/cgl/ - Cosplay & EGL

>>10447321
when we had them

Okay this is extremely autistic but please bear with me.
I have some 3-4oz chrome tan leather which is on the upper end of what's considered "garment leather" vs the heavier leather meant to be sewn in a stitching pony (my leather is too soft for that)
I have a long coat I need to make out of this leather. And I know myself and my sewing machines well and I know they will absolutely not handle it and I'll just wind up poking too many holes in it so please don't tell me to just sew it by machine (I don't have access to an industrial either).
So that leaves hand sewing. And I have the time and patience for that. But I want the final product to look like it was sewn by machine.
So what's my best option for this? Backstitch? Whatever the stitch you get with a sewing awl is called? It's too thin to saddle stitch without puckering so that's not an option.
I also am a little worried about keeping my stitches straight and even. Unlike fabric, I don't have the option to count threads. I know leatherworkers use punches for this but I've seen them and the holes would be far too big. I also don't trust myself with an overstitch wheel.
Is my best best using a pricking iron to mark it and then using a glovers needle to pre-punch the hole? They're expensive and I don't mind spending the money but I do want to make sure it's something I will use.