Satchel or tote: choosing a work bag you will carry daily
A satchel holds its shape and protects a laptop. A tote is quicker to use. Here is how to decide.
Why we saddle-stitch by hand
Two needles, one thread and a stitch that holds even when it breaks: the oldest way to join leather.
A sewing machine makes a lock stitch: one thread on top, one underneath, locked together in the middle of the leather. It is fast and neat. But if one stitch breaks, the thread can unravel along the whole seam.
A saddle stitch uses a single waxed linen thread with a needle at each end. Both needles pass through every hole from opposite sides, so each stitch is held twice. If one stitch is cut, the stitches on either side stay locked.
It is slow. A satchel has about 1,400 stitches, which takes one of our craftsmen most of a day. Holes are punched first with a pricking iron, so the spacing stays even, and the thread is waxed by hand so it does not rot.
This is why we can offer free repairs for life. A saddle-stitched bag rarely needs restitching, and when it does, the work is simple and the bag goes on.
