11
A customer in my store insisted I was wasting my time with hand sewing
This was about three months ago. A guy came in looking for some heavy-duty thread, and I was working on a half-bound leather journal at the counter. He watched for a minute and said, 'You know, a machine stitch would hold that better and take you a fraction of the time.' I explained that for this kind of binding, the flexibility and control of a hand-sewn kettle stitch is what you want, and that the thread tension needs to be just right. He shook his head and told me, 'I've been in printing for twenty years. Speed and strength are what matter. That old way is just for looks.' It stuck with me because it wasn't just about a different method, it was a complete dismissal of the craft itself. The book I was working on is still holding up perfectly, by the way. Has anyone else had to defend a slower, hands-on technique as being more than just nostalgia?
3 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In3 Comments
ninal912mo ago
But the right hand stitch is stronger in the long run.
4
tara_palmer9d ago
Oh man, that stinks when people just don't get the craft behind it! A friend of mine had a similar thing with her leather goods shop and @ninal91 is totally right, the right hand stitch really does last longer.
3