First attempt at sadle stitch !

[Robbi]

Jeez ! where do you get steel tipped fingers with a grip like a set of pliers ? fair play to you guys, my fingers are killing me !

 

[mountainm]

I use pliers, lubricating the needle helps too

 

[Dreadhead]

harhar nice job mate. youl have fingertips like bullets in no time!

 

[Robbi]

i even tried pulling the needle through with me teeth but gave that up as a bad job 'cos it hurt !

 

[Dreadhead]

pliers every time. always wish i had bionic hands when stitching

 

[crosslandkelly]

I know how you feel.

 

[WULF]

yeh small pliers really help when stitching

 

[Woodcutter2]

Neat stitching Robbi, a pair of pliers gently rounded over to push them through without marking the leather (veg tan only has to be looked at with a hint of fustration to be permanently marked) but grip the needle 15mm back from the point so if the hole is tight and you push off line you wont snap umteen needles and stick the blunt shaft in the heel of your hand!!! smarts a tad

Then pull it out the other side, dont forget to move the needle a bit higher up the thread after 4inches or so of stitching so it does not wear thin at the eye of the needle and snap just when you dont want it to, last time it was back stiching to finish off for me with naff all left to get the needle back on to!!!


Yer finger tips will end up harder than a Spanish guitar finger pickers tips in no time though

 

[Robbi]

Cheers Toby, here's the second attempt, slightly bigger stitches and pliers really makes a difference thanks guys

 

[HillBill]

I use a 5tpi stitch marker, i used a 7tpi to start with, bad idea.

Yep pliers all the way, but i dont need to use them very often. mainly for the last 3 where you come back on yourself.

 

[Robbi]

blimey Mark, you must has a grip like a vice mate or you make the holes bigger

 

[HillBill]

1.5mm drill bit mate

 

[Robbi]

Ah, that would do it i'm doing it all with an awl and it's chuffin hard work !!

 

[brancho]

Make the holes bigger with the awl (no need for a drill ) from both side too. I use needle grips and you can use a piece bike inner tube.

 

[Robbi]

inner tube........now theres a thought many thanks

 

[kawasemi]

Really nice work Robbi - I had a first go myself earlier this week on a slip sheath for a blade I put a handle on...and it is nowhere neat as yours...

...and yes I used pliers and need a lot more practise

kawasemi

 

[Angst]

same here m8 and on the 5tpi....but as i use artificial sinew its still tough going....robbi your fingers will get real strong trust me and youll get callouses...seriously my thumb and forefinger are sorta numb all the time...i hate!!!!!!!!!! pickin up and putin down the pliers a squillion times so i just grip the needle, but yeah it hurts after 200 stitches...and youll def need pliers when back-stitching the last few holes...

as mark said to me....''man up!''....lol!!! hey mark...shall we give him the violin smiley?!! hahaha!

a

ps....thats a nice neat job youve done there m8...not bad at all!

1.5mm drill bit mate

 

[HillBill]

Violin smiley........hmmm, hes bordering on one

same here m8 and on the 5tpi....but as i use artificial sinew its still tough going....robbi your fingers will get real strong trust me and youll get callouses...seriously my thumb and forefinger are sorta numb all the time...i hate!!!!!!!!!! pickin up and putin down the pliers a squillion times so i just grip the needle, but yeah it hurts after 200 stitches...and youll def need pliers when back-stitching the last few holes...

as mark said to me....''man up!''....lol!!! hey mark...shall we give him the violin smiley?!! hahaha!

a

ps....thats a nice neat job youve done there m8...not bad at all!

 

[leon-1]

Nice work on both attempts. You get used to stitching after a period of time, when I originally started stitching I always used pliers, however now I only tend to use pliers if I am working on things with a thickness in excess of 10mm. It is worth buying good quality Zinc Oxide tape for taping your fingers though if you intend on doing a lot of stitching.

 

[decorum]

Nice job on the stitching ~ have a look at continuous back stitching . What shape awl are you using? I'm guessing straight round, if it is then a straight diamond awl blade might make your life a bit easier ~ as will regular stropping .

Make the holes bigger with the awl (no need for a drill ) from both side too.

Same here . That and, if needed / suitable / if I have one, I'll use a thinner needle.