Leather Needle

[tx50cal]

Hey guys, I need help. I watched a video on youtube of a guy making a knife sheath. The needle he used appeared to have a "hook"on it. He would work the needle through the leather and then he would hook the thread over the tip and bring the thread back through to form a loop. He then pulled the loose end of the other end of thread through the loop and then pull every thing up tight. My question is where do I find one of these needles? Do I have to file a notch in one myself or can I purchase it this way. Thanks for the help.

 

[BrownBear]

It sounds like the way a handi-stitcher works, but that has a lengthwise groove in the needle and the eye at the tip, meanwhile with a spool in the handle feeding up through the groove and eye. I'm not aware of a hooked needle that works as you describe, and I'd be a little concerned that the hook would hang as you retracted the needle. I'm ready to be educated though.

I gotta say that the stitch you describe is really fragile. Break the thread in any spot and the whole works starts to unravel. I greatly prefer the saddle stitch done with 2 needles. My pick for that are harness needles, but you'll read that some folks use glovers needles. I always manage to cut threads with the glovers.

 

[DanC]

I agree with the bear, sounds like a hard way to make an unservicable stitch. The saddlers stitch is much more dureable as well as easier to make an even stitch. The needle you describe doesn't sound like any leatherworking needle I know of. Maybe a specialty needle for something else that he adapted to leatherwork.

Dan

 

[ladysmithtrading]

Sounds like more work than is needed to me!!!, use the saddle stitch!

 

[tx50cal]

OK. I will look up the saddle stitch process and see how it's done. Thanks for the help.

 

[BrownBear]

Here ya go.

 

[tx50cal]

Thanks. Gonna be busy now.

 

[LaBonte]

Here ya go.

That's a tutorial I wrote so if you have any questions ask here or PM me for additional advice. It's a variation on the traditional harness/saddle makers method which I "developed" due to an injury but I have taught it to many others who have no injuries and most have found it works for them in some ways better than the absolute traditional manner..........