Just finished a 1 1/4" double layer, dress, basic black gun belt for a forum member.
It's all hand stitched, stitches are recessed both front and back. He supplied the buckle.

7 oval holes spaced 3/4" apart.


Liner skived in at buckle end.

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Very nice work as always.

It might be basic but it's also very elegant.

Snubby, I've got to ask, how long does it take to hand stitch a belt like that? One piece of thread or do you splice it?
I can't bring myself to do one.
Good job by the way.

Very Nice work..
I never use to make many belts because it took Forever and a day to hand stitch one.

( purchased a leather sewing machine a few years ago.. )

Glad ya like it.
Couldn't say for sure 5,6 or so hours. I'd stitch a bit, take a break, get a snack, check the forum, stitch a bit, take a break, etc.
One big long thread. I could splice it, nobody'd see it, it'd be just as strong but I'd know and it'd stand out like a sore thumb to me.
It does take a while but I have time and I ain't got nowhere I need to be.

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Snubby, you do punch the holes first, right? Matching them between the inner and outer layers? I can't imagine trying to put a needle through two thicknesses of leather if they didn't have holes in them already.

So, assuming the holes are there, how do you do that? And keep them as evenly spaced as they are?

I'm still in awe of how you leatherworkers do your thing. The material is so tough; seems like you'd have to have tremendous finger and hand strength to do it.

The belt you made for me, I wear just about every day now.

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Ukraine -- now more than ever

I can watch a LOOOOOONg movie while stitching one. That's after everything is glued and holes punched. I don't make many either.


Good looking belt!

Fer stitchin', first I determine how I want the stitches to look and how best to stitch for the application.
First the bits to be stitched are contact cemented together, then I'll mark the stitch line with dividers, a scratch awl or a stitch groover. I'll use pricking irons (those fork looking things) put them on the line and give 'em a good whack with a mallet. After all the hole locations are marked, I'll open 'em up with a stitching awl.
The actual stitching is done with harness needles and waxed nylon thread using a saddle stitch and paying attention to the orientation of the thread in relation to the angle and direction of the angled, diamond shaped stitching holes. The points on the needles are blunted to help prevent piercing the thread or your fingers.
Stitching technique is important as well, especially when it's something like a belt with lotsa stitches. After determining how best to orient the stitches, I make sure that every stitch is done the same way and that I never drop the needles. They're either in my hands or in the leather, never dangling. fishing around for the needles takes extra time and after a couple thousand stitches, it adds up.

It's not so much finger and hand strength as it is a scary sharp, polished and stropped awl. If all it took was finger strength, I'd be seriously screwed with my peripheral neuropathy.

That's how I do it, others have their own techniques for stitchin' leather.

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Wow. The patience and concentration that this must take. Amazing.

Just another question: the awl makes the holes that you've "center punched" with the other tools, so do you have to push the awl through the two thicknesses of leather by hand only, or do you strike the awl with a mallet to create the holes? And, if you use the mallet, what do you use on the other side of the leather to absorb the sharp end of the awl -- a piece of wood, or something like that?

Thanks for the glimpses into your creative process!

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Ukraine -- now more than ever

Very nice! Didn't know you were into karate.

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After I give the pricking irons a good wack, the leather is already penetrated quite deeply.
I push the awl through by hand, never hit it. It's very sharp and polished and penetrates the leather the rest of the way with relative ease. Pushing it by hand helps me to eyeball it and keep the backside of the stitch line straight.
Generally all I use is that green mat in the picture.

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Yeah, I know Karate, Judo, Kung Fu and a few other Asian words.

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Nice lookin' belt snubby. Top notch for sure.

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paws for friendship

One of Stubbyfans cross draw holesters

Attached Images

image.jpg (140.1 KB, 89 views)

Thanks for posting a pic of it ridin' right where it's supposed to go. Looks like the cant's just right, any more and the butt'd stick out too far, any less and it'd be awkward.

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Nice belt, I might have to "borrow" some design elements.

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I complain about hand stitching small projects and rifle cuffs...you guys can keep the hand stitching! Looks great Snubby

Thanks, like I tell people, if you want to learn patience, hand stitch a double layer leather belt.

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I could use the lesson, for sure, but I already have the belt.

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Ukraine -- now more than ever

very nice...

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Cheers, Charles
SWCA #2442