Sewing a heavy harness

[puglogic]

One of our foster dogs has quickly chewed halfway through a strap in a very expensive (to us) harness. It's very thick, double-layered stuff (good thing she's not aggressive, because she could make short work of our hands)   I'd like to try to repair it if I can.

I've never tried to sew something this heavy and have no idea how to.  Any thoughts on special needles, thread, techniques etc?

[deborah]

Try a 110/18 Jeans/Denim needle and a thickish SEWING MACHINE thread (many of the thicker threads are not made for sewing machines) that doesn't break easily. Go slow, and if your machine has a "go slow" gear use that.

If you are sewing thick material, chances are that the thickness of what is under the foot may change dramatically (for instance when you come to a seam). This makes the foot slip, or stop feeding the material. Packing up the thinner part with a piece of cardboard on either side of the needle will make it feed more uniformly when you reach these parts of your sewing.

[southern granny]

would punching holes with a nail or punch and then using a leather lacing like you use for baseball gloves work? 

[Goldielocks]

I would use double thread technique with pre-punched holes, like leather work.

If pre-punched holes are not useful, definitely get a palm thimble and heavy needle (I don't know what they are called, but it allows you to press harder).  The fabric is held over a hole in a solid surface to allow you to use hand pressure to push the needle through.

I have also used waxed DENTAL FLOSS for backpack repair -- very strong.

[handpumpman]

Instead of injuring yourself with a flying broken needle, just get yourself a sewing or stitching awl. They are available online for under 20 bucks, and come with HEAVY DUTY thread that will stitch up leathers or nylon webbing. I've had mine for years and made many repairs with it

[puglogic]

Thanks, everyone.  I don't have a sewing machine so I did order that hand awl from Cabela's, handpumpman. Certainly a mustachian $10 toy....

[Sunny]

Highly recommend a stitching awl. Just got one on Amazon for about $13 bucks to repair some boots.  This thing will come in handy.  Was easy to use, just watch a few You Tube videos first.  Mine came with thread but you can buy more at your big box hobby store.

[puglogic]

I am enjoying my stitching awl, but find (so far with my limited skillset) it's only useful if you are attaching two things together as layers (as in all the YouTube videos).  I haven't yet figured out how to attach the end of one piece to the end of the other piece of my harness, if that makes sense.   Perhaps I have to attach it by overlapping one piece onto the other....

Anyway, it is a very nice toy and a new mustachian skill, so I'm enjoying it.

[deborah]

I am enjoying my stitching awl, but find (so far with my limited skillset) it's only useful if you are attaching two things together as layers (as in all the YouTube videos).  I haven't yet figured out how to attach the end of one piece to the end of the other piece of my harness, if that makes sense.   Perhaps I have to attach it by overlapping one piece onto the other....

Yes -that's the way to do it.

[Chranstronaut]

Sorry this is a solution for a different question, but have you tried putting cayenne pepper or bitter apple flavoring on the (new) harness to prevent this from happening again?  Although be warned, some dogs give zero Fs and will still chew through bitter apple.  My dog was never completely deterred by it, but it slowed her down a little until she grew up a little and got less mouthy.

http://www.petsmart.com/dog/skin-coat-care/grannicks-bitter-apple-spray-zid36-13628/cat-36-catid-100057

[TrMama]

I take things like that to a cobbler to have them mended. A cobbler will have a heavy duty sewing machine that is designed for heavy nylon webbing and leather and the seam will be strong. They charge about $5 for a simple repair.

[puglogic]

I have bitter apple'd the harness now, and also just use it when I'm in sight of her.  She's a foster, extremely timid, and we were trying to get her used to the harness being on by leaving it on for a few hours (in the house).  But just a few little gnaws and she had cut right through what feels like really tough, thick webbing.  But sometimes it takes an unforeseen event like this to teach us a new skill....thanks, everybody!

[Chranstronaut]

I take things like that to a cobbler to have them mended. A cobbler will have a heavy duty sewing machine that is designed for heavy nylon webbing and leather and the seam will be strong. They charge about $5 for a simple repair.

I never thought about this, this is a great tip!