Hand Stitching Leather with an Awl and Two Needles 

I know You had this up for over two years. But I am just learning how to do this. You have the best tutorial that I have found so far. Thanks

Leather-crafters are a very diverse group, including at least the beginners, rank amateurs, intermediate hobbyists, semi-professional hobbyists, bespoke professionals, and production professionals. Perhaps the greatest dividing line is between those who do it as a creative art, and those who do it for practical, useful, craft results, although there is actually no line at all. That is a long, vast continuous spectrum. Your wise advise is amazingly appropriate and useful for almost everybody on this spectrum, except maybe the production professionals. I first started leather-crafting in the 1950's in junior high-school "industrial arts". I loved it then, and I love it even more now during retirement. I am, and always have been, a true amateur in every way though, because I don't sell anything, but I've grown gradually more competent in making decent-quality small projects for myself, relatives, and friends. This stitching video of yours incorporates almost everything of value I've learned about stitching leather. I've never used sewing machines because I think those are the territory of people who create things for commercial sale. Hand-stitching, to me, is maybe the greatest pleasure and privilege of this craft, because it teaches us so many things of value. From hand-stitching I've learned first of all, patience, consistency, and care for details. I know now that the most critical part of every project probably comes in the stitching, although there are also other critical parts, such as design, cutting and finishing. So thank you, Mr. Gonzales, for this excellent, practical, very useful, inspiring, and totally credible tutorial on such an important skill for those of us who like this craft. Everything you have said rings the bell of truth for such as me who has been learning about this now for over 60 years! Gracias!

This is an awesome video! I've been sewing leather as a hobby for 25+ years and I still learned things here!

The coolest part was seeing how your dad used a old horseshoe on the pedal lock for the jaws ..Really cool !

Awesome video thanks!!

Hi Don, great video tutorial. You have a clear, concise teaching style. Thanks for explaining your hand stitching method!

I’m just really getting into this craft and am going to be hand stitching and this video answered so many questions. Thanks for all your videos. You’ve been a tremendous help and inspiration. Keep up the awesome work and teaching us new guys.

Thanks for showing your method of hand sewing.

man you explain things so well.....just picked this up from my grandfather but he unfortunately passed and I never got all his knowledge on this....so thank you!!

I am turned on to this method. Thanks.

Thanks for the detailed awl instructions,

Thank you Don! Good instruction!

I hand stitch everything I make weather it be a bag, holster or belt. I learned the same way you demonstrated in this video..another very informative video I might add..but my hands and fingers are not as young as they used to be so I bought a manual stitcher from Tandys which I have yet to master..I still use a diamond pricking tool along with 2 needles and stitching pony..one of these days I'll learn to use the manual or will invest in an electric machine..but I'll always love the way hand stitching looks..thanks again for another awesome video Don!

Great tutorial - thank you!

Thank you really clear what I need to do for neat stitches

Great info Thank you!!!

Thanks for teaching me this method. Can't wait to get started.

thank you

Very helpful. Learned some new tricks like holding the needles. Great video as always

Excellent demonstration. Thank you much.

I feel like hand stitching adds value due to effort.

Thanks for your videos Don I have yet to start but excited about getting started

Awesome, Don. Thanks for the video. I don't bother watching the hobbyist "DIY" videos, instead I watch & learn from the professionals, like you. I've been working with leather off and on all my life, and a lot of stuff I've just figured out on my own, either from studying how something I liked was made, or just figuring out how to get the effect I desired, but I'm considering doing leatherwork as a hobby for income, so I figured I'd pick up some tips from the pros.

Excellent and simple video on hand stitching leather... thanks for sharing and demonstrating this skill to us newbies!!!

Very very helpful ~ thank you!

I am learning alot from watching these videos as well teaching me how to saddle stitching properly thanks for helping me out so much .. Mate

Thank you sir...... You answered my questions. G

This was great, very informative and easy to understand! Thank you!

Thanks Don, glad I ran upon your channel. Great tips and you make them easy to understand. Keep up the good work..

very helpful !! thanks !!!

Great video Don.

Thank you, nice video, you are a very good communicator, easy to follow your teachings, keep up the excellent work.

Great video. Thank you!

Thanks for adding the piece at the end about the awl angle. I was confused by the earlier reference. I have always drilled the holes first but want to try using an awl because I think it will be stronger.

Mr. Don. You are amazing. My utmost respect to you as an artist, leather crafter, designer, and just all around good guy whom I consider friend. Thank you very much for sharing your experience and knowledge and secrets with us. I have been watching and learning for a few years and enjoy your teaching. May God bless you and yours.

Thanks for the great video and tips. Much appreciated

Thanks. This was a detailed dive into using an awl, one that I did not know enough about. I was about to buy some stitching chisels, but I already have an awl and harness needles. Maybe I'll give the awl another try. I'll need to learn more about sharpening the awl though.

Dad did some nice work. great explanation of the diamond awl use, how and why. And now that I understand so much of two needle stitching I think I will try on some denim for practice.

this is stitching finally i can follow it so good visable nice work

Oooo! It's only taken me 15 minutes to do 2 stitches BUT I'm doing it! My fingers don't want to hold awl at the same time yet. But! My first 2 stitches are pretty dang good if you ask me!😃 I'll get there! Slowly but surely!

Thanks, Don, just getting started with this little hobby. I subscribed and hope to learn more. Take care, have a great New Year.

its very good to see how different people do their stitching to see what would works best for me. I do know that i need to upgrade my pony but i can make that myself. just need the right plans to do so.

Awesome video. Hey Don you think you can do a video on your dad stitching pony? Especially the clamping system.

It's nice to sit and stitch up a wallet or holster. Get in that groove and roll

Very educational, thanks. I'd love a good look at the design of your stitching horse though, please.

OMG great video I went to the site no diamond cut awls.

Please do video on your stitching horse, thanks for all your videos

Hand stitching is difficult. You really have to give it your awl. I made that joke up myself. Comedy genius.

Good luck ya from Indonesian Bamego kreatif Chanel 🙏 sucses

Hi again, Dan! At the risk of being a pest, I’d like to request that you do a video like you mentioned here about tuning/sharpening an awl like the one you used in this video. I’d would appreciate it no end! Thanks, man!

Using an awl I've found that it's almost impossible for me to keep the back side of my stitching straight. I struggle with it for a long time and finally gave up and bought a set of diamond chisels from Tandy, it's the only way I've found that I can keep the backside of my stitching looking nice. Mastering the awl is something I could never manage.

Hey Don, what size rivets are in the awesome bag behind you. You never cease to amaze me with your skills. Thanks, Gary

Hey Don, Great tutorial! I'd love to get a picture of your stitching horse so I can maybe see how you dad built it. I just bought one from Amazon and boy is it a piece. . . I'm going to have to do a whole lotta repairs to make it stay upright. I may have missed it but what is the proper name of the awl point? Is it just a Diamond point? Thanks man I'm learning so much from you.

Don, thank you for sharing your craftsmanship. Hand stitching is slower than a machine, but an invaluable skill. Especially on small pieces, key fobs, coin cases, axe sheaths, and sew on. And the quiet serenity hand stitching is, once one has a technique as you demonstrated, your shop or where ever you leather craft or work can be a quiet place that's your,,, God Speed,,,

Love you tote at the back on your table. Are you selling those pls

Oh yeah... You are most definitely a hand stitching expert! No sandbagging allowed ; ) Great and informative vid. Definitely going to try putting my stitching irons down for a while!

Could you show more information on your stitching pony

What do you think about Hemp thread, I'm told that it is 4 X stronger than linen thread?

Hello Don. I am just a beginner myself been tooling on and off now for over ten years. How do you feel about using a round awl? and a speedy stitcher? I just made a pouch for my Craft tool rotary hole punch and those are the two stitching tools I used. I have to admit that my work could have turned out much better, need more practice.

Do you find that the CS Osborne awl does not tighten well when tightening down on the blade? Mine always seems to have movement. Both the handle and awl are CS Osborne.

Don, what brand stitching Grover are you using and where did you get it.

What's your opinion on machine stitching leather bags?

Can a wrap stitch be done with that sewing technique

How tight are you pulling your stitch before u start your next hole? Also, thanks for making this video, ive been looking for a good while for a informative video on hand stitching and yours is the best so far. So i appreciate it!

Here is a dumb question for you. The stitch groove as we know is used so the thread will lay in it & to protect the thread from wear. What do you do on the backside? Do you ever groove it? I do but it really is a pain in the butt sometimes especially if I leave the lining oversize like you have done here in the video. I have always tried to groove both front & back cause it will get wear on both side on most things not just on the front. If I groove & use my sewing machine I always manage to miss the stitch groove. If I do it by hand I just really watch to see where the tip of the point is poking in the leather & am able to keep it in the groove without a problem. Also do you wrap the thread around the needle for a knot?

Nice video. You mentioned when doing a long run of stitching that you don’t have all the thread out for the whole run. How does one then tie in the next run of thread in this case.

Don ... The stitching horse your father made you is nice. I would appreciate if you would show how it was made. Can't see the bottom part on the video on how the closing mechanism is done... thanks... Doc

Pls whats the name of the tool you used to measure the space between the edge and stitches?

What a thorough and well spoken video. Thank you for this wonderful explanation. I’ve been sewing leather on a machine and was afraid to attempt hand sewing until your video. I love tradition and appreciate your talent. Thank you again. Btw do you have a recommendation on how to hold the leather run place until I figure out something somewhat sophisticated.

Can you do me me favor here. Please explain sizes of string. Which size is best for a sewing awl. I ordered some,,it was pretty thin. I can use it for other stuff but I wanted the thicker stuff. Please explain.

Sure is a lot faster than old style lacing. So you did not punch any holes through ahead of time? Must be a super sharp Awl. How do you keep from stabbing yourself? Or do you?

Can you lay a groove on both sides or is it too difficult to make the backside come out inside the groove? That’s the main advantage I’d see to pricking irons. You want the front pretty with a groove but you really need the stitches recessed on the back where they’re more likely to wear (like inside breast collars, billets, flank cinches and pant side of sheaths). I’m really wanting to master hand stitching I like doing things traditional any feedback would be great. Thanks

👍😉.

👍👍👍👍

Is that the flat looking thread?

Im confused. Some people are saying that you are putting the needle behind the last thread and you do it infront. Is it a different look when you finish? Thanks

A sewing machine produces what is called a lock stitch..which is a slight misnomer..if one side is frayed through the stitches will unravel...Not so with a saddle stitch ..Also I was taught (Al Stohlman) to stitch Towards myself...

What groover is that?

Hi there , I am making leather sheaths for axes and knives, so there are 3× layers of 8/9 oz leather(including welt). My question is can I use this method of stitching with awl and two needles or in fact would the leather be too thick? Would greatly appreciate some feedback, Cheers, Mike, South Waikato New Zealand...

where did you get your groover tool, i was like to buy one. rob

How to make the nal

Don, Is this a true saddle stitch?

Makers Leather does not have 1.0 braided thread on their website. I have to hand stitch a pair of elk hide chinks. What would you recommend?

@dongonzales what brand stitch groover are you using in the video? Thanks in advance.

Total novice here. When you poke the awl in, you rotate it a bit. Wouldn’t this make the hole that rounded rather than more of a slit?

9:55 I thought it was a glitch in the Matrix

I think i missed the reason you dont make all the holes first b4 stitching. Can you tell me? Thanks

You haven't answered my question

Re technique. I note this craftsman loops the thread over the needle on the back side, (see ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-hFo79rW68Dk.html). Does this give a better looking stitch on that side? I have Al Stohlmans The Art of Hand Sewing Leather and he doesn't use that loop over but just mentions to always pass the needle through on the same side of the thread with each stitch. Be interested in your thoughts.

;v huh(/

I don't get this purist way of thinking. "It's faster than using a prong" another purist view "you get better stitches". Stop lying to yourself. There are chisels in all kinds of pattern/ look. Round, square, triangular, romboid, etc. If I pull out a 10 stitch prong and make my holes, how can you say handstitching is faster?

How can you talk so much?

Got inpatient, too much talk.

Too much talk and no action