[amayausers.com] Re: Sewing on Leather
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- Date: Wed, 11 Feb 2009 18:33:03 UT
This message was posted by The Embroidery Authority on AmayaUsers.com. PLEASE
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Blair,
Remember that leather is a skin and not a fabric. It's properties will be
different with respect to thickness and quality. You should have a good
working knowledge of your Acti-feed and Standard settings so not to have too
tight of stitches on thin or weak garments and also be knowledgable about
density settings so that you are not putting your needle penetrations too close
to one another which could lead to ripping the garment at the slightest touch.
You say this is for a motorcycle seat. I worry that your customer or their
rider will be sitting on the finished work????? This could tear the leather.
I would be prone to "line" this leather with another stronger fabric underneath
and secure it with hidden stitches, glue or tape.
You also do not want to have unnecesary needle penetrations as holes in leather
do not always close up. So don't go hog wild with underlay and lock stitches.
When digitizing, every stitch in the design has to be considered as "necessary".
There are needles that have a "wedge" shaped point used in sewing on leather
type goods which gives more of a "slit" shaped hole rather than a "round" hole.
I don't believe Melco offers these needles in Melco Mart. They are referred
to as "leather needles".
When it comes to needle size, It's been said that a smaller needle, such as the
70/10, will have less friction against the sides of the needle as it penetrates
the leather than a 75/11 or 80/12 needle. Remember that leather won't "flex"
like fabric does so less friction won't allow the needle to heat up as easily.
A hot needle will be a softer needle and will be able to "deflect" more easily
which leads to potential broken threads and broken needles.
Also slow your machine speed down and watch the machine as it sews because you
only get one shot when sewing on leather type goods. ....And leather ain't
cheap.
In short,... practice, practice, practice. Buy some fake leather at the
fabric store to mess around with first.
Best of luck to you.
Ed Orantes
Melco Tech & Trainer
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