The leather jacket is one of the most important clothes we have. You can use it for many years. But eventually, it gets cracks, tears and scuffs.
Replacing a leather jacket however, can cost a lot. So if yours has tears, better repair it first than shop for a new one!
Check out these simple tips to repair a tear in your leather jacket.
How to repair a leather jacket with your own hands
If you have a torn leather jacket, do not despair and hurry to the workshop just yet. Repair of a tear in a leather jacket can be carried out on your own, especially when you have a particular machine for sewing leather.
Most often, leather jackets only have minor scratches and scuffs. You can repair such damage with a simple cream, orange peel, soda, paint, or glue.
Repair options
If the damage is large-scale, then the manual repair will only spoil the appearance of the jacket. You have two options here: decorate the affected area of the jacket, or sew a patch.
When decorating, use rivets and buttons if there are many small holes and damages on the surface. You can make a fringe or a decorative patch pocket. Use materials that you already have lying around at home – beads, cords, braid, ribbons, and the likes.
Large, torn holes will be closed by an application selected in style and texture, sewn on the principle of a patch on a particular sewing machine for leatherwork.
Secrets of leather jacket repair
Working with the skin has many of its “secrets” and little things that you need to know and consider. Here are a few of them.
When cutting out paired parts, you need to remember that the skin stretches more in the transverse direction than in the longitudinal direction. Paired elements may be cut in any direction, but only in the same order.
You can sew soft leather on a sewing machine with 6, 8, or 9 mm with an ordinary needle. However, there should be a particular machine foot to work with leather when you are sewing rough or thickened areas.
Needles for leather look special too. Instead of the usual tip, it has a triangular one that penetrates to the leather.
Also, the sewing machine’s stitch length should not be too small since, with frequent punctures, the skin will tear at the joints.
What kind of sewing machine can you use to sew leather?
Not every sewing machine can sew leather. So, if you already have one, treat it with care. Don’t try to sew thick and coarse fabrics on it, like leather products, if it was not made for this kind of stuff.
If you sew leather on a regular sewing machine, the jacket may deteriorate. Sometimes it is recommended to buy special needles and a foot with a wheel. But the skin under the foot will still slip.
There are special industrial-style sewing machines for working with leather. This particular sewing machine will easily repair your jacket without forming a fit of the upper layer of skin.
How to choose a sewing machine for leather
When choosing a sewing machine for working with leather, it is worth paying attention to several details.
First, it is necessary to have a conveyor shutdown function. In addition, there should be a walking foot or a pressure roller in the design for the easier promotion of the material of increased thickness.
A stitch parameter controller is in industrial and household machines. The standard range is from 6 mm to 8 mm. If special needles are not in the package, you need to purchase them.
The power of the machine should be higher than that of conventional household versions. The lifting height of the foot when working with the skin must be 8-10 mm.
All components, including gears and other rubbing parts, must be metal – plastic will not withstand workloads.
Also, the weight and dimensions of specialized machines for working with leather products are always higher than those designed for light fabrics. In most cases, it is necessary to purchase a unique stand or table for their placement.
Now if you cannot determine which kind of model you need, take a look at these reviews on sewing machines for leather work.
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