Moccasins and kangaroo leather

[Moondog55]

Has anybody here hand stitched kangaroo?
If so how difficult is it and what needles and thread have you used?
I know I need triangular leather needles but wondering more if I need straight , curved or semi circular style needles

[Mark F]

It shouldn't be too hard to hand sew - just use what you would for leather. An alternative is to use a hole punch to make small holes where you want seams and then lace it together with a leather or lace cord. I had a pair of moccasins made from a kit using this method for many years.

[ofuros]

Theres initial resistance but its not that bad.

Size 4 straight needle if your joining leather together in layers...like
a sandwich. Curved if joining edge to edge.
If you have larger needles at home use larger 0.8 or 1mm thread size.

0.6mm Tiger thread(braided polyester) is pretty good but hard
to find in Oz. Lots of colours
0.5mm Carriage thread is good too.(hemp). Lots of colours.
+ a block of wax for waxing the thread.
Your local Spotlight should have cheaper thread.

Online....Birdsall are quick shippers while Tandy is slower.

Have fun with your project, Moondog55.

[Moondog55]

I usually go barefoot in summer but thought that LW proper moccasins might be a fun project and preparation for making a pair of mukluks

[Moondog55]

There is a feller in Tassie selling a batch of second quality skins cheaply
5 for $50- plus postage; I'm going to ask The Boss if I can buy a batch and have a go

[ofuros]

That fella's 'Specials' page is the way to go... ; )

[andrewa]

Ive recently been hand stitching leather for knife sheaths. Easiest to use a roller stitch marker , and an awl and stitch chisel to "pre- mark" the stitch holes. Then a blunt needle can be used to saddle stitch the item. Kangaroo leather is softer, so should be easier. To get around the curve on moccasins you might need to use different stitch spacings on top bit compared with side bits. Leffler leather in West Melbourne sells all you might need ( outside of fleabay). I'm about to make a leather overnight bag from the 1/2 cowhide I bought recently, the offcuts being for sheathes.

It's a different skill set to normal sewing, but fun.

A

[Moondog55]

All leather projects canned until we get ahead on the mortgage.
But I have just shrunk a big woollen blanket so I may get to start on the liners for the mukluks