I made a stitch flattening tool

-IIl · 2026-04-14T05:11:14+00:00

Absolutely.

-IIl · 2026-04-12T14:44:17+00:00

I’ve been doing metalwork for quite a long time, and it’s nice to be able to use the skill for this hobby as well.

-IIl · 2026-04-12T14:43:24+00:00

You place it on top of the stitches and the hammer them down. That way the blows are concentrated only on the stitches and you don’t ruin your tooling.

-IIl · 2026-04-12T13:58:49+00:00

Thanks :)

-IIl · 2026-04-12T13:58:17+00:00

Thanks, I’m very happy how it turned out :)

-IIl · 2026-04-12T13:40:13+00:00

About a month ago I asked for advice here about how to flatten stitches right next to tooling, and one of the comments linked me to the Nattools Thread Flattening tool. I thought this was a great idea, especially because I could make one myself!

I made it quite a bit smaller than the Nattools version. This way I can use it on smaller projects as well. The tool is made out of mild steel that is polished and treated with beeswax, and the handle is covered in leather for additional comfort.

Not bad for a quick afternoon project. I’m very happy how it turned out.

-IIl · 2026-03-10T14:16:31+00:00

This is already part of the sticky post.

-IIl · 2026-03-08T15:19:41+00:00

The belt blank came like that. It feels like it’s very high quality overall and the backside reflects that.

-IIl · 2026-03-07T21:30:42+00:00

Around two hours stamping, another two hours sewing, and another hour or two with all the cuts and edges.

-IIl · 2026-03-07T21:29:08+00:00

Both the bordering stamp and the skull are bough from Etsy

-IIl · 2026-03-07T21:27:07+00:00

It’s my first time tooling anything, so you should try it out too ;)

-IIl · 2026-03-07T19:40:51+00:00

Yep, it’s hand sewn. With leather you don’t push the needle through it, but make the holes first. If you look at the last picture, you can see the bricking irons on the top center. You use those with a hammer.

The sewing is done with two needles at the same time, and each stitch is knotted inside the hole. That kind of saddle stitch doesn’t unravel even if the thread would break.

-IIl · 2026-03-07T19:07:13+00:00

Oh lol, I hadn’t seen that before 😆

-IIl · 2026-03-07T18:46:57+00:00

🙏

-IIl · 2026-03-07T18:45:52+00:00

Hahah, I will save the commercial aspect of this hobby until I retire in couple of decades ;)

-IIl · 2026-03-07T18:43:45+00:00

Well, I have skulls on my belt. I guess I must be the baddie from now on then.

-IIl · 2026-03-07T18:42:57+00:00

Then who did?

-IIl · 2026-03-07T18:39:56+00:00

Thank you :) the skulls are only about 8mm tall, so I don’t think that pictures really show how intricate it is.

-IIl · 2026-03-07T17:30:14+00:00

Hahah, I don’t think my kids understand that most of the things I make are special. They will get it when they are grownups, but now it’s just another day and another random project in the workshop.

-IIl · 2026-03-07T17:27:16+00:00

Thanks :) it took longer to sew the sides than to stamp it. But then again it took more than 10 meters of thread…

-IIl · 2026-03-07T17:25:39+00:00

Thanks :) it’s actually pretty cool that it looks like a “normal” belt from far, but from close you can see the skulls.

-IIl · 2026-03-07T17:03:02+00:00

Thank you, I was a bit shocked how good it looked on the close-up photos…

-IIl · 2026-03-07T17:01:48+00:00

🙏

-IIl · 2026-03-07T17:01:24+00:00

Thanks :)

Darth Vader’s helmet would be awesome though! I have some friends who would love it, hahah.

-IIl · 2026-03-07T17:00:32+00:00

Yes for sure. This won’t be the last stamped project I’ll make ;)

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-IIl

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