Leather Vest Help

[Carolyn]

HELP!!!! I need all the advice I can get please! Ok this is my situation I have a motorcycle group that wants me to embroider there logo directly on the back of there LEATHER VEST. The vest has like a polyester lining in it. I need to know (1) What type of needle to use. (2) what type of stabilizer to use (3) Machine Settings. (4) How would I hoop this vest and with what type of hoop. Also the vest has a seam that goes right down the middle of the vest does anyone think this is going to be a problem sewing over this seam. Please give me any type of advice on this. This is my first job with the new machine and I want to make sure I do this right. You can contact me by phone at (228)223-6832 It does not matter what time I am willing to learn as much as I can about this. Thank you all in advance for all your help. Can you all tell I am nervous already!!!

Carolyn

[Wishes]

Dear Carolyn,
I have not stitched on leather but would like to suggest that before doing the actual vest got to a fabric or discount fabric store and get a piece of vinyl. It should be about the same thickness as the leather. Test your design on this because it is fairly cheap. You can also got to a second hand clothing store and get leather items or scrap leather from an upholstery
shop. Use these first.
Margaret

[djames]

When I do leather, I make sure that the density is less than what I would normally do on fabric(a 3.4 or knits would be a 4.2 or 4.5 on leather). I also make the stitch length longer, and my columns a bit wider. Make sure that the short stitch function is turned on. If the design is a fill make sure that it has a decent underlay, because the leather will stretch. Also in addition to a piece of tearaway, I put a piece of wax paper on the backside of the leather. It helps to lubricate the needle. Make sure also, that you use a sharp point needle, I usually use a 75/11. I also would recommend using poly thread, for less thread breaks. One other thing that I almost always do is run a sample. I get my sample leather fabrics from the thrift store I've gotten jackets there and have cut them apart. It has worked well for me.

[Carolyn]

Thank you all so much for the info. I am off from my duties today so will look around for some leather to test on. You guys are the greatest and I really appreciate this. Herb, Dorothy and others that called thanks. I will be calling back as soon as I get everything together.

Carolyn

[Carolyn]

Hi guys, ok i did the test on some scrap pieces of faux leather as this was all i could find. I tested using the recommendations from all of you and then the ladies at my dealer. Test one I did hoop the leather used a cutaway poly mesh the letters were satin stitch with a underlay of running stitches(I guess). Well that test was ok but there was alot of stretching in the pleather. Test Two this time around i use the same letters with a 2 layers of cutaway and the design looked great oh, i did not hoop though. Test 3 use same lettering with only a single running stitch and one layer of cutaway and that stitched out great to. So now I will give it a try on the actual vest to see how everything goes. I am not sure if I should use a fill stitch or just leave it at satin. I guess I should do a test on that to see how it looks.

Thanks to all
Carolyn