The stitching pony is a fun little leatherworking stitching tool that gives you nice hands-free access to leather during stitching. It helps to make hand stitching easy and very efficient. But what are the best leather stitching ponies?
In this article, I’m going to share with you 5 well-researched leather stitching ponies and show you which ones are best for which specific types of works and situations among other important things.
So, what are the best leather stitching ponies? The best leather stitching ponies are:
- SIMPZIA Stitching Pony (Overall Best Leather Stitching Pony)
- Tosnail Hand Stitching Pony (Best Beginner Stitching Pony)
- FASTTOBUY Leather Pony (Best Adjustable Stitching Pony)
- PH PandaHall Pony (Best Small Pony For Small But Long Projects)
- LUMARM Leather Pony (Best Leather Stitching Pony Kit)
For the rest of this article, I’m going to share with you more details about all the tools highlighted above, their pros, and cons and how to buy them. Keep reading to find out more!
First, Let’s take a quick look at the things to consider when buying a leather stitching pony.
Best Leather Stitching Pony Buying Guide
The leather stitching pony does a very simple and basic job of holding your leather projects in place as you stitch them.
While this may seem pretty basic, there are a few factors for you to consider in order for you to get the best grip action for your leatherwork projects.
These factors are also going to help you figure out what to look out for and how it’s going to suit your leather stitching needs.
Here are a couple of factors to consider when choosing your leather stitching pony for your projects.
Overall Size Of The Stitching Pony:
There are large stitching ponies and smaller ones. If you’re going to or will often work on both small and larger projects such as bags, purses, saddles, briefcases, etc, then a large size stitching pony is what you need for your craft.
Going for a larger stitching pony means you will be able to stitch either big or small projects without any difficulty. They often have a deep throat that allows any larger work to fit in.
On the other hand, if you do a lot of small leather work projects such as wallets, billfolds, bookcases, belts, etc, or you want a leather stitching pony that’s super portable and very easy to carry, then you might just need a regular size leather stitching pony.
Usually, what makes the difference is that the larger leather stitching ponies will have better depths, widths, and more room for almost any kind of large or small leather project to fit in easily.
The larger leather stitching ponies tend to have a better grip helping to keep the leather item being sewn a bit more secured. While the smaller ones will be very portable and very easy to use.
The Stitching Pony Jaw
The jaw of the leather stitching pony grips the leather item being stitched firmly in place.
It’s usually wrapped, covered, or lined with a material (leather(about 8 inches), fabric, or rubber) that will not abrade or scratch the surface of the leather item you’re stitching.
There are also 3 common types of jaws: The all flat jaw, the narrow, and the wide. While all these types of jaws are very practical, you will really want is one with a tapered jaw or narrow.
The tapered jaw is going to allow your hands to get closer to the leather project you’re going to be stitching.
Handle
You would want the leather stitching pony you choose to have a better grip on its handle.
Usually, you would mount and unmount your stitching pony as and when you need it and the handle you have on your leather stitching pony is going help make this routine a fairly easy thing to do.
The handle must be wide and thick enough for a good grip action.
Pony vs Clamp vs Combo Action
Generally, there are 3 basic ways you will be able to mount the leather stitching pony for use.
The first way is to sit on it or position it like you would when riding an actual pony (as the name implies). That is sliding it in-between your thighs.
With other leather stitching ponies, you will be able to mount them on your workbench and use them. When not in use, you will be able to fold it over the edge of the workbench only to be retracted when needed for use.
The last type I have seen is the leather stitching ponies you can either mount on a workbench or ride.
All of these stitching pony options will be great but may come at different price points.
So if you think you have enough room on your workbench to have a dedicated spot for your leather stitching pony, go for the stitching pony you can clamp to a workbench.
It’s important to add that while you will be able to mount and unmount this type of leather stitching pony to a workbench, the clamp action will gradually become weaker if you will be clamping and unclamping it too frequently. However, it’s okay to use it this way too.
If you, on the other hand, will only want to be able to mount and use your stitching pony as and when you need it, you can go for the type you can ride.
You can also go for the stitching pony that can be used in both ways just for the added flexibility of use.
Adjustability and Swing Action
Another important thing to look out for on the leather stitching pony you get is how adjustable the pony is.
Ideally, you would want to be able to adjust your stitching pony vertically, diagonally, towards you, away from you, and any direction you might want the swing action to be in.
This will help make working on your project very easy, extremely comfortable, and mobile.
Rotating Vice
While a lot of leather stitching ponies will come with a static vice, others will come with a 360 rotational vice.
The rotating vice is another important thing you would want for your leather stitching pony.
The rotating vice is the part of the leather stitching pony that allows you to rotate the entire head of the pony freely to make room for further necessary adjustments and use.
You would want this action on your leather stitching pony because it adds to the flexibility of the entire tool and will help to make stitching and lacing much easier.
Best Leather Stitching Ponies – Reviews
Now let’s jump right into the reviews of the best leather stitching ponies.
1. SIMPZIA Stitching Pony (Overall Best Leather Stitching Pony)
The SIMPZIA Stitching Pony is my overall best leather stitching pony for this review. This leather stitching pony is made from original beech wood and Steel.
It has a really solid and durable construction that allows it to remain in whatever angle you choose to position it.
The overall size of the SIMPZIA Stitching Pony is about 14.6 inches clamp height and a table bottom of about 16.2 inches.
The overall size of this leather stitching pony makes it easy for sewing both small and large leather items such as bags, purses, pocketbooks, belts, etc.
The best part of this awesome tool is that it will never scuff, scratch, or damage your leather while offering your leather project the best grip.
Another great thing about this leather stitching pony is that the manufacturers have you in mind as it comes with a clear instructional manual, wax thread, 2 extra needles, and an extra adjustment screw in case you lose the one it comes with.
Pros:
- It has a tapered jaw that allows your hand easy access to the project when you’re sewing
- Can be adjusted to any angle
- Good price point
- Nice leather wrap
- All edges are beveled and smoothened nicely
- Nice quality design
- Can also be clamped to a workbench
- Solid construction
- Very easy to set up and comes with a clear instructional manual
Cons:
- There’s no rotation vice on this tool
- There’s no adjustable pressure
If you’re interested in the SIMPZIA Leather Stitching Pony, you can check it out over here on Amazon!
2. Tosnail Hand Stitching Pony (Best Beginner Stitching Pony)
The Tosnail Hand Stitching Pony is my best beginner pick due to its quality, very simplified but standard design, and ease of use.
The Tosnail Hand Stitching Pony is made from high-quality beech wood with an adjustable stainless steel stretch bar.
Its jaws are wrapped with genuine leather to ensure the grip it offers your leather work projects is natural without causing any scratches or scuffs.
The overall size of this tool 14.25 inches, ideal for all postures and heights and also with a table base length of about 16.1 inches to give you enough room to sit on, ride or clamp.
The design work is impeccable and proportionate and so can be in a very flexible manner adjusted to suit the size of your clamping needs.
Its adjustments also features a 360 degree rotation vice that allows you to position this leather stitching pony in different but highly comfortable angles.
So whether left-handed or right-handed, you will be able to use this tool very comfortably and conveniently.
You will be able to stitch your wallets, bags, purses, belts, and other materials with a lot of ease and comfort.
Pros:
- 360 Rotation Design
- Solid construction
- Versatile adjustment positions
- Nicely tapered jaw with flat grip action
- It’s an easy one screw set up tool
- It’s ambidextrous
- It’s a lightweight tool
- Very easy clamping system design
- Comes with a quick-release action
- Affordable price
- Clamps very well
Con:
- May require a bit of tweaking to be able to grip thin leather projects.
If you’re interested in the Tosnail Hand Stitching Pony, you can check it out over here on Amazon!
3. FASTTOBUY Leather Pony (Best Adjustable Stitching Pony)
The FASTTOBUY Leather Pony is my pick for the best adjustable stitching pony. It’s made from superior quality beech wood and steel.
One unique feature you will notice with the FASTTOBUY Leather Pony is the way the manufacturers have treated this leather stitching pony with wax oil finish making it extremely smooth and durable.
This leather stitching pony is handcrafted and has a highly durable construction. The FASTTOBUY leather pony is super adjustable.
It comes with a 360-degree rotating vice and at the same time very easy to adjust it to multiply 180-degree angles.
This unique feature makes working with the FASTTOBUY Leather Pony very flexible and extremely comfortable if you’re short, tall, left-handed, or right-handed.
The overall clamp height is about 17-3/4 inches with a table bottom of about 16-1/4 inches.
You will be able to stitch your bags, wallets, belts, knife sheaths, etc with ease and efficiency.
It’s also suitable for other materials such as paper, cloth, and canvas.
Because of the wax treatment given to this leather stitching pony, it’s extremely smooth and will not scuff your leather projects.
The FASTTOBUY Leather Pony does not only come with a leather stitching pony it also comes with a 1×400 grit sandpaper, 2×1000 grit sandpaper, 1×1500 grit sandpaper, and 4 strips of sandpaper.
These are included to easily help you sand the edges of your project before or while you’re stitching to help smoothen or realign the edges you’re stitching.
Pros:
- Very flexible and highly adjustable
- Very comfortable to use
- Beautiful wax finish
- Very smooth and durable
- Has a wide clamping thickness
- Can clamp longer and wider leather
- Easy to adjust
- Easy to setup
- Comes with sanding papers
- Versatile
- It has a nicely tapered jaw
Con:
- There is no leather or rubber covering the jaws
If you’re interested in the FASTTOBUY Leather Stitching Pony, you can check it out over here for additional information.
4. PH PandaHall Pony (Best Small Pony For Small But Long Projects)
The PH PandaHall Leather Stitching Pony is my pick for the best SMALL leather stitching pony perfect for small leather projects that are also long such as wallets, belts, billfolds, straps, key rings, etc.
It’s the perfect tool for lacing, sewing, and stitching leather projects.
The PH PandaHall leather Stitching Pony is made from natural wood and metal. Due to its small size, it’s exceptionally durable.
The overall size for this leather stitching pony is about 4 inches wide, 10 inches long, and about 4.3 inches high.
It’s a perfect size and can be mounted on your workbench no matter how little or limited your space is.
It has a good crisp grip action that helps to hold the leather project securely with causing any severe markings or scuffs.
The PH PandaHall Leather Stitching Pony comes with adjustable threaded rods, screws that can be easily adjusted and tightened.
Pros:
- Can hold up to 9-ounce leather
- Easy to mount on a workbench
- Very portable
- Easy to setup
- Great for thonging leather
- Easy to use
- Very durable
- Easy to adjust
- Tightens smoothly
- Comes with a clear installation guide
Con:
- You may be required to wrap its jaw with leather for that super flawless grip to your project
If you’re interested in the PH PandaHall Leather Stitching Pony, you can check it out over here on Amazon!
5. LUMARM Leather Pony (Best Leather Stitching Pony Kit)
Last but definitely not the least, the LUMARM Leather Pony is my choice for the best leather stitching pony kit.
It comes with a bunch of sewing items such as 9 curved needles, 9 large-eyed leather stitching needles, blunt needles, 5 nail files, etc.
Not to take the shine away from the leather stitching pony itself, this tool has an overall clamp height of about 14 inches and a table bottom about 15.7 inches long.
The vice for this tool can be easily adjusted for supreme comfort and efficiency.
The jaw is covered with leather to help protect the leather project from scratches. It’s also tapered to give the user close access to the edge of the leather being stitched.
This leather stitching pony kit is also perfect if you’re looking for an ideal gift item for your leathercraft enthusiast friend or family.
Pros:
- Comes with all the necessary tools needed to stitch or lace leather projects
- The leather stitching pony is very simple and easy to set up
- Comes with clear easy to read instructional manual
- Clamps projects very securely
- It’s a great beginner and professional tool
- Quality but affordable
Con:
- May sometimes be difficult setting it flat and may require a bit of tweaking such as drilling an extra hole or two to help hold the pony’s table down
If you’re interested in the LUMARM Leather Pony, you can check it out over here on Amazon!
How To Make A Leather Stitching Pony
Here’s a video on how to make a leather stitching pony if you like the challenge or if you have some free time on your hands and looking for a fun weekend project.
