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| | What is an Awl? |
 | | Since awls were and are used in a variety of trades, there are many variations to fit the particular needs of the carpenter, tailor, sailmaker, and so on. |
 | | Historically, the awl was used for ear-piercing to insert an earring as a mark of slavery, and it is still used for that purpose today by certain Native American tribes, at least in some cases as part of a tribal ritual, to create a hole to hold ornamental earrings or ear disks. |
 | | The second type of stitching awl has a hollow handle that holds a bobbin of thread, and interchangeable needle tips of various shapes and weights, equipped as usual with a threading eye so that the awl can be used to punch the hole and sew the fabric in one motion. |
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