Hand sewing device

Re: Hand sewing device

Pat Evans

sewing awl. Used for sewing sails or other heavy fabric.

Thanks

Re: Hand sewing device

johnv

Also works great on soft leather

Speedy Stitcher

Tom Dunlap

Here you go:

http://www.speedystitcher.com/

Re: Hand sewing device

Johanna Johanson

Works for repairing convertible tops, too. Had to get one for the Miata.

Re: Hand sewing device

Pete in Holland MI

I remember reading the instructions my dad used to keep in the camper (pop-up from the 60's). Beyond saying for sewing up canvas and such, I distinctly remember saying you could use it to sew up cattle too!

Re: Hand sewing device

TomD

Replace the needle and thread, should be good to go.

You push through fabric, and then you pull the thread to the other side. Ever time the needle goes through, you push your thread through the loop that forms to the free side of the needle, the side that does not return to the bobbin. After that initial pass through with the thread, you do not cross over again. The free thread stays on one side, and the awl stays on the other.

They are sorta OK, the main disadvantage is that as you push through the awl, the thread can get sorta beat up. It also forms the badly named "lock stitch" , where there are "knots" hidden in the fabric. This is a lie. There is no lock, no knot, and it is more likely to run than a stitch formed using two needles. Also you need an awl if you use the two needles, or two bristles, even better. And the awl can be sized to the exact aspect of the work. Also when you pull up a speedstitcher, you are pulling one side with the stitcher, and while that is easy on the hand, it can limit the force, or the life of the needle.

Most of the above beefs apply also to machine stitching, though it is fast and relatively perfect in execution when the correct machine is used. Still a useful tool for in-field type repairs where you want to do something, and all you have is the one tool.

(I am passing on the usual dis on machine stitches vs. hand stitches, which is true, as far as it goes. The other side is that "lockstitches" will hold up for the life of a heavily used leather product, or sail. A lot of this is attributable to the fact that modern sewing thread is so strong. Old linen thread had some unique characteristics, and hand sewing does also, but a lot of that was in comparison to earlier machine sewing with weak thread. Sewing machines that use lockstitch caught up to hand sewing, particularly given the way they work in leather when accommodations are made for the least damaging stitch length for leather or sail, and the super strong thread).

Re: Hand sewing device

NickinMass

Speedy Stitcher, Quick Stitcher, etc. My dad used one for sewing/repairing sails when I was young, and I've used one for I don't know how many hours repairing lacrosse goal nets (good quality nets start to fail at the seams, and you can keep a lot of pounds of plastic from the trash if you sew them back up before the net is too damaged). I've even taken to oversewing the seams on new nets to give myself a few years before I need to do repairs...