Needles n thread

C

camaroless

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Feb 8, 2015
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I know this has come up many times but here we go. I've been making sheaths for about a year and definately getting better. One thing I never bought was good needles and thread. I am hand stitching and using what I bought from a local fabric store. Works pretty good but I know there are better choices. None of the thread or needles have a size listed so I want to buy better materials but not sure what type or size I need for 8-9 oz leather.. Also looking where to buy dyed leather, too many issues with dying, streaks,bleeding off etc.
John
 
John, My personal choice for tannery dyed leathers is Wickett and Craig. Counting Russet (or natural), I buy five colors. Along with the russet, I buy brown, chestnut, havana, and black. They all cut, tool and oil just like the plain russet.

Paul
 
For stitching supplies if you have a local Tandy near you then your in good shape.

Harness needles they have in three sizes, I use the middle size for most work nowadays. I used to use the biggest but the force needed to push them though the leather is getting to be an issue. fyi, the harness needles are the small eye models, do try to avoid the "big eye" needles, they break way too quickly as the eye flexes every time its threaded through the holes.

As far as thread goes, I prefer their "sewing awl" thread. Its a nice gauge for leather work, and its plenty strong. I once used the Tejas thread but its just too thick to comfortably use and either comes under waxed or severely over waxed. But it is less expensive.
 
Thanks for the input. There is a Tandy bout an hour away I'll be going there to check out what they have. Hobby lobby thread right now it's not bad I just don't like the way it looks when I'm done..

Paul I will look into wicket and Craig. I hope they sell in small quantity. Is it dyed the whole way through and I don't need to dye the edges ? I really want to quit dying my own especially after I slipped and dyed a new pair of britches black.
 
For stitching, I have been using size 2 Crewel needles. Though likely not the quality as the harness needles, I've done the last 15-20 projects and haven't broken a needle. For thread I'm sold on Ritza Tiger Thread. It comes in a couple sizes and a whole assortment of colors. On the drum dyed leather, I'll have to differ to the others with much more experience as I've not yet used any pre dyed leather.

Good luck!
Chris
 
John, regarding the pre dyed leather, you will still have to dye the edges when finishing them. I buy utility skirting leather and have it split for 10/12 to 7/8 and 2/3/ The color is nearly always split off the flesh side, so if you are not lining your projects you would have to dye the interiors as well. All my stuff is lined and winds up with grain side both inside and outside so it works well for me.

Paul
 
I hand stitch using a sharpened awl and 5 cord twisted sinew thread, generally following what is prescribed in Al Stohlman's book "The Art of Hand Sewing Leather". I highly recommend this due to its relatively low cost and array of information on how to stitch items from buckles, bags, baseballs, etc.

Harness needles actually come in many more sizes than three. CS Osborne makes them in 10 different sizes. I think I generally use a size 1. Harness needles have a rounded tip and are not sharp, intended to be used with an awl or preformed hole.

Small needles sound nice but I like larger ones because they are less stressful on my fingers and I can apply more force, before having to resort to using pliers. Just make sure the thread you are using will fit in the eye of the needle. Tapering the thread (and eye glasses :)) can help.

Most people use synthetic threads today which have some arguable advantages due to strength, but I have enjoyed using Barbour's Pure Flax Sinew size 5 left hand twist strand. This thread is white but can be dyed before or after stitching. I bought my 1094-yard roll at Campbell Bosworth Machinery probably 15 years ago, and am no where close to thinking about when it will need to be replaced.

The CS Osborne harness needle specification page is HERE. I'd suggest size 1 through size 3.

HERE'S a good location to buy natural sinew thread. If you are interested.

Mike
 
Don't be afraid of buying un-dyed leather. If you have had bad experiences in the past, the use of decent leather, quality dye (properly dliluted Fiebing's Pro dye) and some best practices will make your work look good. Granted, I'd like to have a supply of commercially pre-dyed leather here for my disposal but I cannot justify the overhead at this point.

I suggest that you buy a good piece of natural vegetable tanned leather with some pure neatsfoot oil, saddle tan dye, light brown dye, dark brown dye, and military black. This gives you the option of making naturally oiled to dark black colored leather creations.
 
Size 0 Harness needles, 1mm Tiger Thread. Drum dyed leather is the way to go. It is cheaper, the fumes won't kill you and far less hassle than dying it yourself unless your wanting to do some artistic dye jobs. I use Hermann Oak exclusively. I have zero use for Wickett and the people that attempt to run that place.
 
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