John James Glovers Needles for Leather – L3910 – Sizes 001 to 012

Brand: John James

Product: Glovers Needles for Leather

Article Code: L3910

Available Sizes: 001 to 012

Needle Type: Leather / Glovers needle

Point: Triangular cutting point

Application: Hand sewing leather and other tough materials

Suitable Materials: Leather, suede and similar materials

Use: Leathercraft, repairs, garments, footwear and general hand sewing

Glovers needles were originally associated with glove making, but their sharp triangular point makes them useful for a much wider range of leatherworking applications.

They are particularly suitable for:

• Leather repairs
• Leather garments
• Gloves
• Belts
• Bags
• Wallets
• Shoe and boot repairs
• Upholstery and leather trim
• Suede work
• Small leathercraft projects
• General hand sewing of leather

They can also be useful when working with certain other tough or flexible materials, including vinyl and soft plastics.

1. Choose the Correct Size

Select a needle appropriate for the thickness of your leather and the thread you intend to use.

The needle eye should comfortably accommodate the thread without requiring excessive force to pull it through.

2. Prepare the Leather

For thicker leather, prepare your stitching holes using an appropriate awl, stitching punch or pricking iron.

Glovers needles have a cutting point and are designed to pierce leather, but pre-preparing holes can make stitching easier and help produce a more consistent stitch line, particularly when working with multiple layers.

3. Thread the Needle

Pass your chosen thread through the eye of the needle.

For hand-sewn leatherwork, these needles can be used with a range of suitable leatherworking threads. Match the thread thickness to the needle size and the appearance and strength required for your project.

4. Stitch Through the Leather

Push the triangular point through the leather using controlled pressure.

The cutting point is designed to penetrate leather efficiently. Take care to keep the needle aligned with the existing hole or intended stitch line.

5. Complete the Stitching

Continue stitching along the prepared seam, maintaining consistent tension throughout.

Once finished, secure the thread appropriately for your chosen stitching method and trim the excess.

Tips for Best Results

• Select the needle size according to the leather and thread being used.
• Use a smaller needle for finer work and a larger needle for heavier leather.
• Pre-punch or prepare holes when working with thick or multiple layers of leather.
• Keep your stitching line consistent for a professional finish.
• Avoid forcing a needle that is too large through the leather.
• Use suitable finger protection when pushing needles through particularly tough material.
• Store needles safely when not in use.

Important: Glovers needles have a sharp cutting point. Take care when handling, threading and using the needles and keep them safely stored away when not in use.

The L3910 range is available from 001 through 012. As with most needle ranges, the size should be selected according to the type of material, thickness of the work and the thread being used.

As a general guide:

001–003: Heavier leatherwork, belts, robust repairs and thicker materials

004–006: General leatherwork, bags, wallets and medium-weight projects

007–009: Finer leatherwork and lighter materials

010–012: Fine and detailed work, lightweight leather and smaller stitching

Tip: The smaller-numbered needles are generally the larger/heavier needles, while the higher-numbered sizes are finer. Choose the largest needle that comfortably accommodates your thread and is appropriate for the material.

For example, published dimensions for the range show Size 001 at approximately 48.5 mm long with a 1.02 mm diameter, while Size 008 is approximately 34 mm long with a 0.61 mm diameter.