TIL I chose a $40 awl over a $300 sewing frame and it was the right call

When I set up my first real shop in the garage back in 2011, I had about $400 saved for tools and spent a long time going back and forth on one big question: spend it all on a used sewing frame or buy a good awl, some linen thread, and a cheap finishing press. I went with the awl and thread route because a frame only helps with one step, and I could still sew signatures on a simple wooden jig I built from scrap oak. Looking back, that awl is still the tool I reach for the most, and the jig only got replaced two years ago. Curious if anyone here started with a frame instead and felt it was worth the money up front.

1 comments

Log in to join the discussion

Log In

1 Comment

the_nina19d ago

Wait, you built your own sewing jig out of scrap oak and it lasted almost a decade? That is wild to me. I would've been scared the whole thing would wobble apart halfway through a book. Was it just a basic V shape with some dowels, or did you rig up something fancier for keeping the signatures tight?

2