Hand stitching with sewing awl

I'm practicing with a sewing awl for when I'm sewing on some final
do-dads to my canvas covers. Following the instructions I can get
about three consecutive stitches and then I discover that instead of
one line on the awl side of the material, I have three! Must have
varied what I'm doing but can't figure what I''m doing different.
Anyone seen this and have a suggestion?

Second - If I'm using nylon thread vice thick waxed twine, how can I
increase the thread tension? - Mike

It sounds like you are pulling the bottom thread up through the material.
One of the reasons for that is the hole is to big. The needles that come
with sewing awls are quite large. Intended for sewing heavy leather. The
holes they punch in canvas are way to large. The needles are standard
industrial machine needles. Any good sewing machine repair/supply should be
able to get you a more appropriate size. About a # 22 is what you are
looking for. To increase the thread tension, wrap the thread several times
around the tension knob.


"Michael Horowitz" wrote in message
...
I'm practicing with a sewing awl for when I'm sewing on some final
do-dads to my canvas covers. Following the instructions I can get
about three consecutive stitches and then I discover that instead of
one line on the awl side of the material, I have three! Must have
varied what I'm doing but can't figure what I''m doing different.
Anyone seen this and have a suggestion?

Second - If I'm using nylon thread vice thick waxed twine, how can I
increase the thread tension? - Mike

CW - Yes, I am pulling thread from the bottom,up to the top where the
top thread 'locks' the stitch before I pull the string back down!

I'm using the needle that I had been using on the sewing machine; a
'jeans' needle.

The nylon thread is thin so wrapping it around the tension knob does
no good.

I'll try and see if waxing the thread will make it stiffer and see
what that does -

Thanks, Mike

"CW" wrote:

It sounds like you are pulling the bottom thread up through the material.
One of the reasons for that is the hole is to big. The needles that come
with sewing awls are quite large. Intended for sewing heavy leather. The
holes they punch in canvas are way to large. The needles are standard
industrial machine needles. Any good sewing machine repair/supply should be
able to get you a more appropriate size. About a # 22 is what you are
looking for. To increase the thread tension, wrap the thread several times
around the tension knob.


"Michael Horowitz" wrote in message
.. .
I'm practicing with a sewing awl for when I'm sewing on some final
do-dads to my canvas covers. Following the instructions I can get
about three consecutive stitches and then I discover that instead of
one line on the awl side of the material, I have three! Must have
varied what I'm doing but can't figure what I''m doing different.
Anyone seen this and have a suggestion?

Second - If I'm using nylon thread vice thick waxed twine, how can I
increase the thread tension? - Mike

Problem solved: I was threading the free end of the thread on the
wrong side of the needle. - Mike

Problem solved: I was threading the free end of the thread on the
wrong side of the needle. - Mike

Ah, that would do it, all right! Glad you figured it out, Mike.

Karen Maslowski in Cincinnati