The good old awl-hook - we make it from a bicycle knitting needle! How to sew with a shoe awl
For many, sewing with their own hands has become a favorite pastime or hobby. However, this process is quite laborious and requires not only perseverance and patience, but also certain skills and knowledge. Experienced needlewomen know that not every material can be pierced or stitched. sewing needle. For example, to work with leather, fur or cardboard, you simply cannot do without an awl.
What is an awl?
Shil is called hand tool, which is used for piercing or stitching thick materials. Outwardly, it resembles a thick needle, which is stuck into the handle for convenience and greater emphasis. Previously, the handle of the tool was made of wood, now more and more common plastic handles. Today, you can buy this tool at any hardware or sewing store, and before that, you made an awl with your own hands.
Where is the awl used?
The awl has long been used for stitching together rough materials and piercing holes. Long time This tool was used in the office. Shilu was often used in carpentry and carpentry, but this hand tool is still in greatest demand among shoemakers and seamstresses.
We sew with an awl correctly
Many needlewomen and sewing masters use such a needle with a handle. But, unfortunately, not everyone knows how to sew with an awl correctly. There are several main ways to use this tool. We sew with an awl using two technologies:
1. We pierce the holes and thread the thread with your hand. In this case, the awl is used only as auxiliary tool. This method is commonly called the old-fashioned method, but many carpenters, shoemakers and archive workers resort to this method again and again.
2. We pierce the hole and use the awl to push the thread into it. This method is the most difficult and requires additional skills, because with an awl you can easily break the thread or damage the material.
We sew with an awl using method No. 1:
First of all, you need to take the awl correctly - the end of the handle should rest against the palm;
The blade of the tool should be at an angle of 45 degrees, the punctures should be uniform so that the stitches of the thread are the same;
To make it easier to pierce the material, you need to rest the fingers of the other hand against the fabric with reverse side;
If the awl is stuck in the material, try turning it several times around its axis;
One hole must be done in one go, otherwise you will have to spend extra time redoing your work. Holes are best made at a distance of 7-10 mm from each other.
We sew with an awl method No. 2:
We make holes in the material using the technology described above;
We hook the thread with the end of the blade of the awl and gently push it inside. Some shoemakers still use this technology, but more often craftsmen use special tool- sewing awl.
How to sew with an awl with an eye?
Outwardly, the piercing awl resembles a fishing hook, which has a special groove for the thread. To learn how to sew with an awl with an eye, you need to master the technique of owning such a tool. It is best to first practice on cardboard or other dense material. We sew with an awl with an eye:
We pierce the hole in the previous way;
Insert the thread into the groove of the tool;
We make a thread tension;
We take out the awl from the back side already with the thread in the hook;
We insert the free end of the thread into the loop formed and drag it through;
From the front side, the loop must be pulled out, but from the wrong side, the thread must be kept in a slight tension, and so on, stitch by stitch.
By following this algorithm of actions, you can quickly learn how to sew with an awl. However, do not forget about safety precautions - work with a sharpened tool, but only in a well-lit room. In addition, to make it easier for you to work, the thread can be dipped into the wax, then it will slip more smoothly into the hole.
Not a single instrument, except for the awl, has managed to win such popular love, expressed in numerous sayings, jokes and aphorisms. But finding the tool itself on the shelves will be problematic. However, everyone can make an awl-hook or its other form!
What kind of awl is changed for soap - a variety of tools
Shilo refers to those simple tools, without which sometimes all work flies into hell. For example, you need to pierce a small hole in a leather jacket to carry a key fob, which seems to be nothing complicated. But there is no awl at hand, and then throwing begins in search of a gypsy needle or sharp object, capable of making the right hole, picking with these uncomfortable devices in the right place, followed by injuries to the palms, scratched skin and spoiled mood for the whole day.
The absence of an awl in the list of our home tools is due to its infrequent need for it, although if it were available, you would probably find more than one point of its use.
Plus, when such a need arises, you start thinking - well, don’t run to the hardware store for some kind of awl. That’s when we have to buy some kind of tool, then we’ll buy an awl ... True, when it comes to visiting hardware store, no one will remember the awl, until the moment when it is not needed again. And the situation described above is repeated again. This cycle can be stopped in just some half an hour, taking the time to create an awl. By the way, in this case you will be completely confident in the quality of the tool! But first, let's figure out what can be meant by this word.
An awl as it is - from clerical to shoe!
Stationery punchers in a sense can be called a form of evolution of the stationery awl, because once upon a time not a single one could do without it. paper production. It was the stationery awl that was the first to feel the effect of progress, giving way to a more advanced hole maker. An awl of this type is distinguished, first of all, by its rather “flimsy” design - a thin rod, a plastic handle. However, in order to pierce several sheets of paper, more is not needed.
- The shoe awl, which is often used in shoe shops, has a stronger shaft that can pierce the skin and a reliable handle.
- An awl-hook is often called a shoe awl, but this is not true, since the previous version should be called just once. If you really want, then a shoe awl-hook. Its main difference from the usual awl is the tip of the tool in the form of a miniature harpoon.
- An awl with an eye, it is also a sewing awl, differs in that at the end of the point there is a needle eye similar to different sizes. In many ways, the tool is able to perform the same functions as the hook option, but nevertheless, it is inferior to it in strength, therefore, this type is much more often used in tailoring to work with suede, fabrics or soft leather.
- Awl trihedral allows you to work with especially hard materials, since the presence of three faces gives the rod a special strength. However, the holes are larger than with a conventional awl.
- An awl knife is a special type of tool that has gained popularity among connoisseurs of pu-erh tea. The fact is that pu-erh comes in compressed bricks or tablets, which should be divided into layers before use, preferably without damaging the pressed leaves. For these purposes, a knife-awl is used, which, unlike conventional tool, has a flattened and sharpened tip, which is convenient for layering tea.
We make an awl with our own hands - a convenient modification
The awl itself is not multifunctional. However, with your own hands you can do exactly that, which is able to put together all the functions performed different types sewed. This is achieved thanks to the ability to change the head with the rod. And making a set of rods is not difficult.
For work you will need: a wooden handle, which can be taken from an old file, a piece of sandpaper, an eight-millimeter bolt up to 4 cm long, a three-millimeter bolt or a screw 1 cm long, wrench for the size of a large bolt, drills with a diameter of 6 mm and 2.5 mm, a drill (or even better - drilling machine), a tap for threading, several bicycle spokes, preferably from old, Soviet wheels, as well as a bar or an electric sharpener. The second can be used if you have experience with such a tool.
How to make an awl with your own hands - a step by step diagram
Step 1: Cooking the Pen
If the pen is new or hasn't been in service for a long time, it needs to be properly sanded with sandpaper to get rid of burrs or dirt. After we drill a hole in the handle with a depth equal to the height of an eight-millimeter bolt.
Step 2: Making a bolt head
An eight-millimeter bolt will act as a nozzle for different rods. To do this, we drill two holes in its cap with a 2.5 mm drill - one directed into the depth of the bolt, about 2-3 cm deep, while the second is drilled from the side in the cap, trying to cross the first drilled hole as accurately as possible.
Step 3: Fasten the bolt to the handle
We lightly drive the bolt into the prepared hole and then screw it in to the full possible depth using an open-end wrench. The tighter the bolt is, the better.
Step 4: Carving
In the side hole with a tap, we cut a thread for a three-millimeter bolt.
Step 5: Prepare the rod
Bicycle spokes are made from alloyed carbon steel, which is often used in tool making, so the best option not to be found for sewing. We cut the knitting needle to the length we need and grind the tip to, trying to get an even point. Please note that an awl that is too long loses its strength with every millimeter of length, it can bend to the very wrong moment, so it's better to make a short tool.
If you want to make a rod for a hook, then flatten the end of the knitting needle with a hammer, cut out a notch for the thread in the middle of the flattened area. You can cut the groove with a needle file or a small grinder with diamond disc. The second option is more convenient, since the groove is narrower and deeper. The notch should be at an angle, directed towards the point, so that it is convenient to grab the thread. When the notch is ready, sharpen the point to get the shape of a miniature harpoon.
Then, in order to get rid of small burrs that will interfere with your work, take a nylon thread lubricated in GOI grinding paste, adding a drop of machine oil to this. We clamp the rod in a vice with the tip up and hook the thread into the notch. We drive the thread from side to side for at least 20 minutes to get a perfect flat surface grooves. All that remains to be done is to insert the desired rod into the fasteners we made and tighten it with a small bolt. At your leisure, you can replenish the collection with rods of different lengths, thicknesses and shapes.
With its help, do neat holes, and lay seams in thick, dense materials (leather, jeans, suede).
Some types of awls are used in the processing of wood.
This device is popular with needlewomen, seamstresses, shoemakers, carpenters, joiners.
Device and characteristics
An awl is a simple hand tool that consists of only two parts: a shaft and a handle.
The working part of the device resembles a fat game.
Its end can be straight pointed, with a hook or a hole.
Wide range of models different types presented in household and construction supermarkets, as well as in catalogs of online stores.
Material
The material of manufacture depends on the purpose of the tool.
The working part is made of high quality, durable steel, which is subjected to heat treatment.
Manufacturers often use chrome vanadium steel, chrome or nickel plating the needle.
The rod can be straight, cone-shaped,
trihedral, faceted, spiral, etc.
The handle is made of wood or high quality plastic with rubberized inserts for more comfortable use.
Dimensions and weight
Sewing accessories are quite light and easy to use.
The weight of the models ranges from 40 to 150 grams.
The length of the needle is 10-40 cm, the diameter is 2-4 mm.
There are other modifications, but they, as a rule, have a narrow scope, are used only when performing certain types of work.
Types of awl and their purpose
The range of sewing accessories is quite wide.
To really buy good device, which will help you in your work, first decide on its purpose.
What will you do with an awl: do needlework, sew a leather coat, repair shoes or file documents.
Depending on the scope of application, the models are divided into several types.
Shoe
The main differences between specimens of this species are a reliable handle and a durable rod.
The tool is used in shoe shops.
With it, you can sew leather products, repair shoes made of suede, leather, substitutes.
Sewing
In the design of the awl, which belongs to this species, a hole is provided for threading the thread.
The device is used when working with dense fabrics (jeans, leather, suede).
Carpentry
Models of this type are equipped with triangular needles, which gives them special strength and density.
Such devices can be used for wood processing.
Stationery
They are not so strong and reliable, because. designed to work with paper, used for stapling documents.
Carpentry
Tools of this type are also used for working with wood.
They are equipped with needles made of chrome-vanadium steel, covered with chrome, which provides them with excellent performance and long service life.
Want to get all in one?
Try making a homemade awl.
This is a universal, multifunctional device, the design of which provides a hole for different nozzles.
A set of rods for performing different types of work can be done at your leisure.
What you need to know about sewing
To work with the tool comfortably and conveniently, when choosing, pay special attention to the quality of the handle.
The handle must be strong, resistant to deformation, perfectly polished, without any defects on the surface.
Distinguish good tool from low-quality it is possible even in appearance.
If you prefer plastic, make sure that it has a dense shell that does not crack during operation.
The rod must be screwed in securely so that you can work not only with fabrics, but also with more dense materials.
Even needlewomen and seamstresses who often use this tool in their work may not know how to use it correctly.
The principle of operation of the device is very simple: we pierce a hole in the material, push the thread into the eye of the awl, bring the needle back, make a loop.
But even here there are nuances.
Fundamental rules:
Take the awl correctly - the end of the handle should rest against the palm;
needle tilt - 45 degrees;
the punctures are uniform, and the stitches of the thread are the same;
if the tool is stuck, gently scroll it, remove it and re-insert it into the material;
one pass - one hole.
The result should be a smooth, beautiful stitch.
Regardless of the type of tool you are working with, take precautions.
The sharp tip of the rod is easy to injure.
To prevent this from happening, use special devices to protect your fingers.
How to make an awl with your own hands
It is not necessary to buy an awl.
It can be made by hand.
How to do it?
There is nothing particularly difficult.
In addition, you can make at home not only one type of instrument.
Below is an instruction for the manufacture of an awl with replaceable rods.
That is, by replacing the working part, you get a device of exactly the type that you need right now.
So, in the work you will need the following tools and materials:
Wooden handle (you can buy a new one in the store or take an old one, for example, from an already unused file);
sandpaper;
bolt with a diameter of 8 mm and a length of 4 cm;
a screw with a diameter of 3 mm, a length of 1 cm;
wrench;
drill with drills;
tap for threading;
whetstone.
You probably have all these devices in your garage or workshop.
You can use old bicycle spokes as rods.
They are quite durable, made of carbon steel.
Work is performed in the following sequence:
1. we grind the wooden handle, remove all burrs;
2. drill a hole in the handle, the depth of which is equal to the length of the 8mm bolt;
3. drill two holes in the head of an 8mm bolt (it will act as a nozzle for the rods);
4. screw the bolt into the handle, fix it with an open-end wrench;
5. cut the thread under the 3mm bolt;
6. prepare the rod by turning a bicycle spoke;
7. insert the rod into the nozzle on the handle.
Shilo is ready.
This turned out to be an instance with an ordinary straight rod.
To get a rod with a hole, you must first cut the spoke of the desired length, flatten the end, drill a groove in the middle desired diameter, sand it down.
Shil Rating
Planning to buy an awl?
STANLEY 0-69-014 is an easy-to-use carpentry awl with a length of 32 cm.
The stem is made of hardened stainless steel.
Nickel plating provides the needle reliable protection against corrosion and long service life.
The diameter of the working part is 2.5 mm.
The MasterTool hook awl is designed for processing rubber, suede, leather and other hard materials.
The core of the tool is steel, the comfortable rounded handle is made of plastic.
Yato YT-1375 bent-end awl is different high quality execution.
The device has a wide scope, it is used to perform those jobs that cannot be handled with the help of conventional models.
Tool length - 125 mm, weight - only 117 g.
Office awl BM.5550
Buromax is equipped with a durable metal rod and a comfortable wooden handle.
The device is intended for stitching documents.
The needle is sharp, easily punches through paper, leaving a smooth, neat hole.
Straight awl Clover Japanese made used in needlework.
It is compact in size and light in weight.
Thanks to plastic handle With a rubber insert, it is comfortable to hold in your hand.
To choose the right awl, first determine the purpose of buying this tool.
The range of models is very wide.
Products differ in different parameters: purpose, size, weight, appearance, manufacturing materials.
Don't buy cheap copies.
They are not designed for long, intensive use.
It is better to buy a more expensive product well-known manufacturer and be sure of its quality and durability.
Hello dear readers of the site sesaga.ru. The ability to sew with a shoe awl is a great help for home master. To sew up a torn shoe or your favorite slippers, you do not need to go to a shoemaker's shop. And if a soccer ball, a bag, a briefcase is torn, a cape for a car has gone through the seams, or you want to sew, for example, a tent from the available material - all this can be perfectly done by yourself, having in your arsenal shoe awl with hook and kapron threads .
A shoe awl can be purchased at a hardware store or market, and thread can be purchased at any department that sells sewing accessories, or, again, at the market. The thread is usually used with a diameter of 0.5 to 1.0 mm. It all depends on what you will sew or patch.
For training, take a piece of thread about 1 meter long and a piece of cardboard.
We immediately determine where the cardboard will have the front side, and where the wrong side. For the front side, I used the white side of the cardboard, and for the wrong side - gray.
We pierce the cardboard with an awl, we hook the thread on the hook, we stretch the thread and pull the awl towards ourselves, pulling it out of the cardboard along with the thread.
We retreat from the first hole 8 - 10 mm and make one more. Again we catch the thread on the hook, we stretch the thread with our hand and pull the awl towards ourselves, pulling the thread.
This time we do not pull the thread completely, but in the form of a small loop.
We skip the free end into the loop and drag it through to the end, as on the right side of the picture.
Now we pull the loop from the front side, holding the thread from the wrong side in no more tension. It should look like the picture below:
Do you have front side a small loop is obtained (left side of the figure).
At the same time we pull both ends of the thread, pulling the first stitch (right side of the picture). In this case, the loop should be tightened, but remain on the front side.
Again we retreat 8 - 10 mm, pierce the cardboard, hook the thread on the hook, pull the awl along with the thread and leave the loop. We skip the wrong end of the thread into the loop, pull the thread, and pull the second stitch on both sides. Thus, making stitch after stitch, a strong seam is obtained.