So here is something else from the trade show. Leather can be a challenge. This thought was put forth by someone in a seminar. The reason a surgeon has so many scalpels is because a persons skin is very tough to cut and quickly dulls the blades, therefore after doing leather the needle on your embroidery machine needs to be changed. It was the first time I had heard that one. I know we are usually really careful on how we sew a design for leather to ensure we don't cut it and make it pop out. Usually I try to use more fills than satin stitches and need to lighten up on densities in order to keep the row of stitches from cutting. I also usually add some extra underlay to ensure there is still good colour coverage. Certainly Leather is tougher than most fabrics we embroider but I hadn't heard that the needle should be changed after.

Some other things I have heard about leather are that sharp needles need to be used so they pass through the leather better. On the other hand I have also heard that ball points punch a bigger hole which is better for leather. Yet another machine mechanic said that once a sharp needle has been used for awhile it becomes a ball point anyway. So you figure it out! Let me know if you come up with a definitive answer.

The Embroidery Dinosaur

Beverley Field