Six months in and my leather stitching is still crooked

[wIlDbEaR23]

I have been trying to learn leather crafting for about half a year now, but honestly, I feel like I have barely made any progress. Anyone feeling the same?
I still remember how excited I was when I finished my very first cardholder but now I look at my stitching and it is still not straight and the finished project just looks wrong somehow. I feel stuck in the same place and cannot seem to move past this basic skill. What are the best methods or tools that people use to make sure their stitching holes are perfectly lined up before they start sewing? I'll appreciate any simple tricks or exercises that helped you finally get your stitching lines perfectly straight.

 

[Greg0ry]

use the stitch clamp method, it really helps. I started last year, and still using this method now. what you need is slow down, don't rush, and practice

 

[damy2128]

Here is a method that I use.
Tools:
Pricking iron
Diamond Awl
2 saddlers needles
Stitching horse or pony
Steel wing dividers
Method:
Using the wing dividers, make a line about 1/8 of an inch from the edge on the grain side.
Apply a good leather adhesive along the edge and when ready set the edges together.
Follow the line made earlier with the pricking iron, marking the stitch locations along the line.
Clamp the work in the jaws of the stitching horse with the stitch marks 1/4 above the jaws.
Use the awl and aligning with stitch marks, pierce the leather. Continue to the end of jaw.
Set up your needles and push through the second hole. Even the thread then back stitch to the first.
Begin stitching and here are the key points, remain consistent. If you are right handed always push that needle into the hole first. Do no pull the stitch tight. Push the left needle through the same hole, marking sure that the left needle does not pierce the right thread. Pay attention to where the threads lay. Left on top of right or right on top of left. Pull the threads tight at the same time.
Repeat with the next hole and so on until you reach the end of the stitch line. Reposition the leather in the jaws and repeat the process.

 

[Alan]

I have been trying to learn leather crafting for about half a year now, but honestly, I feel like I have barely made any progress. Anyone feeling the same?
I still remember how excited I was when I finished my very first cardholder but now I look at my stitching and it is still not straight and the finished project just looks wrong somehow. I feel stuck in the same place and cannot seem to move past this basic skill. What are the best methods or tools that people use to make sure their stitching holes are perfectly lined up before they start sewing? I'll appreciate any simple tricks or exercises that helped you finally get your stitching lines perfectly straight.

Don't be so hard on yourself. Craft takes time. You'll get better, just keep doing it.

 

[Alan]

Here is a method that I use.
Tools:
Pricking iron
Diamond Awl
2 saddlers needles
Stitching horse or pony
Steel wing dividers
Method:
Using the wing dividers, make a line about 1/8 of an inch from the edge on the grain side.
Apply a good leather adhesive along the edge and when ready set the edges together.
Follow the line made earlier with the pricking iron, marking the stitch locations along the line.
Clamp the work in the jaws of the stitching horse with the stitch marks 1/4 above the jaws.
Use the awl and aligning with stitch marks, pierce the leather. Continue to the end of jaw.
Set up your needles and push through the second hole. Even the thread then back stitch to the first.
Begin stitching and here are the key points, remain consistent. If you are right handed always push that needle into the hole first. Do no pull the stitch tight. Push the left needle through the same hole, marking sure that the left needle does not pierce the right thread. Pay attention to where the threads lay. Left on top of right or right on top of left. Pull the threads tight at the same time.
Repeat with the next hole and so on until you reach the end of the stitch line. Reposition the leather in the jaws and repeat the process.

Greta tips!
My first mistake I remember clearly was pulling the threads too tight. I wanted to make sure the stitching is secured that I overdid it.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

I have been trying to learn leather crafting for about half a year now, but honestly, I feel like I have barely made any progress. Anyone feeling the same?
I still remember how excited I was when I finished my very first cardholder but now I look at my stitching and it is still not straight and the finished project just looks wrong somehow. I feel stuck in the same place and cannot seem to move past this basic skill. What are the best methods or tools that people use to make sure their stitching holes are perfectly lined up before they start sewing? I'll appreciate any simple tricks or exercises that helped you finally get your stitching lines perfectly straight.

IF I'm worried about the appearance of the hand stitching, I use a Stitching Spacing Wheel.

LD

 

[Deertraks]

This is what I use to scribe my stitching line. I have two sizes that work well for all my needs 4.5, 3.5.
https://crimsonhides.com/products/preorder-for-creasing-iron?_pos=3&_sid=92aff9b40&_ss=

 

[Deertraks]

I also use these Japanese style pricking/punching irons to make a nice straight stitching line.

 

[BillKilgore]

I have been trying to learn leather crafting for about half a year now, but honestly, I feel like I have barely made any progress. Anyone feeling the same?
I still remember how excited I was when I finished my very first cardholder but now I look at my stitching and it is still not straight and the finished project just looks wrong somehow. I feel stuck in the same place and cannot seem to move past this basic skill. What are the best methods or tools that people use to make sure their stitching holes are perfectly lined up before they start sewing? I'll appreciate any simple tricks or exercises that helped you finally get your stitching lines perfectly straight.

Would you please describe the process you use? I have also been into leather crafts for 6-12 months. I use a wing divider to mark a light line or a groover to mark a heavy line, then use stitching chisels to get evenly spaced holes.