Ml 



THE FAUMEKS HANDBOOK. 



<i. The stitches be made towards the operator. 



7. The work be closely and firmly held in the claiUf 



8. The stitches be of equal length. 



9. The holes be of equal size and angle. 



Preparing for Stitching. 



When neat work is required, wheel-prickers are used bo mark the line of 

 -titching. These can be fitted with wheels to mark for any number of 

 stitches per inch. The points on the wheel cut into the leather and make a 

 distinct mark where the holes are to be made with the awl (Fig. 13). 



It is necessary to have 

 the work securely fastened 

 .so that it will not move 

 whilst being stitched. Cut 

 tacks are used for this pur- 

 pose, and are drawn when 

 the work is finished. 



The sharp edges of the 

 leather must be removed. 

 This is done with the edge 

 tool. Edge tools are made 

 in various sizes to suit the 

 class of leather. 



The ends of the leather 



must frequently be levelled 



before stitching, to obtain 



an even thickness and 



Fig. 14.— Shaving leather with the Round Knife. smooth surface ; as, for 



instance, in stitching on a 

 buckle. This is done by shaving the ends down with a round knife (Fig. 14). 



The work, whilst being 

 between the knees, and 

 are kept in position by 

 resting the end on the 

 floor, passing the clams 

 under the right leg, and 

 resting them on the left. 

 By their use the hands 

 are left free for stitching. 

 The operator must sit 

 with his thighs horizontal, 

 or the clams will tend to 

 slip away. 



The awl is pushed 

 through the leather from 

 the upper side at a slight 

 angle. This, besides pre 

 venting the holes tearing 



Stitching. 



stitched, is held by the clams. 



These are held 



Fig. 15.— Using the awl. 



