Recommended Items
Best Stitching Pony for Leather Crafting
Experienced insights, guidance, and recommendations on what can help best in your leather crafting.
Recommended Items
Experienced insights, guidance, and recommendations on what can help best in your leather crafting.
When it comes to stitching leather, it can be difficult to hold the material steady while also ensuring that the seams are tight and the thread is pulled smoothly. That’s where a leather stitching pony can come in handy. By holding the leather material securely, it frees up your hands to focus on the stitching work.
If you’re in the market for a stitching pony, I have a couple of recommendations for you. One option is a walnut and oak pony that comes with a metal ball joint clamp for 360-degree positioning (click here to see it on Amazon). It’s available in two sizes and can work well for most leather projects. Another option is a beech wood pony with aluminum fixtures and leather padding on the arms. This one is about 14″ tall with a 13″ base, making it a comfortable size for most crafters. I’ve included links to both options on Amazon if you’re interested in checking them out.
As there are several different types of holders for sewing work, let’s take a closer look at them and determine which one might be the most helpful in your shop.
When it comes to leatherworking, having the right tools can make all the difference. One tool that is essential for hand-stitching leather is a stitching pony, also known as a stitching horse. However, there is actually a lot of variation to options of what are usually referred to as “stitching ponies”. Let’s take a look at the different types, and their more specific names, to help identify which will be most helpful to use.
A stitching stitching pony is a smaller wooden tool with two arms that are used to hold leather items securely while they are being sewn by hand. The stitching pony is generally placed on a chair, and sat on to help secure it in place with the crafter’s weight. Two vertical arms extend up and can hold the leather. They are joined in the middle with an adjustment screw, where the space between them can be widened and narrowed as needed. The leather to be sewn is placed in between the arms, and the arms are tightened, holding the leather in place for more easy stitching with having both hands free.
A stitching horse is a larger wooden piece of leather sewing equipment that has two arms used to hold leather items securely. The stitching horse generally rests on the floor, and includes a seat for a person to sit on. Two large, vertical arms extend up, and can often accommodate very large and thick leather items. They are joined in the middle with an adjustment screw, so the space between them can be widened and narrowed by the crafter as needed. The leather to be sewn is placed in between the arms, and the arms are tightened, holding the leather in place for easier working.
A leather stitching clamp is a smaller wooden tool that has two arms used to hold leather securely while it is being hand-stitched. They’re joined in the middle with an adjustment screw that can make the space between the arms wider or narrower, ensuring a tight hold around the specific leather being worked on. These are generally just a wooden clamp and are often smaller than stitching ponies.
A stitching clam is a wooden tool with two arms used to hold leather items securely for hand-stitching. They’re joined in the middle with an adjustment screw that can make the space between the arms wider or narrower by the crafter, ensuring a tight hold around the specific leather piece or item being worked on. While similar in function to stitching ponies and stitching horses, the stitching clam is a little more simple in design and just slides under one leg for support. It’s position can be adjusted for the proper angle of stitch access or hand movement around the item. The position can also be adjusted for personal comfort.
A leather sewing tower helps makes hand stitching easier by providing a versatile group of holding clamps and surfaces on which to secure leather pieces for stitching. They are often made of wood. They are generally secured to a table top or work bench and extending out (about 9”-12”) is an arm, onto which two additional arms run. Each has screws to adjust their distance to make for comfortable and functional positioning. Leather can be clamped between each of these arms and the main extension.
The main extension can even be positioned higher or lower on the tower. The flexibility of positions offered by the tool and the shape of the main extensions allow for leather to be easily positioned securely for a number of stitching needs, including right-angle stitching options. They are similar in function to stitching horses and stitching ponies, while offering much more variation in item position that can make it enjoyable to work in sitting, standing, or other positions.
When it comes to leather stitching, having the right tools is essential. One of the most important tools is a stitching pony, which holds the leather in place while you work on it. Here are some of the best options available:
The walnut and oak stitching pony is a great option for most projects (click here to find it on Amazon). It comes with a metal ball joint clamp for 360-degree positioning and is available in two sizes (~8″ (20cm) and ~12.5″ (32cm)). Another great option is the beech wood stitching pony with aluminum fixtures and leather padding on the arms (click here to see it on Amazon). It’s about 14″ tall with a 13″ base, making it a comfortable size for most crafters.
If you prefer a full-seat tool, the Weaver stitching horse is an excellent choice (click here to find it on Weaver Leather Supply). It features an oak frame with a pine seat and leather padded arms. There is also an integrated foot pedal that locks the arm jaws. Overall, this is a very nice tool.
The Zhongjiuyuan Wood Leathercraft Hand Stitching Rotatable Leather Stitching Clamp is a great option for those who want a smaller, effective tool (click here to see it on Amazon). It can attach easily to most tables and benches and has an adjustable screw to secure to tables of varying thickness.
For those who prefer flexibility, the Fasttobuy stitching clam is worth a look (click here to find it on Amazon). It can rotate 360 degrees and is made of beech wood with steel hardware. It can be easily used by right or left-handed crafters.
Finally, the Sewing Tower 303 is a great tool for sewing boxes, angled pieces, and providing easy access to both sides of a seam (click here to check it out on Fine Leatherworking). It provides adjustable height and is made from quality ash wood, with a 3″ wide tower and 9″ long arm.
There are many great options available for leather stitching ponies, horses, clamps, clams, and towers. It’s important to choose the right tool for your needs and preferences to ensure the best possible results.
I highly recommend adding a stitching pony, clam, or tower to your crafting tools. These tools can greatly improve your hand sewing experience by making it faster and easier. With so many options available, there is sure to be one that fits your style of working. Don’t hesitate to give one a try and see the benefits for yourself.
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