If you’re like me, you have a ton of sewing projects that you want to start but never seem to get around to because it seems too daunting. I’m here to show you how easy it can be to sew leather with a leather sewing awl! This is a great way to make custom-fit clothing and accessories, but it’s also an enjoyable project for any Leatherworking hobbyist.
Awl –
A pointed tool that is used for marking surfaces or for making small holes in leather, wood, cloth etc.
An awl is a tool with a pointed metal tip and a wooden handle to help apply pressure to the point tip end to create a hole in an object. It is used to poke holes in heavy-duty fabrics, and some awls are also made for sewing seams in these types of fabrics.
In this article, I’ll walk you through the steps on how to use a leather sewing awl, as well as show you some of the best techniques for stitching leather together. Leather sewing awl is a great way to make custom leather clothing and accessories. Leather sewing awl is used on all types of leathers, including suede.
You can use a stitching or sewing awl with any of the following items (for repairing them or sewing them):
- shoes
- saddles
- leather handbags
- canvas
- outdoor gear
- luggage
- belts
- Plastic
Who should Use: Awls are a great tool in the home sewing enthusiast’s toolbox when needing to make a hole for the insertion of a heavy thread, chain or brad when there is a need to attach a piece of heavy fabric or leather to another object.
When to Use: Use handy tool to create a clean circular hole in a heavy piece of scrap fabric or leather.
Why Use: Using an awl makes creating a hole a snap and with it’s pointed tip it will go through heavy pieces of leather, vinyl, canvas or fabric.
What Is a Leather Sewing Awl?
A leather sewing awl is a tool used to punch holes in two pieces of leather so that you can sew them together. This can be useful for repairing items or making something new entirely from the material. Most people familiar with stitching leather know how to use an awl, but there are some tips and tricks to consider when getting the best results.
As it goes down, it makes a small puncture in the leather. Then, as you pull up on it using either your hand or, more often, a pair of pliers, it pulls out a small “plug” from the hole created by turning itself around as it comes up and out of the permanently made hole. I’m not sure how much faster hand stitching you can do this way, but it’s quicker, and the stitches come out better.
Summary: A leather sewing awl is a simple yet versatile tool that can be used to stitch thick and thin leather materials. It consists of an awl handle with a spike, a spool of line, and four different sizes of needles. To use the awl, start by threading the line through the eye of the needle and slide it down onto the spike of the handle. Push down firmly on the needle as you pull it along, piercing through both sides of your material for even stitches.
Size：
----Diamond Shape Size S : (for 3mm chisel) Width of Tip: 2.0 - 2.1mm
----Diamond Shape Size M:(for 4mm chisel)Width of Tip: 2.5 - 2.6mm
----Diamond Shape Size L:(for 5mm chisel)
----Circular Shape Awl: Diameter 2.0mm
Correct usage of awl
- The needle tip needs to be polished frequently. If the needle tip is not sharp, it needs to be pressed vigorously, which is easy to cause the needle to break. we recommed to polish with green stick / grinding paste / sandpaper.
- Due to the use characteristics of the awl, all the awl needles have the same thickness up and down, without conical degree.In the process of stress, the lateral force is very strong, so it is necessary to avoid the operation of strong pressure as far as possible.
- Especially because the needle size in S itself is very slender, more thinner than the other brand,so we recommend to use in total thickness of about 5-6 oz. and please don't overexert when using.
- When using the awl, in order to reduce the probability of needle damage.it is recommended to hold the exposed part of the awl with the index finger.