May 1, 2013
6 Comments

Leather Pocket DIY

You should know by now that I’m pretty obsessed with leather. I didn’t make good on my recent threat to find and purchase leather pajamas, but I also didn’t specify a time limit on that sweet idea, so it still may happen. A less over-the-top option to add some more leather into your life is to sew a leather pocket onto a chambray shirt or a tee. I recently found this shirt at one of those places where everything is kind of designer (and 99% off retail) but has a hole or a broken zipper. How do you cover a small rip on the chest? Leather pocket! I know making pockets of out leather isn’t anything new (see great examples here and here), but it’s still happening because it’s still awesome, so jump on the l.p. train while you still can.

I made a template from an existing shirt pocket and pinned it to my leather scrap. (NOTE: I learned through this process that pinning is a BAD IDEA. It left holes (duh!) but I didn’t think that one through before I did it. I heard that you can use glue instead of pins when working with leather, so that’s probably a better idea to avoid holes. You’ve been warned). I cut a half inch around the template so that I would have enough to fold the edges under and give the pocket finished edges.

I cut out any extra leather at the folded corners so that the leather met (and didn’t overlap) to cut down on bulk. I then sewed all the way around the pocket and left enough room between the stitch and the outside edge so I could fit another row of stitches in between.

Next, I pinned my pocket to my shirt and sewed around the outermost edge of the pocket (leaving the top open of course).

Overall, it was easier than I thought it would be! I would suggest getting the thinnest real or faux leather you can find so it will bend and not look too thick on the shirt. But now that I have this project under my belt, I keep picturing all my other items of clothing with leather additions as well. Maybe I will get those leather pajamas after all!

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6 thoughts on “Leather Pocket DIY

  1. Rehanon

    I studied fashion design and when it came time to make my graduation collection I used leather – I was taught to use weights on the pattern, and trace the outline with sewing chalk onto the actual leather. The chalk rubs off so you don’t have to worry about marks!

    Reply

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