Handsewing - palm problems

[mollyoxford]

hiya - trying to make the ditty bag from "The Sailmakers Apprentice" and despite a fari bit of palm-assisted handsewing, i can't get the seaming stitch right. I simply canNOT hold the needle against the metal bit of the palm

(see the start of http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_8J1Hpxsbc) for the proper position which I cannot do).

The needle just doesn't reach, somehow.

I am hacking along doing it with my own seaming stitch (which is sorta backwards) - but even that's tough and I can't get into a rythym and hence it's really uneven...

Any hints???

 

[srm]

A longer needle?
I have found starting the needle in the fabric holding it between fingers, then moving the palm up to the end of the needle works. But then most of my sewing has been repair work consisting of picking up existing machine holes where the thread has failed.

 

[mollyoxford]

My needles seem the normal length. Oh well, I am slowly getting into my very own way of doing things (which is sometimes kinda half right handed half left handed...)

 

[AndrewF]

Suspect that rather than the length of needles its the palm. Have you tried adjusting the Palm so that it fits higher in the palm. You could also try soaking it in water and moulding it to fit you hand better and then leaving it to dry. Or maybe its just not a very good fitting palm.

 

[michael_w]

Don't have the palm too tight. Loose enough to get a finger between the palm and the back of your hand is what you want.

If you've got a palm reinforced with rawhide they can be very tough till you've stitched xxx miles of seam. Soften the thing up with neatsfoot oil, so the iron (the bit the needle sits in) is at the ball of your thumb. Practice the seemingly impossible needle hold between the thumb and index finger, with the needle eye in the iron.

Many years ago I was taught how to do all this hand work by an ex Ratsey's foreman who learnt his trade in the days of Brittania and the"big class" including the J class. I find hand sailmaking work very satisfying.

 

[mollyoxford]

All good advice - thanks. I have severely altered the palm (I have medium sized hands for a woman, but that's small on the scale of things). I have been trying it higher up my hand and looser after seeing that vid - but it's still not great. I am much cheered by the fact that it seems that it isn't just easy, it takes a bit of effort and practice to get right - so it's not just me.

I have really long thumbs, maybe that's not helping.

 

[oldfrank]

What is the origin of the name Molly Oxford? There was once a 14' dinghy with the same name in these parts. Old Frank

 

[mollyoxford]

Well, "Molly Oxford" is the name of a folk tune, and the original owner of our boat was apparently a Morris Dancer....

 

[sarabande]

I've found it best to use a short of "shimmy" (rapid side to side) movement when pushing the needle through a difficult piece of canvas. It seems to transfix the cloth more easily than using force in a single direction (when I've bent a few needles.... clumsy male !)

Also, a small piece of emery cloth is very useful, for keeping the needle point really sharp. This is also for conical as well as triangular needles.

 

[Seagreen]

All above good advice, but also try gripping the needle more towards the point so that you brace the needle 'between its ends' more than just halfway. You may also find that finding a palm with the iron raised higher helps too. Browse trad gear suppliers for best examples. I can never find them actually on sale in chandlers.

Molly Oxford - the Rusby/Knightley version is one of my favourites, btw.

 

[mollyoxford]

hmm, I may browse for another palm. I am already holding it very near the tip (oo0 err).

oh - any links to maybe a cd of the tune? I didn't manage to track down any decent version back when I was looking into it.

 

[andygc]

Molly Oxford - the music

oh - any links to maybe a cd of the tune? I didn't manage to track down any decent version back when I was looking into it.

Go to http://www.emusic.com and search for "Molly Oxford". Scroll down to the list of track names. There are several versions. A good music site, once you have paid for the track it's yours - none of this digital rights management rubbish. Much better than paying for a CD.