Backstitches

[paco97]

I understand how to do saddle stitches, but when starting the saddle it says to do backstitches. How do I do a backstitch?

 

[Stumpkiller]

Go back just the way you came, using the same holes. Start 1" from the end of a seam, stitch to the end and then reverse direction and stitch the whole seam (backing over the last inch or so at the other end). The backstitch locks the underlying stitching in place so it won't unravel. Whenever you run out of thread start an inch or more back in the last stitches with the new thread for the same purpose.

 

[Norskie]

Yep, that's it exactly. In addition, your kit should have a round awl. One of its uses is backstitching. It's smooth and won't damage the stitches you've already laid down with your diamond awl.

 

[chipper]

Saddle stitching is a real bummer. Very hard on old hands. I've heard to do it correctly one needs to have needles in each hand and an awl in the right. Put the leather in a wooden leather vise. Punch with the awl, sew, sew, punch. Never letting the awl go. In modern days we have a fella in our club named Horse that does it with a drill press. He glues the pieces together, marks the holes with a tool that determines hole spacing and drills them. Then of course he does the stitching by hand. No sore hands and it looks great.

Regards
Wounded Knee

 

[paco97]

Okay, thanks guys that makes perfect sense. I'm almost finished with my first possibles bag. I'll post as soon as finished.

 

[Twisted_1in66]

Saddle stitching is a real bummer. Very hard on old hands. I've heard to do it correctly one needs to have needles in each hand and an awl in the right. Put the leather in a wooden leather vise. Punch with the awl, sew, sew, punch. Never letting the awl go. In modern days we have a fella in our club named Horse that does it with a drill press. He glues the pieces together, marks the holes with a tool that determines hole spacing and drills them. Then of course he does the stitching by hand. No sore hands and it looks great.

Regards
Wounded Knee

I got the leather stitching kit from Tandy and it included a stitching wheel. I used the stitching wheel to mark where you should punch your holes in the leather. I used that and then took my awl to the leather to punch through the pre-marked holes. Makes for consistent holes and stitching. Using a drill press instead of an awl would save a lot of wear and tear on the hands. If you make the holes big enough, the stitching will be the easy part. If you make them too small, you'll bend the heck out of your stitching needles...been there...done that.

Hope this helps!

----------------------------------------
Twisted_1in66 :thumbsup:

 

[Norskie]

Saddle stitching is hard on the hands? Oh pooh! You just build up some callouses, like you would with any manual labor. I been doing it for 15 years now. I don't use glue because the original stitchers didn't.
Next you'll tell me pounding nails and sawing wood is hard.