Hand sewing, I need help

[PEU]

This time of the year, when Bladeshow is near, the rush to finish knives intensifies, and the knives need sheats. I don't have a sewing machine, so hand sewing it is.

My problem is that my fingers are sore not of pushing the needle into the hole, but from taking it out. I guess there is some finger aid for doing this, but besides thimbles I found no references, and the thimble only helps with the inserting, not the pulling out of the needle.

Thanks in advance!

Pablo

 

[SwissHeritageCo]

Pliers.

 

[PEU]

Pliers.

I do use pliers when needed, but it slows the work a lot. I do have the force to pull the needle with my fingers, I just need something to have grip and make sewing more comfortable.

Pablo

 

[weo]

Following....this was my slow point too. I always notice it about 3/4 of the way through a sheath. I sometimes use hemostats and keep one ring on my pinky finger.

 

[SwissHeritageCo]

I do use pliers when needed, but it slows the work a lot. I do have the force to pull the needle with my fingers, I just need something to have grip and make sewing more comfortable.

Pablo

What are those! I just meant regular needle nose pliers

The reality is what you need is thicker stitching prongs to make the stitching holes larger, and thus easier to sew.

I use thimbles but also a leather finger ring, naturally you want to push the needle flush with the leather (as far in as possible from the entry side).

But bigger holes or a smaller gauge needle will save you either way.

 

[Hengelo_77]

I use pliers as well. You could try wax on the needles, I've heared about it, never tried it myself

 

[PEU]

What are those! I just meant regular needle nose pliers

LOL These work better (at least for me) than nose pliers because they grab the needle better and in the same axis as the needle movement. I like the holes to be as small as necesary, I think the end result is better. Their original use is for wire stripping.

I use pliers as well. You could try wax on the needles, I've heared about it, never tried it myself

I think wax would make gripping the needles even more difficult.


Sometimes I enlarge the holes with this tool previous to stitching, it has the same diamond shape as the hole, but it slows the process.

Pablo

 

[PEU]

Thinking out of the box I found this fly casting gloves that may do the trick, will go to a shop tomorrow and test them out. They have rubber where I need it.

Pablo

 

[PEU]

Better grip is the solution, tried these nitrile gloves and grip improved a lot, just need a bit of cushioning and would work for me, will try the casting gloves tomorrow.

Pablo

 

[pafka]

I'm just an amateur here, but I noticed you are stitching with one needle only? I do the basic two needle stitch (saddle stitch?) and it really helps to pull the needle with the second needle pressed against the index finger... something like here

How to Finish a Saddle Stitch by Backstitching - Mr. Lentz Leather Goods

When you finally finish that line of stitches on your leather project, you will need to back-stitch a few stitches to help lock in the thread and prevent it from unraveling. In this short tutorial I will show you the quick and easy method to finish a stitch when sewing leather goods. If you...

www.mrlentz.com

I also recently switched to a Czech brand of needles, and it made a surprising amount of difference compared to Chinese import ones, though it's probably more about the relative size of the eye compared to the diameter of the body than the "quality" of the needle. Still, something to consider.

But to be honest, I have pliers on standby at all times

 

[Natlek]

This time of the year, when Bladeshow is near, the rush to finish knives intensifies, and the knives need sheats. I don't have a sewing machine, so hand sewing it is.

My problem is that my fingers are sore not of pushing the needle into the hole, but from taking it out. I guess there is some finger aid for doing this, but besides thimbles I found no references, and the thimble only helps with the inserting, not the pulling out of the needle.

Thanks in advance!

Pablo

I have same problem .Solved with right size of needles and holes. Now my hands are sore from tightening thread .
I just finished this one

 

[Natlek]

Better grip is the solution, tried these nitrile gloves and grip improved a lot, just need a bit of cushioning and would work for me, will try the casting gloves tomorrow.

Pablo

I don t like that needle , looks like it is much thicker on end where thread hole is ? I have them like that and then I ordered saddle needles from Germany ..

​

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

I use a curved nose hemostat with the lock parts cut off. I hook one ring on my pinky finger and let it dangle when pushing a needle through. Then I swing it up into my hand and use it to pull the needle through.
I also use flat nosed jewelers' pliers. I put a wrist lanyard on one handle. It dangles out of the way and when I want to pull a needle I just dropped my hand down and it falls right into my palm.

 

[PEU]

I'm just an amateur here, but I noticed you are stitching with one needle only? I do the basic two needle stitch (saddle stitch?) and it really helps to pull the needle with the second needle pressed against the index finger... something like here

I start on the second hole, go back to first with both needles and the go all the way with one needle and then all the way with the other. When finishing I go back 2 and 3 holes for safety. I don't have a stitching pony, not sure if it would help me

Pablo

 

[PEU]

I use a curved nose hemostat with the lock parts cut off. I hook one ring on my pinky finger and let it dangle when pushing a needle through. Then I swing it up into my hand and use it to pull the needle through.
I also use flat nosed jewelers' pliers. I put a wrist lanyard on one handle. It dangles out of the way and when I want to pull a needle I just dropped my hand down and it falls right into my palm.

Interesting idea having the hemostat ready at the finger... very interesting idea worth trying. Thanks

Pablo

 

[12345678910]

I do use pliers when needed, but it slows the work a lot. I do have the force to pull the needle with my fingers, I just need something to have grip and make sewing more comfortable.

Pablo

My mother uses latex condoms for quilting

Finger Cots,
Get the latex ones, not all the thicker ones.
Get a varioius size multi pack before going to the large bulk pack.

Finger cots, come in various sizes, fit tight on the fingers, made as latex finger gloves for health care members that have to insert things in patients, but somehow don't need whole hand coverage..
Watchmakers as anti oil fingerprint protection
Cooks as coverage over bandages.


Walmart, Pharmacies, Amazon, sewing stores

 

[dwaterfield]

I go over the holes I make with the prongs with a small drill bit in my press. It works well and seems to give better results on the back side of the sheath. I have heard of people chucking a needle into their drill press, but I have not tried it yet.

 

[John Cahoon]

I vote for needle nose pliers, mine is curved but straight will work. I've stabbed myself more than once both pushing and pulling, gets old after a while! After I glue on the welt I drill through the existing holes thru the welt with a 1/16" bit, then when I' m ready to close a sheath I stick fine finish mails through every 5th hole or so, then glue up. Once dried I'll open all holes with a punch to enlarge a little and punch through the glue. Here's the back of a recent one:

 

[Scott Hanson]

Your holes are too tight, take your awl and slightly enlarge every hole slightly before you start stitching. This will save your fingers and a lot of time sewing, keep a needle nose pliers nearby to pull the needles through when you back stitch, this is what I do.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Another trick is to have different diameter awls.
A too thin awl may go through the leather easier, but leave a hole the needle will bind in.
A too fat awl won't punch well and may leave the hole smaller on the backside because you won't push it all the way through.
A proper size awl with a sharp point goes through the leather easily and will make a hole the size of the shaft. About 150% the size of the needle is a good choice. Make sure the shaft is very smooth and polished.

Pablo - about your stitching. I know going down the side with one needle and then doing the other seems easier, but doing one stitch at a time with both needles makes a much tighter and more durable stitch.
Run both needles through and then pull tight ... do the same for the next hole, etc.. Start at the third hole and backstitch to the first hole, then go down the seam to the last hole and backstitch two stitches.