DIY Leather

[BigV]

Now I'm going to make the actual lock stitch. I take the free end of the thread on the left and put it through the loop. Then I pull the awl out, leaving the loop of thread "locked" by the thread on the left. I then pull both threads outward in opposite directions, equalizing the tension so the place where they're crossed is in between the layers of leather. If I pull one too far, that side just has a flat straight thread with a little perpendicular crossing thread. Not good. So I have to pull the opposite side until it pulls the straight thread down into the stitch hole and "buries" the lock. Repeat this one million times, give or take.

pic 01: Starting the free end through the loop.

pic 02: Pulling the awl/needle back through the workpiece.