Saddle Stitch Tutorial, stitching with 2 needles

[Tiffers]

Ive put this together as it was the way I was taught to stitch by a guy who had something like 60 years of experience in the saddlery trade. I hope some of you find it interesting!

Lets set the scene, I am sat on a stool with my clams between my knees and my bit of leather set into them so that the prick marks are on the right hand side as you look at it. I'm mainly right handed so will go with that, just reverse it if you are left handed.

I hold the awl in my right hand and make sure that the diamond shape of the blade is angled away from me slightly.

I push the awl through the leather trying to ensure I dont twist it too much. The diamond shape of the awl should line up with the angle of the stitch as its marked.

I push the awl through the leather then as I bring it back out, I follow the blade through the leather with the first needle coming in from the left hand side.

As this comes through to the right hand side I place the needle I have in my right hand, behind the left hand needle to form a cross. I pull the left hand needle out so that about 2 thirds of the thread available to that needle come through the leather.

I then pivot my hand slightly to turn the cross so the needle on the back (the right hand needle) is ready and push the right hand needle into the hole.

As I push it through I use my left hand to pull some of the thread already in the hole back through. This prevents the needle from splitting the thread.

Just before the needle exits the left hand side of the leather, I pass the thread I have just pulled back through over the needle. This creates the knot inside the leather.

Pull both threads firmly but excert slightly more pressure on the thread that exits the right hand side of the leather.

As you are pulling both threads tight, pull your left hand somewhat upwards and your right hand somewhat downwards.

Hopefully this will give you a slanted stitch thats knotted inside the leather, this is fairly important as it means the thread swells slightly inside the leather, helping it keep together if the top of the stitch is worn off.

I hope the photos and comments are useful. I had to do the photos myself so they are a bit wobbly in places!

If any clarification is needed just yell!

Tiffers[/QUOTE]

[narsil]

Excellent thread ( pardon the pun )

[Colin KC]

Clap Pat - Clap Pat - Clap Pat - Clap Slap
Clap Pat! Clap your hand...
Pat it on your partner hand... right hand
Clap Pat! Clap your hand...
Cross it with your left arm
Pat your partner left palm
Clap Pat! Clap your hand...
Pat your partner right palm
Clap Slap! Clap your hand...
Slap your thigh and sing a little song

I could never manage this either

[Tiffers]

Does that mean its not making sense Colin??

Do I need to re-write it do you think?

Tiffers

[narsil]

it makes perfect sense to me

[Tiffers]

Thats alright then

I would love to hear from someone who has never done any stitching though to see if it makes sense to them!

Tiffers

[Knife-Man]

Probably makes sense if / when your doing it

In fact if you have the work in frount of you I suspect it makes perfect sense ....otherwise you really need a good imagination

Your nails need either growing or cutting as well

sorry I meant to say great tutorial I needed some help with leather stitching and this will help allot cheers!!

[Tiffers]

Hmm, every time I do a tutorial or post a piccie showing my hands, someone comments on my nails! I'm baffled about that!

Tiffers

[Knife-Man]

your the only woman I know who isnt absolutely meticulous about her nails!!

[Tiffers]

Errr, try doing saddlery 5 days a week for 9 hours a day then coming home and doing a similar amount of other leatherwork at the weekend

Manicures dont tend to last terribly long though I am an expert with the false nails and acrylic powder

Tiffers

[richard ball]

STICKY please

[john foxwell]

Excellent tutorial, made sense to me...

I've never used a pricking iron. Are they suitable for sheath work? Or are they only used for straight lines. (not many of those on a sheath.)

Cheers, John

[Knife-Man]

STICKY please

I will second that Unless of course tiffer's is to modest to do it herself which of couse she can now

[Taff Ogri]

Excellent Tiffers,
Thats cleared a lot of things up, so that my once patchy ideas are turned into more complete knowledge.

Thanx

Ogri the trog

[Colin KC]

Does that mean its not making sense Colin??

Do I need to re-write it do you think?

Tiffers

I was being facetious Tiffers, it's fine