Sewing Leather

[Percy_of_Nackington]

Hi all

I'm having a go at making some leather garters to tie around the bottom of my 17th C breeches. I've got some strips of leather 1cm wide and 4mm deep. not sure what type/size of needle to get or type of thread.
Or could I get away with using a decorative rivet of some sort.

Thanks Mick

[lucy the tudor]

The Identity Store are a good source of leather needles and linen thread.
I use an awl to make the holes for the stitching first too, it will make your life easier, they don't cost more than a few quid for a starter version.

http://www.theidentitystore.co.uk/

[Merlon.]

Erm do you mean gaiters or garters.
Most garters I have seen for 17th century are either woollen or linen tape and go around the hose not the breeches.

[bart]

Or you could make awl yourself, get round piece of wood (so it feel comfortable in hand) hammer a nail in it (not too deep) and then file down the nails head...does the trick for me.
Identity store is really great, reliable and great customer service:)

[Percy_of_Nackington]

Hi guys

thanks for the quick replies.

Hadn't even thought about an awl, doh.
Will check the identity store in a while. Seems I'm a bit confused about what is what here. So garters go around the hoses and are made of woollen/linen tape and around the bottom of the breeches would be similar?

Mick

[Merlon.]

The cuffs on the bottom of C17 breeches with ties through them exist on in the mind of reenactors
Some breeches did have small bands at the bottom of them with closures such as buttons or hooks and eyes. The vast majority of breeches were loose around the knee, aids movement if nothing else.
Garters exist to hold your hose and not to close breeches, afterall most people don't close the bottom of their trousers do they..
For some basic tutorials on leather sewing look at http://www.bowstock.co.uk/tutorials.html

[Colin Middleton]

You can use a leather needle if you're working with really thin leathers, but normally an awl and a blunt needle is easier and results in less bloodshed, though a little slower.

[Cap-a-pie]

results in less bloodshed

But what would the sweat and tears mix with

and yes Identity Store are really good, lots of helpful advice so always worth calling them if you are not sure what to get.

[Medicus Matt]

As it's 6 months after the OP, you'd hope he'd have finished by now.

Colin, you're a jessy. Razor sharp flat awls and sharp no.6 saddler's needles....that's why the gods gave us sticking plaster and swearing.