Hand Stitching – Red Ox Brand Tools https://redoxbrand.sagecreeksaddles.com Red Ox Brand Tools store Thu, 06 Nov 2025 23:27:07 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://redoxbrand.sagecreeksaddles.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/cropped-Buck-Red-OX-icon-32x32.png Hand Stitching – Red Ox Brand Tools https://redoxbrand.sagecreeksaddles.com 32 32 147857864 New Standard Line Professional Awl Hafts https://redoxbrand.sagecreeksaddles.com/2024/08/27/new-standard-line-professional-awl-hafts/ https://redoxbrand.sagecreeksaddles.com/2024/08/27/new-standard-line-professional-awl-hafts/#respond Tue, 27 Aug 2024 19:51:33 +0000 https://redoxbrand.sagecreeksaddles.com/?p=14464

Standard Line Professional Awl Hafts

New Standard Line Professional Awl Hafts

I've started a new line of standard awl hafts that will sell for $85.00. $150 with a blade. As with a my Artisan Made line, the blades are secured into the haft with two 8-32 hex drive set screws. These tools are not a cheap budget item. They are turned by me on a manual lathe and are made with the same attention to detail as all of my Red Ox brand tools. They are simply less detailed so take less time to make. I'm happy to be offering a more affordable tool that will perform at a high professional level.

Gordon Andrus

]]> https://redoxbrand.sagecreeksaddles.com/2024/08/27/new-standard-line-professional-awl-hafts/feed/ 0 14464 A Source for Nice Pricking Irons https://redoxbrand.sagecreeksaddles.com/2020/03/06/a-source-for-nice-pricking-irons/ https://redoxbrand.sagecreeksaddles.com/2020/03/06/a-source-for-nice-pricking-irons/#respond Sat, 07 Mar 2020 00:12:20 +0000 https://redoxbrand.sagecreeksaddles.com/?p=13440 In Prescott last week I was able to have students at my stitching workshop try out the new Horseshoe Brand pricking irons.  I’ll tell you, they perform admirably.  The are sized stitches per inch (spi) like we in the U.S. are accustomed too.  They are also narrow enough to fit right in a stitch groove.  Collen also set me up with a new awl that they are carrying that matches the pricking irons in the profile of the blade.  It also fits sweetly in your palm.  Nice work Jeremiah, and Colleen.  #horseshoebrandtools

]]> https://redoxbrand.sagecreeksaddles.com/2020/03/06/a-source-for-nice-pricking-irons/feed/ 0 13440 Generalized Guide to Needle, Thread, and Awl Sizing for Hand Stitching https://redoxbrand.sagecreeksaddles.com/2019/03/09/generalized-guide-to-needle-thread-and-awl-sizing-for-hand-stitching/ https://redoxbrand.sagecreeksaddles.com/2019/03/09/generalized-guide-to-needle-thread-and-awl-sizing-for-hand-stitching/#comments Sat, 09 Mar 2019 21:02:39 +0000 https://redoxbrand.sagecreeksaddles.com/?p=812 As the title states, this is a generalized guide. It is based on traditional best practices for handwork. Some of the sizes here may be difficult to find sources for. Thread comes from worldwide sources and varies in size. Different awl widths are notoriously difficult to find. Style variation will have a big effect on some of these sizing choices. At the time of this writing large stitches with wide flat braided threads are in vogue. This guide is still useful. If you proceed by choosing your stitches per inch length first, rather than the leather thickness.

]]> https://redoxbrand.sagecreeksaddles.com/2019/03/09/generalized-guide-to-needle-thread-and-awl-sizing-for-hand-stitching/feed/ 2 812 Hand Stitching, Revival of an Ancient Skill. https://redoxbrand.sagecreeksaddles.com/2018/07/27/hand-stitching-revival-of-an-ancient-skill/ https://redoxbrand.sagecreeksaddles.com/2018/07/27/hand-stitching-revival-of-an-ancient-skill/#comments Fri, 27 Jul 2018 19:15:34 +0000 https://redoxbrand.sagecreeksaddles.com/?p=598

Recent years have seen a resurgence of interest in the simple elegance of hand stitched leather work. Mastery with needle and thread is the most fundamental skill in the leather arts. Stitching leather pieces together is a truly ancient skill, which in times past became an art form. The refinement of this form reached a remarkable level among 19th century shoe and boot makers known as Cordwainers, and references can be found for exhibition work being stitched at 64 to the inch.

"St. Crispin IX, 1873 p.181: case of prize-work for Lobb, including jockey with 60 - 1" (this may be Devlin's.)
1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exhn: Gray Bros., Syracuse, NY exhibited 'welts' made by Sandy McCarthy, including 1 pr with 64 stitches to 1" round the forepart.
Wore 2 pr spectacles to do them."   From the Crispin Colloquy.  An internet discussion forum for traditional bespoke shoemaking and allied trades.

Shoemakers use a boar bristle like a needle making what is called a "waxed end" to attach it to the thread.  The maker James Devlin wrote that when he did this kind of work he used one of his daughter’s hairs as a bristle, fine silk for thread, and that the awl blade that he used could pierce his thumb without pain and without bleeding.

If I hadn't seen so many references to this kind of work, I wouldn't believe it.  At that it is still very hard to comprehend.  I find that study of the work done by past masters is always a very good source of humility.

I want to take this opportunity to share a handout that I use in my hand stitching classes.  I'm currently working on an online course for hand stitching.  This step by step reference will be included as part of that course, along with instruction in making butt seams and the box stitch.  Courses will include video lessons, slide show presentations and downloadable content.  Please register an account here so I can notify you of upcoming coursework and check this blog for more free content that you can use and share with friends.

Below is a brief gallery of hand stitching samples.  Thanks for looking in, and I hope you have an enjoyable visit.

[See image gallery at redoxbrand.sagecreeksaddles.com] Hand Stitching Step by Step PDF

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