mbshop
Well-known member
Sewing awls is a new discovery for me. I have no idea how I have missed them all my life. They are the exact thing I have needed for a loooong time. How did I miss this ?
sewing awls
- Thread starter mbshop
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Ric in Richmond
Well-known member
Careful. It will lead to walking foot heavy duty sewing machines. Sewing awls are a gateway drug.
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my grandma showed me how to fix a shoe once using one (when I was like 10). I've been using them ever since to fix various things, most recently every single back pack I have owned. the cheap plastic d-rings and adjustments on the straps always need to be stitched back together when they break.
find an old one at a flea market or yard sale, they are better quality than the ones that HF sells...
find an old one at a flea market or yard sale, they are better quality than the ones that HF sells...
Just get one from CA Meyers... http://www.awlforall.com/merchant2/index.html
Ric in Richmond
Well-known member
Sailrite has a nice one and so much great stuff to go with. I have one of their zig zag walking foot machines with the flywheel. Awesome machine. http://www.sailrite.com/Speedy-Stitcher-Sewing-Awl-Kit
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JohnDeere1
Banned
I see them at flea markets and alway pass didn't see a use for them I do things the old fashioned way needle and thread.
AZ Pete
Well-known member
+1 for the Speedy Stitcher brand, I have used one for years (bought it in 1969), for all nature of repairs and making belts, holsters and knife sheaths. Great tool. Synthetic sinew is a great sewing thread, by the way.
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Gotcha640
Well-known member
The benefit is that you have a whole wooden handle to push on, rather than just the needle. Getting a needle through a couple layers of leather and heavy canvas without pre-punching all the holes (alignment may be off) or using pliers (inconvenient, slow, could break the needle or slip and poke yourself) is either impossible or unsafe.
Also, with the awl, you don't pass the eye of the needle through the work, so the hole in the work can be smaller and the thread isn't stressed being pulled through.
Forever Fixin
Well-known member
First found out about them when work was getting rid of a bunch of nylon "mule strap" basically webbing without loops and I needed a way to sew loops in it to make it useable. Takes forever and just ended up using a basic sewing machine. Awl still works great for repairing work boots or things that are inconvenient to get onto the machine.
Cope
Well-known member
I've had one of those for many years. Very useful.
AZ Pete
Well-known member
double needle is a fine method, just does not create a lock stitch, and for me requires a stitching horse for many projects. A speedy stitcher packs away in my gear, loaded with thread. I became familiar with them when packing horses in the back country of CO in my college days..
DWise
Well-known member
Great for bicycle sew up tire repair.
Matt The Hammer
Well-known member
Us dudes who play hockey have been using them forever. They work well with soft tops too on Jeeps. The local hardware store carries the Awl for All brand.
isb cornbinder
Well-known member
I bought a JUKI 562 walking foot machine from a local upholstery shop. The shop was downsizing. The JUKI was the second machine and has very little wear. I had it serviced and used it to do the leather upholstery in my 1940 Ford.
The JUKI was perfect for sewing leather binding on the German square weave wool carpet.
I now turn old denim jeans into tool pouches.
Like someone said, that awl is a gateway tool to a leather machine.
Check your Craigslist for a good deal. Bigger commercial sewing machine suppliers often have a few good used machines. If they do not have something for sale, someone may know of a good used machine with one of their customers.
The JUKI was perfect for sewing leather binding on the German square weave wool carpet.
I now turn old denim jeans into tool pouches.
Like someone said, that awl is a gateway tool to a leather machine.
Check your Craigslist for a good deal. Bigger commercial sewing machine suppliers often have a few good used machines. If they do not have something for sale, someone may know of a good used machine with one of their customers.
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sweet victory
Well-known member
I have the speeder stitcher. Got fed up with plane jane car seat covers for dogs not doing their job, so I cut them up and made one fit perfectly. The speedy sitcher was perfect for going through the heavy duty fabric.
Does the cap in the back of that brand stay on well, or does it fall of easy? Is it easy to feed the thread through?
sweet victory
Well-known member
Sometimes it did have feeding issues and I broke a tip, but I was using a string/cord thicker than what it was supplied with and I was going through like 5 layers of fabric. Other than than those two complaints, it worked great.
GirlnAgarage
Well-known member
That they are. Last year I finally sold the Cobra Class III I had for years. I could do everything I needed with that thing. I miss having it's capabilities.
http://www.leathermachineco.com/product/cobra-class-3-heavy-duty-leather-stitcher/
Lets hear it for Speedy Stitcher. Patented in 1909. Made In USA. from materials Made in USA. The needles come straight and curved for thin or thick thread. This is one product I would definitely not substitute some foreign knockoff for. Check out their website for the history of a great old company. I still have mine in the original old faded box. It has saved the day more than once.
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For the Speedy Stitcher and the extra needles pack, it comes to $30 w/S&H. That's a little steep.
HF has a clone for $5 (anyone have any experience?), but if it's made-in-china I wouldn't get it.
I just looked at Walmart, REI, Amazon. Around $13-20. JoAnn fabric at $29 always has big 40% off coupons. You are including expendibles. At least they are available. If HF is getting five bucks what did they pay the poor suckers that made it? What does it come with? Do Speedy Stitcher needles fit? The imported thread spools are too big for the Speedy Stitcher and have to be respooled on their bobbins. It is a pretty cheap item. If I lost mine I would get another one.
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nelstomlinson
Well-known member
My Speedy Stitcher belonged to my parents, and is probably at least 50 years old. If they still make them like they used to, $30 is a good deal.
rlitman
Well-known member
I have an antique Speedy Stitcher, and the HF. The current Speedy Stitcher prices are nuts, but you do get a usable tool. The HF handle is ok. Throw out the included thread and needles. I actually use mine with heavy gauge sewing machine needles.
Campmor $16.99 - 20% coupon= $13.59, with thread and a couple of needles. Various needles: around $3.49 each. That sounds pretty cheap to me, especially considering people have them for many years or pass them on to their kids. This vs the HF with junk needles and thread for $7. Sounds like The Speedy Stitcher is cheaper in the end. Cheap is expensive.
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