Is using a machine to make something, still "handmade"?

[OpenWheelRace]

I have a small online business that sells leather goods.
At the moment, the majority of my leather items are sewn by hand but I'm in the market for an industrial sewing machine that will not only speed up the process, but also up the quality and allow me to expand the product range.

I've just seen someone state on a leather forum that using a machine is "cheating" and that a product (not just leather, all products) can only be considered hand-made, if it is made completely with ones two hands - no machines at all.

I'm presuming this means hand-tools (hammer, knife, scissors etc) are all acceptable, but bigger machines such as sewing machines, clicker presses, guillotines etc - are not considered handmade.

AIBU to think that my items are still "handmade" even if I used a sewing machine? If I were making a dress, I'd consider it handmade despite the use of a machine. My process is still at home, heavily labour intensive and not automated in anyway - it's not a factory run where thousands are produced in a day.

I would think homemade.

When the machine process is less than the "hand" element then it can be classed as handmade. Well that's what I was told by a manager at work when I asked the same question...i'e how can we say it's handmade when we're using sewing machines. Because the cutting, prepping and finishing took longer than the stitching and inking (covering raw edges with coloured ink , done by machine), then it could be called handmade apparently.

Machine embroidery using an embroidery machine, that wouldn't be hand made.

But me and a normal machine, moving the needle to paint a thread picture? That's hand made. I just use thread not paint and a machine not a brush. It's all created by me.

There is no legal definition but Etsy has a code that includes use of sewing machine... guided by hand, hand labour etc. One good explanation is this blog by handmadeartists. A bit old but I still use it when having this discussion in real life.

handmadeartists.com/blog/what-is-handmade/

Homemade to me means something of a non-commercial/professional quality.
Homemade is glitter and a ribbon on a premade candlestick.
Handmade is a candlestick made from scratch one by one, or in small batches.
Mass made is a bunch of candlesticks made by a candlestick making machine

But I'm happy to be corrected!

You are right there on homemade vs handmade.

Homemade is non professional, its something you've had a crack at, as a one off, not something you do professionally, for money.

Handmade, assuming you have the skills and produce quality goods, is professional quality, commercial quality, made in small quantities by hand (using whatever tools are appropriate!).

Of course it’s still handmade! You have to control the machine and guide the material, it’s not like you stick it in a machine and leave it to do it on its own! I’m a seamstress and sew with a machine and I’d definitely still class it as handmade, even with a machine it can still be very fiddly.

I wonder if they’d class something sewn with my manual sewing machine (have to turn the handle continuously to sew) as being ‘more’ handmade than my electric (foot pedal) sewing machine. Or what about those ones that are manual but hooked up to a pedal so you have to pedal it up and down to sew. Footmade maybe?

at footmade!

I guess handmade doesn't cover thrown pottery by some definition - but you can get non-electric potters wheels so then they'd be at least footmade

Still handmade for me.

I find there are some craftspeople who like to have a very rigid definition but as this thread shows there is actually a variety of opinion.

In terms of your business, if you have a website could you include a section in your methods. Or individual listings could mention if a sewing machine has been used or hand sewing. Then at least it is clear what you are doing.

In pottery we differentiate by using the terms hand-built, thrown, or studio pottery. The pottery wheel was invented to allow mass production of pots, but there is significant skill required to use one and to produce said pots. No one questions that a potter using a wheel is cheating. I would argue the same would apply for a machine in leather work.

Do you have a local craft guild with any leather workers who might be able to give you a steer ? Our guild has a leather worker who certainly uses a machine, no idea if it would be classed as industrial.

There are always the 'purists' who think that unless you've grown / dug / reared the stuff yourself, it's not handmade / handcrafted/ etc. I agree with you that the term home made is very suggestive of amateur. Does the phrase 'Studio leather worker' appeal - it works for us potters

Oh and don't get me on the subject of pottery kick wheels - you end up with one leg strong than the other!!

I would say hand-made, but not made by hand (the logic works for me!)