<p>IF your machine is capable, you can't buy the Wonder Clips -which i also recommend, and you haven't stocked up on these items already... Do so! It will all make a difference.. Figure out what clips work best for you.</p>

<ul>
<li>Leather Needles</li>
<li>Required thread</li>
<li>Double sided leather tape</li>
<li>Large Paper Clips</li>
<li>Clothespins (wooden or plastic - just make sure they are strong)</li>
<li>Research, research, research</li>
<li>ALWAYS Practice on scraps beforehand.</li>
</ul>

<p>Do your best not to stretch the leather as your sewing it. Also, you can pin in a few spots where you'll be sewing, if you must. Just hand feed very slowly while removing the pins. Apparently the leather tape causes less needle gum up. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-31T12:16:00.727Z
I have got myself a box of the clips and they are significantly easier to use for holding the tape in place. I like to think my sewing machine is decent, it was my mum's and was one of the first computerised sewing machines (but it's older than I am). The extra advice on how to feed the tape into the machine was very useful.
Gladiator Kittens
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-23T18:01:49.073Z
2016-08-23T22:54:41.053Z
2016-08-23T22:54:41.053Z
MandaMEss
<p>In quilting a binding, we use Clover Wonder clips. These just hold the binding in place and you sew up to the clip and then remove the clip and then keep sewing.</p>
<p>A product description explains why they would excel in sewing applications</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Clip and hold, Clip and Sew right where you need it! Great Holding capacity for different types of crafts. Wonder Clips have a wide opening for holding multiple layers of fabric. It won't damage or distort the fabric. <strong>Wonder Clip base is flat for easy feeding to presser foot</strong> with 1/4&quot; and 1/2&quot; seam allowance markings on the base.</p>
<p><sup>Product description from <a href="http://www.clover-usa.com/en/accessories/108-wonder-clips-100-pcs.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Clover USA</a></sup></p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-18T19:07:22.923Z
These look a lot easier to use than bulldog clips, are they better at preventing the fabric from slipping out of the binding?
Gladiator Kittens
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-18T20:48:44.327Z
Welcome! To help your answer a bit, could you explain what makes these clips better/different than the ones that the OP is already using and how they're used?
Catija
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-18T19:04:57.683Z
2016-08-18T23:21:27.607Z
2020-06-18T08:35:49.040Z
Dayle
<p>I'm currently making a wool cape for the upcoming winter. The pattern recommends to finish the edges with a leather binding, and I have opted to do so. My main problem is that I know you're not supposed to use pins for leather as it leaves marks, and I don't have many bulldog clips. Plus, I did try one edge and it was the most stressful thing as once i took a clip off to sew a section, I would have to push the binding over the wool, resulting in some missed sections where I sewed the binding together without the wool. Are there any techniques that make this process any easier? </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-17T22:31:40.497Z
Would you consider a secondary step? Something like using a bead of leather glue to tack it in place until you can get the sewing done?
Catija
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-17T22:34:08.600Z
@Catija How would that work exactly? I've never heard of leather glue. I'm relatively new to sewing, having only taken it up in earnest after my GCSE exams finished earlier this year.
Gladiator Kittens
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-17T22:36:41.947Z
I don't know, actually. I was curious after reading your question and my first thought was some sort of tack (like glue)... and I found an "instructables" about gluing leather before sewing to hold it in place. http://www.instructables.com/id/how-to-glue-leather-for-sewing/ It's sort of an issue of blind-leading-blind as I'm no expert, either... but it might be something to consider. I'm not sure how well it will work with leather on one side and fabric on the other, though... and I'd hate to ruin your fabric, so you'd at least want to test it first.
Catija
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-17T22:39:25.847Z
@Catija I have fabric to spare, my mum bought me 5 meters of the stuff and I like to cut efficiently! Plus there would be leather on both sides of the fabric rather than just leather to fabric, it would be leather to fabric to leather
Gladiator Kittens
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-17T23:21:14.983Z
@CreationEdge I'm machine sewing, and the binding is quite thin in comparison to the machine foot and the clip. If I tried to leave the clip on it wouldn't work as the clip would just hit the machine foot and cause the fabric to stop moving through. I'd like to add that my hand sewing is rubbish, so it isn't really a viable alternative.
Gladiator Kittens
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-18T13:28:47.907Z
I read a few things now that talk about leather cement (specific for leather) and some even use contact cement: http://leatherworker.net/forum/topic/43148-fabric-to-leather-adhesive/. I have used it to glue leather to rabbit fur. You would need to let it dry thouroughly before putting it through the machine though. Crap... I am answering this....
Matt
<sewing>
What's the easiest way to pin and sew leather binding?
Gladiator Kittens
# What's the easiest way to pin and sew leather binding?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-08-17)

I'm currently making a wool cape for the upcoming winter. The pattern recommends to finish the edges with a leather binding, and I have opted to do so. My main problem is that I know you're not supposed to use pins for leather as it leaves marks, and I don't have many bulldog clips. Plus, I did try one edge and it was the most stressful thing as once i took a clip off to sew a section, I would have to push the binding over the wool, resulting in some missed sections where I sewed the binding together without the wool. Are there any techniques that make this process any easier?

**Tags:** sewing

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Would you consider a secondary step? Something like using a bead of leather glue to tack it in place until you can get the sewing done?  
> **username_0**: @username_1 How would that work exactly? I've never heard of leather glue. I'm relatively new to sewing, having only taken it up in earnest after my GCSE exams finished earlier this year.  
> **username_1**: I don't know, actually. I was curious after reading your question and my first thought was some sort of tack (like glue)... and I found an "instructables" about gluing leather before sewing to hold it in place. http://www.instructables.com/id/how-to-glue-leather-for-sewing/ It's sort of an issue of blind-leading-blind as I'm no expert, either... but it might be something to consider. I'm not sure how well it will work with leather on one side and fabric on the other, though... and I'd hate to ruin your fabric, so you'd at least want to test it first.  
> **username_0**: @username_1 I have fabric to spare, my mum bought me 5 meters of the stuff and I like to cut efficiently! Plus there would be leather on both sides of the fabric rather than just leather to fabric, it would be leather to fabric to leather  
> **username_0**: @CreationEdge I'm machine sewing, and the binding is quite thin in comparison to the machine foot and the clip. If I tried to leave the clip on it wouldn't work as the clip would just hit the machine foot and cause the fabric to stop moving through. I'd like to add that my hand sewing is rubbish, so it isn't really a viable alternative.  
> **username_2**: I read a few things now that talk about leather cement (specific for leather) and some even use contact cement: http://leatherworker.net/forum/topic/43148-fabric-to-leather-adhesive/. I have used it to glue leather to rabbit fur. You would need to let it dry thouroughly before putting it through the machine though. Crap... I am answering this....  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2016-08-23. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

IF your machine is capable, you can't buy the Wonder Clips -which i also recommend, and you haven't stocked up on these items already... Do so! It will all make a difference.. Figure out what clips work best for you.

* Leather Needles
* Required thread
* Double sided leather tape
* Large Paper Clips
* Clothespins (wooden or plastic - just make sure they are strong)
* Research, research, research
* ALWAYS Practice on scraps beforehand.

Do your best not to stretch the leather as your sewing it. Also, you can pin in a few spots where you'll be sewing, if you must. Just hand feed very slowly while removing the pins. Apparently the leather tape causes less needle gum up.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I have got myself a box of the clips and they are significantly easier to use for holding the tape in place. I like to think my sewing machine is decent, it was my mum's and was one of the first computerised sewing machines (but it's older than I am). The extra advice on how to feed the tape into the machine was very useful.  

---

### Answer by username_4 on 2016-08-18. Score: 1

In quilting a binding, we use Clover Wonder clips. These just hold the binding in place and you sew up to the clip and then remove the clip and then keep sewing.

A product description explains why they would excel in sewing applications

> Clip and hold, Clip and Sew right where you need it! Great Holding capacity for different types of crafts. Wonder Clips have a wide opening for holding multiple layers of fabric. It won't damage or distort the fabric. **Wonder Clip base is flat for easy feeding to presser foot** with 1/4" and 1/2" seam allowance markings on the base.
>
> Product description from [Clover USA](http://www.clover-usa.com/en/accessories/108-wonder-clips-100-pcs.html)

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: These look a lot easier to use than bulldog clips, are they better at preventing the fabric from slipping out of the binding?  
> **username_1**: Welcome! To help your answer a bit, could you explain what makes these clips better/different than the ones that the OP is already using and how they're used?  

---

