You can Hand Stitch Leather (Easily)!

How to Hand Stitch Leather! (With Bonus Tips and Tricks!)

In this video, I show you the basics of hand stitching leather (“Saddle stitching”). For the sake of any brevity I could find, this video is by no means all inclusive.

Topics not included here are:
* Use of an awl - That topic deserves its own video.

* Overstitch wheel - I do not use an overstitch wheel for marking stitch holes because I use multiple teeth chisels that punch through the leather. The overstitch wheel has somewhat fallen out of favor and use over the last few decades. Particularly due to the ease of creating straighter stitch lines with chisels.

* Stitch groover - Same as overstitch wheel.

* Mention of “Holes” instead of slits - Many crafters use holes instead of slits in their leather items. I do not prefer this method simply because it “removes leather” (the hole plugs). I prefer to keep all leather intact whenever possible.

* Hammering stitches after stitching is done - Again, this is something I prefer not to do for a number of reasons. Mainly due to aesthetics. I prefer how the Tiger thread appears as it lays. I also like the items to naturally do whatever they will in the wild.

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GRAPHIC WARNING! If you’re squeamish, skip this section!

I’m often asked about the scar on my left hand (back of thumb and hand). Seen clearly in the thumbnail photo and throughout this video.

This is a great time to reveal its origins. When I was making my second stitching pony (the first with foot pedals shown in this video), I had an accident with the mitre saw, and I nearly murdered my left thumb. The saw blade grabbed the wood I was holding (Cherry limb), yanking it and my hand toward the spinning teeth. The saw blade then sank down through my hand and cut a valley down the rear of the thumb bone, just before I snatched it back and out of the saw.

That little mishap required emergency hand surgery, obviously. Oddly, the pony was already complete at the time and I was adding a couple of cherry wood accents, purely for aesthetics.
Yep, I nearly chopped my thumb off trying to make my stitching pony look “good”.

Nevertheless, I never did add any aesthetic accents to that stitching pony. It was used “as is” thereafter.

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Shop Anvil:

Stitching chisels:

Needles:

Mauls (Barry King):

Ritza Tiger Thread, 1.0 mm:

Mascon Forge Instagram page:

Video - “Bump Jigs - Change Your Leather Crafting Forever!”:

Kevin lee (large chisels):

Romanov pony:

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Direct links to tools, gear and “stuff”:

Or:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

(Disclaimer: Some of the items here are Amazon affiliate links, which means if you purchase an item with the provided links, I get a small commission of the sale, at no added cost to you, which helps to keep this channel up and running.  Thanks for the support!)

If you have a question about any tools or supplies not listed here, please leave a comment below and I’ll do my best to direct you accordingly.

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Follow me:
 
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Website:

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If you have any questions, please post them directly below in the comments. Yes, I read them all and reply (as long I see them).

Foreign (not English) language comments: Youtube still won’t allow “copy and paste” on comments, therefore, any comments written in any foreign language (not English), if I can’t translate, I may request a translation.

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For sponsorship information, please contact me directly.

Business inquiries ONLY:

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Mascon Leather

[milom.]

Excellent video! Answered all the questions I had about hand stitching and helped ease my frustration. Thanks.

[capstevepoarch]

Beautiful. So many YouTube 'experts' throw two reciprocating running stitches and pretend that it was a saddle stitch. Nice to see someone DOING IT RIGHT. A thing of beauty is a joy forever.

[johnmworley]

I've watched a dozen people try to explain and show how to stitch, you nailed it!

[MurphyinKS]

WOWSA... I have been hand stitching for yrs....I GOT THE CLUE BUS TODAY... AWESOME.. I have made boots, bags, armor.... It now has the how and why... Again my thanks..
AJs Celtic Bear

[WyrmhideLeather]

This is my new favorite how to saddle stitch video. The clarity of the video is amazing and the overhead view makes it so clear. Thanks, will definitely pass this on!

[elidblfap]

That was the most informative hand stitching tutorials I’ve seen in a while

[mufassaism]

Hands down, best tutorial I’ve seen!!!! I’m new to the leather world and couldn’t be happier I found you 🕺
Thank you

[sloth_e]

Its funny coming back and watching this 3 years later. Also 3 years into my own leatherwork and now on the verge of a full time business.
Stitching in a variety of this style is now 2nd nature and i giggle at remembering thinking it was a challenge.
Now i can get slant on either side, both sides, flat along with a miriad of different joint stitches without even thinking about what im doing.

[somefellern]

Thank you for all these excellent tips! I'll be using several of these from now on

[romancingthestrand]

AMAZING video. You’re a FANTASTIC teacher. Straight to the point and shooting from the hip. Very clear explanations. I’m very new to leather work and super excited about it. I’m trying to buy all the right tools etc now . Thank you again. You rock brother 🤠

[argentorangeok]

Your lineup of stitching ponies looks like museum pieces. Very nice to look at.

[natericketson]

Absolutely agree Nigel's video is the best stitching video! I frequently send this to folks when they want to understand hand stitching/saddle stitching!

[phibik]

the best video for stitching leather that I found, thanks

[jeremylambert]

That’s the first video I have seen on stitching where it finally clicked in my head. Thank you 👌🏼

[iamtheglass]

Well you’re a lotta fun!
Thank You for sharing your experience with us
🪄🗝️✨💨

[jchagoya]

Thank you very much for your time sharing your knowledge. Clear, precise and useful. Regards from México.

[tellis]

Wow! Out of all the videos I have watched yours is the first that I actually could see and understand what was going on. Thank you for posting!

[dooski]

His leather tutorials are the best and fun to watch. I've learned alot from Mr. Shell

[mrezaazfard]

Hi. That is great. I am from Iran.i used to live in Kansas, coffyvill. Your explanation is very clear and useful. The first step to learn about how to work with leader. Thank you very much.

[moleather]

It may sound silly to some of the guys and girls that do this leatherwork well, but to us that are starting out watching good instructional stuff is brilliant, thank you 👍