The Benefits of Hand Stitching

    Hand stitching is alive and well in the world of a leather crafter. Machines do make up a large part of stitching, but hand stitching also has its advantages over that of a machine. So why would anyone hand stitch?

    For a single basic reason, hand stitching allows for a variety of stitch types while most machines can perform only one or two types of stitches. A machine creates what is called a lock stitch. This stitch is interlaced with a second thread called a bobbin thread. This type of stitch is very strong and with the right choice of thread can mean a strong and long lasting stitch line. Where a lock stitch's weakness shines through is if a stitch breaks. When a single stitch breaks, often times the entire line of stitching will eventually unravel. Sometimes this happens all at once, and sometimes this happens a little more slowly. 

    Hand stitching allows for a wider variety of stitch patterns that many machines do not offer, such as a baseball stitch, ladder stitch, and a leather worker's favorite, the saddler's stitch. For the purpose of this blog, I will go more in depth about the advantages of the saddler's stitch because it is the most common type of hand stitch I use when making products. The saddler's stitch uses a single thread with a needle on both ends of the thread that cross back and forth forming a single stitch line. This type of stitch creates a very strong stitch, and if a single stitch is cut or torn, the stitch line itself will remain intact. Simply burn the loose end with a lighter to eliminate the loose ends. Another factor that contributes to stitch strength is the type of thread. Machines often times can only use the threads they are designed for, while hand stitching can use any type of thread.

    As a general rule of thumb, any product I make where the stitching will be under a lot of stress or wear-and-tear I will use a hand stitch. If the project's stitching does not require extra strength, a machine is used. A lock stitch still provides plenty of strength for most projects, especially if the proper choice of thread is used. For questions about how individual products are  stitched, you can look in the product description.