Needle and thread help

[Urban_Redneck]

I've tried the seach function to no avail...

I'm having trouble determining and sourcing the correct size linen thread and corresponding needles to sew my first leather hunting bag. I see 3,4,5, cord, size 30, 40, etc. descriptions are always "great for leather"....

I bought a small spool of thread off amazon and it seems too fine for 4-5 oz leather, although it's too thick to pass through the eye of the 1/0 harness needles I purchased. Since then, I bought the T.C. Albert book and it's noticeably silent on thread and needle sizes as well.

If anyone can shed some light and share some sources, I would greatly appreciate it.

[Sandy]

Do another search for "every man cobbler". Great tutorials.

[Brokennock]

I would highly recommend purchasing amd reading, "The art of hand sewing leather," before you proceed further.
There is a lot there that may not apply directly to your current project, but there is some very valuable information for all leather work.... especially tapering the ends of your thread. How and why.


Also I will second the advice to look up the series of topics from The Capgun Kid entitled "Everyman a Cobbler." I believe he also touches on tapering your thread ends as well as a bunch of other helpful tips.

[P.W.Berkuta]

Go to Springfield Leather Supplies and call or email them then ask them your question. They will give you the answers you seek. They will supply with the correct needles and thread for your job.

[James Rogers]

I recommend 4 cord. Anything over 4 cord is overkill. Use no.2 harness needles. The book above is a good source to get you started but avoid the stitch grooving unless you are doing western cowboy stuff. As said, pre-made thread needs to be shaved a bit on the very ends before waxing whereas a handmade thread is tapered in its construction. Off the shelf, a no. 42 harness awl and a saddlers palm awl are good choices. You will need to sharpen and polish the awl.

[Urban_Redneck]

I recommend 4 cord. Anything over 4 cord is overkill. Use no.2 harness needles.

Thanks for the reply, is a No. 2 needle different from an "00" needle? The only source I've seen for 4 cord linen thread seems only to sell 1lb spools, far more than I need for the few projects I have planned. Can you share a source or two?

Thanks

[James Rogers]

I recommend 4 cord. Anything over 4 cord is overkill. Use no.2 harness needles.

Thanks for the reply, is a No. 2 needle different from an "00" needle? The only source I've seen for 4 cord linen thread seems only to sell 1lb spools, far more than I need for the few projects I have planned. Can you share a source or two?

Thanks

You need Osborne no. 517-2 harness needles for 4 cord. Im sure even Amazon has them and any number of leather working suppliers. Unwaxed 4 cord is hard to come by in anything less than pound spools.

[T.C.Albert]

Size “0” needles from Tandy and a roll or two of waxed linen cord from hobby lobby or some other big box store will do for a bag or two.



That should help get you started at least until you can do as James suggests. It’s a little thinner (.65mm) than traditional 4 ply Irish linen cord (about .9mm) and will nicely fit the smaller “0” size harness needle. Plus it’s pre-waxed, cheap  and easy to find off the shelf at any hobby lobby. The harness needles will need to be ordered and cone in 10 packs from Tandy

[James Rogers]

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