How to: Hand stitching leather with traditional saddle stitch 

I swear, I've looked at a zillion videos on how to hand stitch and yours is the ONLY one that shows how to set up the thread in the needle. Thank you so much.

Something to note for beginners. He is using a pricking iron on a granite slab. Because these tools do NOT go through the leather (the saddlers awl is what pierces the leather except on thin leather) he runs no risk of damaging his pricking iron. If you use a stitching chisel, NEVER use it on granite. Always have a poly board and a thick piece of scrap tooling leather under the project so you never blunt the chisel accidentally.

This is the best tutorial on saddle stitching on RU-vid. Thank you

Absolute perfect saddle stitch teaching

0:45 god damn, there’s more emotion in these few seconds than most movies could ever hope for

I actually love the hand craft and always watch multi thing about it in RU-vid , but your way is awesome to learn it by your details we never notice it with our instructions ,, thank you for your help

I'm a 53 year old veteran that has been trying to learn this trade for quite some time now, but it has been very difficult to learn from some type of schooling, your video has brought a new light into my learning, I feel that I can learn and work for my own while caring for my family - thank you I truly appreciate your valuable teaching. Semper Fi

Incredible workmanship and thank you so much for the tutorial!

I will have watch more, much I understand yet not clear on thread type and needles. When you waxed the stitching thread, it appeared the needle was split. Growing up on a farm, I rode a paint but fixed the saddle, I had to. The smell of leather, fresh cut wood are something you never forget. You did an awesome job of showing certain techniques, for that I thank you. I will have to watch more as I subscribed. I was the oldest and grew 6 inches at age 11. It was brutal. At 7, I helped other farmers to earn money. No allowance on the family My eye caught gas powered lawnmowers & they gladly gave them to me, even a ride home with a bicycle I fix for free. Soon, $1 per yard was faster as I got one mower working. Later, $15 got a step-thru motorcycle running. It was metric and bought same, but cheap. Those metric tools had me fixing Opel’s, my friends own mother had me fix her Datsun PU. Sanding spokes off model “T” and varnishing then for $8 each. The smell of cut hay, from 10 miles away mad me sick. Spent 40+ years in dealerships and as worn joints & fusions (3 at different times/5 total joints/and still burns) I have some of the tools and two hole punch forks. I need a good scyving knife. My problem is elbows, they slow me down bad. I have buckets from a newer truck I have cut, welded and modified. They are going into my 44 year old truck, I’ve fixed over 7 years. Inside; Using a leather that 1.3 mm thick, I am torn between stitching or machine. Companies sell leather seat covers with lace & machine stitching. Bolsters stand up longer with lace in cross-hatch pattern. I will be watching videos on your channel to see subjects to overcome, learn and do! Automotive ASE Certified Master Tech since 1978 - Retired Thank you & Blessing to all! I truly admire folks who are good at their craftsmanship and enjoy it. It shows!

This is a great saddle stitching video. You highlighted the subtle parts like pulling the first thread towards you, the casting on the back side, and angling the pull.... that all makes great, consistent stitching! Thanks!

Thanks Terrick. I've just started leather working, about four months ago. The stitching is really the area that I want to improve in my work. It seems to me to be so important to get it neat, tidy and even. I'll try your methods on the next piece I make. Also, I loved the intro with you talking about those deeply personal memories and emotions you put into your early works.

By far the best hand stitch video I have seen for leather!!! Thanks a mill

This is the best explanation of saddle stitching I’ve seen. I’m now ready to give this a go once again as I got frustrated not knowing what I was doing wrong. Thank you so much!,,

You can tell the bag you made when she went into labor for Noah meant alot to you as well and brought back memories

thank you for teaching how to sew leather bags at home using your hands properly. I really want to learn how to sew leather. I am very happy that you are teaching

Thanks for your time n thoughts working with leather. I wish I'd had gotten into leather work yrs ago.

Finally found a video that explains this well. Thanks for taking the time and as someone who also happens to be married to my camerawoman (when she can and I am not self-filming out of necessity), I thought your wife's camera work was just fine. Beautiful stitching clam, also.

THANK you! This needs 100k views!

0:51 You can see this bag really means something to him. Lovely to see something like that.

This is so generous of you. Thank you! I learned a lot. I will watch it again.

I've just purchased your wallet pattern, and look forward to getting my stitches to a professional level. Thank you so much for sharing these amazing tools & tips in your tutorial. Your memories included are a great reminder why Craftsmanship is so important and under valued by too many.

Thanks for the demo, I love watching skilled craftsmen and craftswomen.

Thank you, thank you! It took me a while to cruise through the video-garbage of people with dollar-store sewing kits, etc., to find your exceptional instructions. You made my night of hand-stitching fulfilling and easy. Cheers!

This great demonstration has really inspired me to try my first leather stitching project. Thanks!

Thank you for the demonstration of how to saddle stitch! I’m just beginning to work with leather and you made your saddle stitch technique very clear and it really helped me.

one of the best and most useful instructions on leather stitching I've seen. Excellent work and style. Thanks

you are the first person i've seen explaining how to not catch a thread. thank you SO much!

What a craftsman. Thankyou for sharing your hard earned trade secrets. I found the video extremely informative and a joy to watch

So good to see someone else pause when looking at their past work, remembering the love and care and part of themselves they put into that piece. It's not just me

The way you looked at that bag you gave to your wife before she gave birth to your son, I felt that. This was a fantastic video and very useful thank you!

I just loved watching you work. I work with wood and steel but I’ve never tried to make anything from leather… You give me inspiration

I've watched a lot of leather work vids. You are one of the best. I don't think you could do anything better. Your stuff looks like it would last 100s of years. I can only image the things you have made for yourself. Loved your intro where you showed the things you made your wife, I can only imagine the quality of material and care put into those.

I made a Keychain out of some scrap leather a week or so ago, and now I'm hooked. I cant get enough. Great video with helpful tips.

really good stitching technique. Thank you very much!

Fantastic video. Thank you for taking the time to post it.

Thanks for talking us through the various steps of your project. I hate those guys that just fast forward through there project with no details or suggestions, nice job.

I've been watching a lot of leather-working channels since getting interested in it recently, this is the first episode of yours I have watched and I can say I have learned more in four minutes on your channel then any of the other ones. Thanks.

Absolutely loved this video. Seriously amazing.

Its obvious you are an accomplished craftsman. Thank you for your contribution.

Thank you so much! Your description of casting the stitch was very clear and helped me to finally understand how to do it correctly.

I agree...this is very emotional to watch! I have bought hand stitched items before, but I just never thought how they were made. You are a very Talented man indeed. I know a lot of Saddle Makers, but I have only looked at their leather carving, it did not occur to me that most of their leather crafts are hand stitched! Thank You very much for this video, you did an awesome job!

Love the clamps your using to hold the leather while you sew it!

I learned leatherer by watching your videos. I already have a few handicrafts. Thank you for that.

I learned more from you in the very first vid than 20 or more vids from other peps. They are all good craftsmen but you explain in detail. Thanks for the lesson.

I loved your indication, instructions and the whole of the video.many thanks.

GREAT video Terrick:) Love the stories and awesome demonstration. I always learn a lot from you

This is the first video i watched to learn saddle stitching and it was great.

I learned so much from watching just one video. Thank you!

Thanks you for sharing your awesome skills. The sign of a good and confident artist👍🏻

Thank you for making this video's. I am just looking into leather making I have no tools or anything I am just trying to learn as much as I can before I invest a lot of money into leather making.

I had to watch your instructions again. I am mostly a hobby leather worker. I make lots of stuff for myself. 100 knife sheaths, 12 holsters, 4 wallets, 2 pairs of moccasins, 2 belts. My stuff is looking better now. Thanks again.

you are the master of leather craftmanship

As a person looking to get into doing leather working, I have to say this is probably hands down the best and clearest stitching tutorial I've seen yet. Thanks and keep it coming, awesome content!

One of the best Videos on You Tube describing how to Saddle Stitch! Thanks so much!

Thanks very much mate....very helpful and really appreciated!

This is one of my favorite stitching videos blessed with loads of wisdom. I've seen this at least 4 times (rewinds notwithstanding), and always pick up a new insight with each view. Follow you on IG as well. Thank you and God bless.

Great video . Can't recall a RU-vid video with a commitment to the viewer really understanding the process. Having made videos and taught myself sewing the surprise is always the confusion created by a novice not understanding all the factors. . You sir are a true gentleman. Hours of filming and editing are appreciated . Focus? Who cares? Close camera angles and multiviews and this a winner. This is a beautiful creation. Thank your crew from this viewer

You are a wonderful teacher, Mr. Master, one of the most wonderful educational videos that I watched despite the language barrier ... Thank you

You're the first video I've found on saddle stitching to actually take me through it step-by-step. So many others consist of "just look and follow what I do" without explaining why. Thanks a ton for sharing your experience with an amateur!

Very clear and concise, thanks!!!

Great job describing everything, your very detailed and you obviously care a great deal for your craft ! Thank you for this tutorial! It was very helpful also loving the tips and technique tricks!

Amazing how some people as so talented............................... I 'm sure they work very hard to achieve their status........GREAT WORK..........

Thank you I learned something about saddle stitch. That is something I have never done before but I'm not a beginner I use a sowing awl with thread running through it and make a locking stitch like a sowing machine

Thank you for sharing some of your skills with us. Brilliant video..

thank you. You cleared up some questions I had regarding the placement of the thread when the needles are pulled through the leather. Well done.

I love how you demo’d and explained these techniques, you are fundi at it! :-)

There is only one word - MASTERPIECE

Thank you soooo much for this video. Now I know how to do the stitching properly front and back. Couldn’t get my back stitches properly. Many thanks.

I like that you pull each needle through individually. All the videos I have seen tell you to push both needles in together and make an X. but then they are hard to pull through because the needles take up so much room in the hole.

I follow a few Leatherworkers at the moment. And you, sir, are the first of all I see wearing a leather apron. Only for that reason will I follow you too. excellent video. Thank you.

Thanks to your help I was able to turn some scrap leather into a pretty cool (but sloppy) fathers day gift for my old man. Thank you for the help.

Favorite stitching video, i did some handstitch this weekend and was horrible. However, your video showed me what i was doing wrong! Thanks!!

One ,if not the best educational videos on hand stitching! You are truly a master craftsman! Kudos!

by far the best video I have ever seen on explaining the saddle stitch thank you

You make it look easy..Sign of a craftsman to do so.

The vest video I have seen so far in stitching! Amazing work!!

This was a great video - really clear - helpful tips. Am just getting started in leatherwork myself - thanks so much!

Thanks for sharing your skills mate. I'm doing stitching on a belt(my first leathercraft ever) and did one side on me own and the other after watching this video. Well, i think i'll have to redo the first side. Keep doing the good job Chartemade!

Love your video. Thank you!

THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR TECHNIQUES..................U LOVE LEATHER LIKE I LOVE WOOD!

Nice work. All of my leather pieces were done with saddle stitching. I got started about 45 years ago.

I am a fairly amateur leather worker and I have to say this video is the best instruction I have ever seen. Answered so many questions I've had that have never been answered. Thanks!

I've been at leather work for quite some time. This video is probably one of the best and clearly made videos explaining the saddler's stitch. Well done!

You're so gifted, it's very neat.

Very good quality control points....thank you!

I gotta say I never really comment but gotta give credit where it’s due.. After about 45 seconds in I clicked “subscribe”.. I can tell by the energy or something that you take pride in your work and don’t mind helping others without ego and I respect that. God bless and appreciate the info that I’m sure came from a lot of trial and error! Which is where I’m at haha

That's so clean! Love it!

Very inspiring for those of us who want to start with this beautiful art, thanks for that

Thank you so much! I loved this video. I have not yet tried any Leatherwork. Looking forward to starting! Thank you! Very well done.

great to see the memory's flooding back to you as you looked at the bags ,give me the feels big time terrick :)

You are an artists. Thanks for all the tips!

Beautiful and functional hand crafted items will never go out of style or necessity. I like the idea of the practice with the awl. It helps build muscle memory faster than just stitching and looking as you go. Once you have a rythm the consistency of the stitch comes on it's own. Great video. L&S from me.

Clean work, Thanks for The Excellent craftsmanship.

Nice! Thanks for this video!

Old world craftsmanship and an excellent tutorial. Thank you

Thank you very much for sharing your skills and tips ! Great video, very much appreciated

Thank you. Very informative.

I love the fact that you put so much time and love into your pieces. Beautiful work! 😍 I make custom macrame horse tack and love leather working also. Just a novice at this point. Love watching leather working. Awesome job!

beautiful stitching. I didnt know about looping the thread on the back.

Just subscribed. Its Awesome to see that GREAT artisans still exist, and are making EXCELLENT quality items!!!! Your attention to detail is refreshing and amazing! ! ! The world needs more people like YOU ; people who actually care about the quality of their work.