03
    all right let's do the same thing on the
  • 00:11:06
    other side there we go now coming out of
  • 00:11:08
    that corner we're consistent so I can
  • 00:11:10
    take my sex drop that right where I know
  • 00:11:13
    it needs to be
  • 00:11:15
    there we go we've got a consistent
  • 00:11:17
    distance going around our corner first
  • 00:11:19
    time last hole and again coming into our
  • 00:11:23
    corner I'm just going to leave it right
  • 00:11:24
    there we do have room for one more time
  • 00:11:27
    same thing on this side I'm gonna work
  • 00:11:29
    my way out from that corner there we go
  • 00:11:33
    all right first time last hole now I'm
  • 00:11:36
    going to do the same thing over here
  • 00:11:38
    punch it exactly the same but when I
  • 00:11:41
    punch this I'm just gonna lay this piece
  • 00:11:43
    closed so that I can make sure my holes
  • 00:11:46
    are consistent they're not going to get
  • 00:11:48
    off first time last hole it's going to
  • 00:11:49
    help but sometimes over a long distance
  • 00:11:52
    we can get a little variation but again
  • 00:11:55
    we've got almost an eighth of an inch
  • 00:11:56
    hole there so if my holes aren't
  • 00:11:58
    perfectly centered we're still okay and
  • 00:12:07
    one more six let's drop that in there we
  • 00:12:12
    go now I told you to do this and I
  • 00:12:14
    didn't do this but let's look at that
  • 00:12:16
    anyway look at those holes because I use
  • 00:12:18
    first time last hole those are spot on
  • 00:12:22
    so when we marry these together sewing
  • 00:12:25
    it's going to be a breeze now two more
  • 00:12:27
    quick points on our corner that to me
  • 00:12:30
    gives us a good square corner we can
  • 00:12:31
    always use a round hole the problem is
  • 00:12:34
    is when we do that look how big that
  • 00:12:37
    hole is compared to one of our chisel
  • 00:12:39
    chisel holes it's gonna stand out like a
  • 00:12:41
    sore thumb we can use an awl right down
  • 00:12:44
    in that corner but to me
  • 00:12:45
    angling that one tine just makes the
  • 00:12:48
    whole thing look very clean very
  • 00:12:50
    finished alright our chisel holes are in
  • 00:12:53
    let's jump over do some hand sewing now
  • 00:12:58
    a couple of tools to talk about before
  • 00:12:59
    we sew this is a sewing Pony and this is
  • 00:13:02
    an immense help as opposed to a sewing
  • 00:13:04
    horse we actually sit on that form and
  • 00:13:06
    function piece of equipment and an
  • 00:13:09
    amazingly beautiful piece of furniture
  • 00:13:10
    well made for us crafters little bit
  • 00:13:13
    easier now I've got this clamped to my
  • 00:13:15
    table the point right here is that we
  • 00:13:17
    sit on this so therefore that clamp
  • 00:13:19
    right in front of us very stable but for
  • 00:13:22
    me the great part about this is I can
  • 00:13:25
    clamp this in all manner of
  • 00:13:27
    configuration on my table I can even
  • 00:13:29
    limpets sideways perfect example your
  • 00:13:31
    your favorite chair your most
  • 00:13:33
    comfortable chair is low to the ground
  • 00:13:34
    so I can take this clamp this to my
  • 00:13:36
    table sideways puts that clamp right in
  • 00:13:39
    front of me the point there is we don't
  • 00:13:41
    want to fatigue our arms we want our
  • 00:13:42
    arms to have ample room and to be in
  • 00:13:45
    more of a natural position
  • 00:13:46
    all right makes sense now with that I
  • 00:13:49
    tend to put some leather right here on
  • 00:13:50
    the clamps so that that doesn't ding or
  • 00:13:52
    more my project all right clamp easy
  • 00:13:55
    enough opens and closes okay next step
  • 00:13:58
    Ritz a tiger thread and I love this
  • 00:14:00
    thread now you're going to get three
  • 00:14:02
    basic colors in the kit but we also have
  • 00:14:04
    a beautiful brown red and blue with
  • 00:14:07
    thought with those not make a gorgeous
  • 00:14:09
    detail on a project okay braided thread
  • 00:14:13
    one of my favorites very strong lastly
  • 00:14:15
    sewing needles these are the John James
  • 00:14:18
    and I absolutely love these extremely
  • 00:14:21
    strong large eye so we can get that big
  • 00:14:24
    wax thread through there but no sharp
  • 00:14:26
    point it's not needed we're pre punching
  • 00:14:28
    our holes and that will actually work
  • 00:14:30
    against us
  • 00:14:31
    alright so needles thread Pony
  • 00:14:34
    let's do some sewing let's start right
  • 00:14:37
    here easy enough we're gonna work with
  • 00:14:38
    our round corner so I'm going to clamp
  • 00:14:40
    this down in my pony and this too we can
  • 00:14:43
    push this out for a wider project
  • 00:14:45
    alright with our threat we're gonna
  • 00:14:47
    start sewing here very shortly then
  • 00:14:49
    we're going to talk about some tricks
  • 00:14:50
    but with our thread I'm gonna work
  • 00:14:52
    I'm gonna cut four times my link now
  • 00:14:55
    with me I'd go a lot more what I don't
  • 00:14:57
    want to do is get all the way down to my
  • 00:14:59
    end and have two little nubs here that
  • 00:15:01
    I'm gonna try to tie a knot with thread
  • 00:15:03
    is relatively inexpensive it's a couple
  • 00:15:05
    of pennies per three yards I think and I
  • 00:15:08
    don't know if I've ever finished a spool
  • 00:15:09
    alright and we're gonna use some white
  • 00:15:11
    thread now it's not gonna really stand
  • 00:15:13
    out as our stitch line but it's gonna be
  • 00:15:15
    a lot easier to see all right so we're
  • 00:15:18
    gonna choke up on our threat because
  • 00:15:20
    this is that look tough to explain but
  • 00:15:23
    what I want to do with this no problem
  • 00:15:25
    I'm gonna pull my thread out this far
  • 00:15:27
    each time the problem is say we're
  • 00:15:29
    sewing a pair of chaps and I've got 40
  • 00:15:31
    inches of length there that's going to
  • 00:15:33
    be 12 feet of thread so what I can do is
  • 00:15:36
    simply choke up on my thread and then as
  • 00:15:39
    I go pay that out makes
  • 00:15:42
    much easier I'm simply doing this
  • 00:15:44
    between each hole okay let's get started
  • 00:15:46
    then we'll do some tricks and tips now
  • 00:15:48
    first off Sadler stitch this is just a
  • 00:15:51
    back and forth stitch super easy easy
  • 00:15:54
    you remember how to get started because
  • 00:15:56
    I'm gonna take one needle and push it
  • 00:15:58
    through the first hole now you'll notice
  • 00:16:01
    I've got this to my left side this is
  • 00:16:04
    the face or the side that we punched
  • 00:16:06
    from now I'm right-handed I would
  • 00:16:08
    typically typically put this on my right
  • 00:16:10
    but my point there is that my holes on
  • 00:16:12
    this side they're actually funnel shaped
  • 00:16:15
    the hole on this side is actually
  • 00:16:16
    puckered that was the bottom piece so if
  • 00:16:19
    I lead from my left or my prominent hand
  • 00:16:21
    that needles gonna fall right in that
  • 00:16:23
    hole
  • 00:16:24
    alright so let's pull that through and
  • 00:16:26
    equalize that length out easy enough now
  • 00:16:30
    our second hole watch that cool needle
  • 00:16:33
    falls right in so what I'll do is I'll
  • 00:16:35
    start from there and I'm going to take
  • 00:16:37
    my other needle there entry code get
  • 00:16:39
    that in there I can open up the hole
  • 00:16:41
    with this needle that second needle is
  • 00:16:43
    going to fall into it
  • 00:16:44
    so let's get about halfway through I'm
  • 00:16:46
    gonna pull down on the eye notice how
  • 00:16:48
    that makes an X okay I'm gonna take my
  • 00:16:51
    fingers and go from the eye to the tip
  • 00:16:53
    and pull that through there we go okay
  • 00:16:57
    looks good now with tension I'm gonna
  • 00:17:00
    pull that tight not super tight not as
  • 00:17:03
    tight as I can get but I can feel that
  • 00:17:05
    seat down in there all right let's do a
  • 00:17:07
    second hole first needle in open that up
  • 00:17:10
    there we go hard to find that back side
  • 00:17:13
    there we are okay I've got two stitches
  • 00:17:16
    very cool how easy could that be and it
  • 00:17:18
    looks great very strong but let's talk
  • 00:17:21
    about this now I don't want to sew down
  • 00:17:24
    and back say one needle all the way down
  • 00:17:26
    and back the biggest problem is that
  • 00:17:28
    I've run the risk of splitting a thread
  • 00:17:29
    every hole all the way back second
  • 00:17:32
    problem I'm gonna do this all the way
  • 00:17:34
    around then I'm going to come back doing
  • 00:17:36
    it opposite therefore my tension is not
  • 00:17:38
    going to be clean and easy and
  • 00:17:40
    consistent like it is now notice we're
  • 00:17:42
    pulling both sides looks good okay so
  • 00:17:45
    let's do this we're just going to sew
  • 00:17:47
    all the way around to this corner they
  • 00:17:49
    were gonna hide a knot down in there
  • 00:17:51
    that to me is my favorite closure but
  • 00:17:53
    we're also going to do another another
  • 00:17:55
    closure or two
  • 00:17:56
    all right so there we go now one more
  • 00:18:02
    thing in fact let's loosen that there we
  • 00:18:04
    go if you don't have a lot of strength
  • 00:18:07
    in your hands it's not going to be an
  • 00:18:08
    issue because what I can do is I can
  • 00:18:10
    always go with one needle pull that
  • 00:18:12
    through now I'm gonna pull that back
  • 00:18:14
    towards me therefore that opens that
  • 00:18:17
    hole right up I don't worry about
  • 00:18:19
    splitting a stitch and one more thing
  • 00:18:21
    you'll notice as I sew
  • 00:18:23
    I'm gonna use my pinky to tighten my
  • 00:18:26
    thread the problem here is that over a
  • 00:18:28
    distance I'm gonna burnish little lines
  • 00:18:30
    in my hands that's not great so what I
  • 00:18:32
    can do is I can tighten with my pinky
  • 00:18:34
    here tighten maybe the next hole with my
  • 00:18:37
    thumb the next one with my first finger
  • 00:18:38
    so therefore I'm not wearing out any
  • 00:18:41
    finger the thing is we might have some
  • 00:18:43
    distance to sew here so therefore I
  • 00:18:45
    don't want to tear out my heart my arms
  • 00:18:47
    or my hands or my fingers okay so we're
  • 00:18:50
    moving right along
  • 00:18:51
    I am simply gonna sew right down to this
  • 00:18:54
    corner all right coming down to our end
  • 00:18:59
    now with this I'm just gonna pop my glue
  • 00:19:01
    right there easy enough
  • 00:19:03
    the glue is just there long enough to
  • 00:19:05
    hold us to get our chisel in our thread
  • 00:19:07
    line in so with this I'm going to tie a
  • 00:19:09
    square knot so on our last hole I'm just
  • 00:19:11
    gonna come through my front ply pull
  • 00:19:14
    that through and same on the back pull
  • 00:19:16
    that through there we go
  • 00:19:18
    all right let's tighten that down now
  • 00:19:20
    with a square knot let's move this there
  • 00:19:23
    we go with a square knot
  • 00:19:25
    all I'm going to do is take my right go
  • 00:19:27
    over my left circle around and draw that
  • 00:19:30
    down in good and tight all right left
  • 00:19:32
    over right circle around draw that down
  • 00:19:35
    in good and tight there we go
  • 00:19:38
    very cool now we've got a little bit of
  • 00:19:40
    a bump there that's gonna be no issue
  • 00:19:42
    because we're gonna hammer our stitch
  • 00:19:44
    line down that's gonna make that look
  • 00:19:46
    very clean and consistent but also
  • 00:19:48
    that's gonna knock that knot down all
  • 00:19:49
    right
  • 00:19:50
    let's take our knife now with this I
  • 00:19:52
    never use this part of my blade so
  • 00:19:54
    therefore I'm going to drop this in now
  • 00:19:57
    I'm going to I'm not going to cut
  • 00:19:58
    through the thread I'm going to pull the
  • 00:20:00
    thread across my blade there we go nice
  • 00:20:03
    and easy flush all right we know what
  • 00:20:06
    let's see that took about maybe about 4
  • 00:20:09
    min
  • 00:20:10
    to sell wait inches that's not bad okay
  • 00:20:12
    let's set that aside we're gonna jump
  • 00:20:15
    over to our two separate pieces now what
  • 00:20:17
    I don't want to do is clamp that down in
  • 00:20:21
    my pony because now my pony is going to
  • 00:20:23
    tell me where my edges meet and not my
  • 00:20:25
    threat so let's do this let's but that
  • 00:20:28
    together let's take a clip there we go
  • 00:20:32
    and maybe just one more to get that good
  • 00:20:35
    and even once we get a couple of
  • 00:20:37
    stitches in here it's not going to be an
  • 00:20:39
    issue then the thread tells us where our
  • 00:20:41
    edges meet so let's drop that in now
  • 00:20:44
    with this a little bit different because
  • 00:20:46
    we've got a chisel coming in from both
  • 00:20:47
    sides so we're gonna have two puckers on
  • 00:20:50
    the inside but that's not really an
  • 00:20:52
    issue so let's start with one side or
  • 00:20:54
    the other and come through one needle
  • 00:20:56
    first hole easy enough and let's
  • 00:20:58
    equalize that out alright there we go
  • 00:21:03
    now from this what I'm going to do is
  • 00:21:04
    I'm going to come in from both sides
  • 00:21:06
    kind of open that hole up there we go
  • 00:21:09
    make our X and we've got a good stitch
  • 00:21:12
    draw that down same thing from here on
  • 00:21:15
    out we're going to get all the way down
  • 00:21:16
    to our end just like we did with our
  • 00:21:18
    round corner all right coming down to
  • 00:21:25
    our last hole
  • 00:21:26
    now we're gonna back stitch this is
  • 00:21:28
    exactly what a sewing machine will do
  • 00:21:30
    but it's a little bit tougher when we're
  • 00:21:33
    hand sewing because we're gonna have to
  • 00:21:35
    squeeze through two pieces of thread in
  • 00:21:38
    every hole this is okay actually it's a
  • 00:21:41
    great closure but I say it's okay
  • 00:21:43
    because to me I love that consistent
  • 00:21:46
    stitch line look then when we get down
  • 00:21:48
    here and we actually do a back stitch
  • 00:21:50
    now we've got two two threads in each
  • 00:21:55
    hole so it kind of blows that
  • 00:21:57
    consistency but nonetheless it still
  • 00:22:00
    it's going to be a good closure but
  • 00:22:02
    again a little bit tough to get those
  • 00:22:04
    needles through there because that hole
  • 00:22:07
    has already got a lot of thread in it so
  • 00:22:10
    let's see get that one in there there we
  • 00:22:12
    go alright push that through now we can
  • 00:22:14
    weaken back so three or four stitches
  • 00:22:17
    but you can see it's kind of tough to do
  • 00:22:19
    it we can we can back so three or four
  • 00:22:23
    stitches I
  • 00:22:24
    leave it right there so with my knife
  • 00:22:26
    let me grab my knife I left it on my
  • 00:22:28
    other table with my knife I'm going to
  • 00:22:31
    take this and again I'm going to use
  • 00:22:33
    this part of my my blade pull my thread
  • 00:22:36
    back across that there we go that looks
  • 00:22:39
    pretty good
  • 00:22:40
    alright so the hands sewing portion
  • 00:22:43
    easily done and looks very good fact
  • 00:22:46
    look at our meat on that how clean is
  • 00:22:48
    that edge alright we're going to jump
  • 00:22:51
    over hammer down our stitch line but
  • 00:22:53
    before we do that there's two cool
  • 00:22:55
    tricks that are going to help us out now
  • 00:22:58
    because sewing a long strap say a belt
  • 00:23:01
    or in this case a briefcase strap in
  • 00:23:03
    fact this is the shorter of the two this
  • 00:23:05
    can be a real problem because what I'm
  • 00:23:07
    gonna have to do is put into my Pony or
  • 00:23:09
    my horse and I'm gonna have to sew a
  • 00:23:11
    little bit scoot it so scoot it this is
  • 00:23:13
    going to be bending around flapping
  • 00:23:15
    around it's going to be in my way it's
  • 00:23:17
    kind of kind of frustrating so what I
  • 00:23:19
    can do is I've simply got a piece of
  • 00:23:21
    suede strap to a rafter with a clip on
  • 00:23:24
    it now I can put that clip on the end of
  • 00:23:28
    my strap and that's going to keep that
  • 00:23:30
    right in front of me so therefore I can
  • 00:23:33
    sew with my hands at a very comfortable
  • 00:23:35
    position but as I move along since this
  • 00:23:38
    is suede and exactly what saddle seats
  • 00:23:40
    are made of it's going to grip so
  • 00:23:42
    therefore I can raise that as I go and
  • 00:23:45
    move my belt or my strap up so it's
  • 00:23:48
    always right in front of me makes it
  • 00:23:50
    very easy on your hands and again we
  • 00:23:52
    could sew a long distance because we're
  • 00:23:53
    not tiring out our arms now one more
  • 00:23:56
    trick last one I promise then we're
  • 00:23:58
    going to hammer down our stitch line
  • 00:24:00
    with the with the needles you'll notice
  • 00:24:02
    as you use them you'll start to get wax
  • 00:24:04
    building up in the eye and it can be
  • 00:24:07
    hard to get that thread through so all I
  • 00:24:09
    have to do is take my two needles and a
  • 00:24:11
    lighter just run a little heat over
  • 00:24:13
    those rub that off with a cloth brand
  • 00:24:16
    new ready to go wax thread it's gonna
  • 00:24:19
    slip right through it
  • 00:24:20
    alright let's step over to our courts
  • 00:24:22
    hammer down our stitch line now when we
  • 00:24:26
    hammer down our stitch line it's going
  • 00:24:27
    to do two things right off the bat first
  • 00:24:29
    off it's going to close down our holes
  • 00:24:31
    so we see thread and not hole but
  • 00:24:34
    secondly it's going to sink that thread
  • 00:24:36
    line below the top grain but
  • 00:24:38
    cuz we've got a groove in there now we
  • 00:24:39
    used the white thread simply easier to
  • 00:24:42
    see when we're learning to hand sew but
  • 00:24:44
    I've got a sample here with our brown
  • 00:24:46
    thread so we can see it a little bit
  • 00:24:47
    better but right off the bat notice I
  • 00:24:49
    went straight into my corner and
  • 00:24:51
    straight out look at that that makes a
  • 00:24:53
    terrible jump as opposed to ours looks
  • 00:24:57
    very clean and square okay so good point
  • 00:24:59
    there but with this I can certainly use
  • 00:25:01
    a mallet I just don't want my mallet at
  • 00:25:04
    such an angle that it's gonna leave
  • 00:25:06
    hammer marks inside on my leather so all
  • 00:25:09
    I'm going to do with a tack hammer
  • 00:25:11
    hammer that line down alright
  • 00:25:16
    now I'm hoping the camera can pick this
  • 00:25:18
    up but notice the difference between our
  • 00:25:21
    stitch let's hammer down and the stitch
  • 00:25:23
    that is not looks so much cleaner so
  • 00:25:26
    much more consistent and again when I
  • 00:25:28
    run my hand across that I cannot even
  • 00:25:30
    feel the threat alright so I'm going to
  • 00:25:33
    hammer down both pieces we're done and
  • 00:25:36
    there we go both pieces look fantastic
  • 00:25:41
    now we just did two corners kept it
  • 00:25:44
    simple
  • 00:25:44
    pick up the stitch but the big point
  • 00:25:46
    here no longer out of our reach now you
  • 00:25:50
    may not start with a briefcase you
  • 00:25:52
    absolutely can but there are all manner
  • 00:25:54
    of projects out there and in fact the
  • 00:25:56
    majority of leather projects now not out
  • 00:25:59
    of our reach and that's the point I hope
  • 00:26:01
    every stitch you put in is spot-on
  • 00:26:03
    perfect good luck with your projects
  • 00:26:07
    [Music]
Tags
  • hand sewing
  • leathercraft
  • saddle stitch
  • DIY
  • craft tutorial
  • sewing tools
  • Weaver Leathercraft
  • beginner sewing