The Crispin Colloquy

I've posted pictures of Tom's Gritzner in the "Curved Needle" topic, since I think that's a more logical place for them than here.

They can be found at: http://www.thehcc.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1184

Alasdair,

Admin thanks you.

It is not only gratifying, but takes some of the load off our shoulders, to see that level of cooperation and respect for the syntax and structure of the board.

Emmett

To follow up on the hammers question, these illustrations are from the 1927 Barnsley catalogue (via Salaman)



Tight Stitches
DWFII--HCC Member

I'm looking for a stitch marker. The kind that has 2 rounded teeth with a curved hollow between them. So far all I can find is the rotary kind. I don't want that kind.

Hello all,

I am looking for a supplier that carries the ready made inseaming thread,the type DW uses. Thanks for your help.

Nasser

http://www.mainethread.com/chart.html

They have unwaxed cord on spools, although I don't know that it is on the website.

Lance

Mark:

I don't know, but you could probably make one for yourself. I have a bunch that appear to be homemade, since each one is different. I have a bunch of 16 spi ones, so I could spare one of those if you would be interested, though the stitch length is probably too small. If you would like me to post some pics to give you an idea of how to make one, let me know. I think it would just take a cutting wheel on a Dremel, and perhaps a fine diamond file, along with some sort of metal shaft for the marker (e.g. a large broken awl, an old screwdriver, or something similar.)

Lance

Lance,

I don't know about anyone else, but I'd love to see those pictures on the forum somewhere.

Thanks.

Thank you Lance, I ordered some 6 cord to test.

Nasser

Alasdair:

Pics posted in the "Tools of the Trade' section.

Lance

Nassar,

I just bought a bundle from Panhandle leather in Amarillo Texas. They are dacron thread tapered and waxed ends.

806-373-0535

The last batch I had worked fine. It takes 2 peices to make each shoe as they are about 6ft long and tapered on both ends.

Paul

Nasser,

I think I use 8 cord, unwaxed. You can make it any length you'd like, taper it and wax it with your regular hand wax and it comes in turquoise and raspberry and other mischievous colours.

Tight Stitches
DWFII--HCC Member

lance,

Yes if you could post some pics. that would be nice. Also if your willing to part with one of what you have let me know.

thanks mark

Ok. thanks I just saw your posting of the pics. They look a little different than the pictures in the book that I have which is the same as several of the videos that i've seen online. Like you say maybe a screwdriver or the like would work. mark

DW,

Thank you, A question or two about Teklon thread,Is the ready made/cut thread they are selling waxed or not? I hope it is,that is the reason i am buying it,my hand wax gets very hard in winter when temperature is -15-20 over night and the shop is not heated at night, Is the 8 cord equal to the linen 8 cord of let's say #10? Is the 6 cord strong enough for inseaming men's shoes? Thanks.

Nasser

Nasser,

It is my understanding that the wax used on all pre-waxed dacron tapers (whether they be from Maine Shoe or some other source) is paraffin. Paraffin is petro-chemically derived and has no "tack" to speak of.

Combine no tack with the slickness of the dacron and it can be hard to make a tight stitch. I am of the opinion that it is better to start with unwaxed and use...if nothing else...the blocks of hot melt stitcher wax, as is, than start with pre-waxed. I know from your demo at Lisa's that you use hot-melt stitcher wax to make your hand wax. Just use it "straight."

I was told that the 8 cord Teklon is equivalent to 10-11 cord in linen. I don't know how to make the comparison, except to say that I used to make all my waxed ends out of 10 strands of #10 linen yarn. When I switched to Teklon, I thought the 8 cord dacron was a smaller diameter than the linen. I've come to prefer it that way and since the dacron is stronger I don't feel any concern. (I've never broken or been able to break the dacron). I would think you might find the 6 cord a little small but perhaps using a smaller awl would compensate.

Tight Stitches
DWFII--HCC Member

One of the interesting things about the unwaxed Teklon is that you can cut enough for your purpose and then reduce the number of cords from, say, 8 to 6 cords. And then save the two extra cords til you have 6 again.

There's a lot of flexibility in that. I've inseamed mens and womens shoes; welt stitched, and round closed all from the same roll of 8 cord. As well as all kinds of odd reinforcing or stitching jobs done with remnants.

One word of caution: Teklon will never tighten down as well as linen...it's not linen and you have to come to terms with that (if nothing else there's a small amount of stretch in Teklon that is not in linen). With a good wax and an overcast, it may come close, but it's tight enough that "grinning" is not an issue.

Tight Stitches
DWFII--HCC Member

DW,

Thank you for that, I added some 8 cord thread to my order.

Nasser

DW,
Would you post a video or explanation of how you create a nice taper from a strand of Teklon?

Lisa

Lisa,

I could be wrong (I'm getting old) but as I recall you have a sequence of photos and an explanation in the the Full Wellington book. There might even be a short video clip that is on the same disc that shows this.

That said I'd be glad to post a photo essay if others are interested.

Tight Stitches
DWFII--HCC Member

Hey guys there's a video already here.

http://www.thehcc.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1317
Is this the one your thinking of DW? It's a goodin' Lisa.

More power to y'awl
T.

Due to archiving, a lot of these early attempts to attach video to posts, have gotten mis-linked over time.

The above link that Tom provided won't get you to the video. But I have added the video to the Cinema Verite forum.

Thanks Tom for reminding me that I had made that video...I plumb forgot.

Tight Stitches
DWFII--HCC Member

DW,

That reminds me, is there a way with this forum software to link to specific post IDs rather than just the forum ID? Google isn't vending an answer.

Thanks.

Click on that little tiny icon that looks sort of like a folder with an infinity symbol on it. It's next to each post, next to those blue arrows.

Diane,

Well, lookit that. Thank you!