I have access to a machine for most of my projects, I hope to own my own eventually. The thread is a 277 size artificial. As far as 'special' tools there are a few must haves such as needles, an awl, and thread, but for finished work you'll need a stitching groover, at least one size edger, and a few assorted materials to dress the edges. If your interested in starting your own projects PM me and I'll forward some links that helped me along the way.