Upcyled Leather Apron

Okay...here's the back story. When I am working in my studio, making jewelry for ITS Handmade I often sit on my stool and use my bench pin to file, sand, and polish metals. Therefore, all types of copper and steel wool are constantly falling into my lap, on the floor, and on the stool. It can be a real pain to keep clean. So, I needed a solution. This is what I came up with. Oh, hey...I even made you a video and if you sign up for my mailing list, you can download a free printable e-book! The e-book has a few more photos and more detailed explanation. Don't forget to click the link to read the entire post! 

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What you'll need

 Leather Skirt

Belt

Ruler

Marking Pencil

Fabric Scissors

Sewing machine (or needle and thread)

You can use any type of skirt really. For my needs, leather was the best choice. However, I think a cotton twill and/or denim would probably work really well....As far as the belt goes, really anything cloth will do as long as it is the proper size to fit your belt loops or waistband. If it's a little to small, no problem, the stitching should secure it. If it's a little to big, maybe fold it to fit. 

 Line up the side seams and trace a straight line from the waistband to the hem. 

Cut along your line, stopping at the waistband. Cut to, but not through. Then, cut around the belt loop. If there is not belt loop, you can cut about a half an inch along the base of the waistband, leaving the stitching in tact.  

Repeat steps for both sides of the skirt. 

Next, cut your belt to the proper length. You cannot just cut the belt in half  if it has grommets. You'll need to fit the skirt around your hips and figure out the proper length for each side of the belt. So, I cut mine in half and wrapped the skirt around me. I stuck the belt into the belt loops (or into opened waistband) and slid them around until I found the perfect place for the belt to fit. 

Finally, stick the belt between the belt loop and the waistband (or just into the opened waistband) and stitch closed. I just followed the top stitching on the belt loops and then sewed an X through the center. And that's it! This is a quick and super simple solution to my problem! Leave me a comment and let me know what you think....or better yet let me know if you make an upcycled apron. -Ruth