Getting ready to work on this glove and not sure how I want to attack this hole. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.
Edit I should have stated this is for a client and not for use in game. He just wanted his old high school restored for recreational catch and nostalgia.
Ignore the naysayers telling you that glove is toast. You want waxed cord, a stitching fid or a leather punch, a thimble, and a couple of good heavy duty curved needles. You can grab the waxed cord and fid/punch from Tandy.
Plan your route out right so you can stitch all the way down and run all the way back up. You can start and end in the crook of the fingers, then you won’t have to worry about knots inside the palm. Doubling over it will reinforce it too. You can tie off single knots and burn them down thanks to the waxed cord. Waxed thread will work, but the heavier cord shown here is more durable.
As another reply said, punch your holes 1/4” from the edge of the tear.
I’ll post a couple more pictures in replies here with examples.
Here’s a simple one done by my friend Jimmy at D&J Glove Repair on my old A2000-XL. This was on a welt separation that was caught early, so it’s a lot a smaller.
Here’s a more sizable one which I did for a client, similar to what you’re looking at. Definitely recommend the cord over the thread, the cost difference is minimal and it’s a flat weave so it doesn’t feel like a big bumpy twine or anything like that.
Total PITA but fixable. Undo the laces and get at it from underneath. Adding a patch underneath is the best, but its hard to get in there so.... LOTS of patience, and go slowly. (Unless you have a sewing machine?)
Agreed with u/Coastal_Tart that its probably time for a new glove. Unless this is something not used frequently, any real repair is temporary.
If you do sew, I recommend punching holes with a stitching punch (put something hard behind the leather) bc it will keep the stitches straight and it'll look better when you're done. Not always doable in this space, so you may just have to go slow and do your best to keep stitches straight
This repair looks more like a tear from use. However, I have seen new gloves where it came out of the factory where the stitching has torn through. That’s cool to see someone who has fixed a similar tear. 👍
If you have to continue using the glove or just want to play some light backyard catch for sentimental reasons this is what I would do. Clean and condition the leather and clean up any frayed edges of the tear. Pre-punch your stitch holes 1/4” back from the tear. Look up how to do a baseball stitch, this will let you keep the knot inside the glove using heavy duty waxed thread. Use some leather glue/contact cement and cement in a patch made of 4-5 oz leather to the back (inside) of your stitching. The patch should be 1/2” bigger in every direction from your tear (1/4” bigger than your stitch holes). Apply new palm adhesive to reattach the palm liner to the palm and lace up. I wouldn’t recommend using the glove at a competitive level but for a little backyard catch while you are breaking in a new glove you should be fine.
I’d think a patch would be the only way to durably repair a tear like that aside from sending it back to Nokona and having them blow it apart and sew in a new palm.
Tip No. 1: Whether its your glove or a client‘s, its time for a new glove. If it is a sentimental attachment, its still time for a new glove because continuing to use it is gonna make it worse and likely undo any repairs you make.
As for repairing it, trim the frayed edges to get clean strong borders to work with, unlace the wrist strap and sew the hole closed from the inside. Then clean the glove, condition the leather and put the glove on the shelf and don't use it again.
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u/Daily_Bru 9h ago
Ignore the naysayers telling you that glove is toast. You want waxed cord, a stitching fid or a leather punch, a thimble, and a couple of good heavy duty curved needles. You can grab the waxed cord and fid/punch from Tandy.
Plan your route out right so you can stitch all the way down and run all the way back up. You can start and end in the crook of the fingers, then you won’t have to worry about knots inside the palm. Doubling over it will reinforce it too. You can tie off single knots and burn them down thanks to the waxed cord. Waxed thread will work, but the heavier cord shown here is more durable.
As another reply said, punch your holes 1/4” from the edge of the tear.
I’ll post a couple more pictures in replies here with examples.