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Manly Things, er, um...sewing machines

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El Destructo:
                           oh....don't be scared...ya goota let your Femine Side show once and a while.......... :o

medicinewheel:
You know, I'm quite a big guy and I don't shave on a regular basis...
Stepped into this tiny downtown knitting shop the other day to find myself some nice wool to make an arrow cleaner from. Got the old lady who runs the store into a little chat about natural wool... She seemed to be thinking she was on hidden camera or something!  ;D ;D ;D

JackCrafty:
Good topic.  My mother was a seamstress so I know how to use a sewing machine.

You can't get around the fact that you get what you pay for.  A good machine that sews leather isn't going to be cheap....just ask a shoe maker.

A sewing machine speeds things up A LOT but you will lose the primitive look.  I've tried the machines and they are really nice, but you can get pretty good at hand sewing if you learn how to sew with the fewest stitches possible.  It's easy to get carried a way and spend all day sewing a few simple seams with very tight stiching.

My advice is to try to learn from someone who does a lot of hand stitching.  They will tell you that nothing beats the hand stitched look.  The only drawback is the funny looks you will get from people (especially kids) when they catch you sewing.   ;)

Wolf Watcher:
In the old days, I had a computer type Pfaff and I sewed all my own welding shirts and hats (the Kromer style) and camo hunting shirts because there were none on the market.  I have a 3/4 horse Pfaff that I use to sew chaps and chinks, panniers, and a full length Aussie style rain coat for my in the saddle days. Made all my Prudhoe travel bags with it. The little pfaff had a mother board break down and like all things they don't make parts for them.  A new one costs around two grand!  The only thing I sew on my wife's machine are bow socks!  All my other projects are hand sewn like canteens, scabbards, hunting clothes, plains quivers, tooled projects are often laced!  My game warden friend has all the big machines for building saddles and when I need something like a mule britchen I have him sew it on one of them.  Sew (so) my OPINION is that its OK to use a machine on your non primitive projects.  Joe

Pat B:
When I had my leather shop back in the mid 70's(yes, the 1970's  ;D ) we had a Singer treadle shoe tacker and a Pfaff motor driven, walking foot sewing machine that were great for production work. If I could afford another Pfaff I would surely get one but most of my serious stitch work would still be by hand.
 ...and like Patrick(jackcrafty) said different hand sewing methods can be used for different projects, depending on the intended use of the item sewn. A simple running or whip stitch(in one hole and out the other) is sufficient for what most of us are needing. For a stronger seam a saddle(or harness) stitch has double the strength and durability. With a saddle stitch you use one long thread with a needle at each end. Push one needle through the hole and pull the thread half way through(same length thread with a needle on either side). Then both needles through the next hole from opposite sides and pulled tight, then through the next hole and so on. This is a very durable stitch but one that is overkill for most projects. I still use this method for most stitching. Lacing is like a running stitch but is a more decorative approach with the option of different lacing designs for a fancier effect.
  With all these methods you have to punch your stitching holes before the stitching starts. I use a stitching chisel(from leather supply shops) that come in single hole type or for making 3, 4 or 8 holes at once. Some folks use a hole punch with the option of different size holes for different size threads or lacing and others use a simple stitching gizmo that is a needle with a handle attached and integral thread that works like a sewing machine. For what we use our leather for any of these methods is sufficiently strong enough so it is what you prefer that is important.

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