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Utility Apron

Around the house, around the shop, or at an event table, this half apron is the perfect size and scale for carrying a few key tools with you. This design includes a variety of pockets for keeping everything in its place. The garment leather body is soft and draping, while the vegetable-tanned belt is sturdy.

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Finished size

7½×20½ inches (19.1×52.1cm)

Materials

1 piece 2–3 ounce (0.8–1.2mm) garment leather, 12½×20½ inches (31.8×52.1cm), for the body

1 piece 4–5 ounce (1.6–2mm) or 6–7 ounce (2.4–2.8mm) vegetable-tanned leather, ¾×27 inches (1.9×68.6cm), for the belt

12 double cap rivets

Buckle, ¾ inch (1.9cm)

Metal belt loop, ¾ inch (1.9cm)

Waxed nylon thread

Template

Utility Apron (idiotsguides.com/leather)

Tools

Chipboard

Mechanical pencil

Precision knife

Straightedge

Cutting mat

Strap cutter

Adjustable stitching groover

Freehand stitching groover (optional)

Multi-prong pricking iron

Mallet

Awl

Edge beveler, #2

Rounded end punch, ¾-inch (1.9cm)

Bag punch, ¾-inch (1.9cm)

Hole punch, #2

Hole punch, #7

Mini sledge hammer

2 harness needles, #00

Techniques Used

Working with Templates

Cutting: Using a Straightedge

Cutting: Using a Strap Cutter

Edge Finishing: Edge Beveling

Punching: Using Hole Punches

Punching: Using End Punches

Hardware: Riveting

Hardware: Attaching a Buckle

Hand Stitching

Cementing

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1 Prepare the template and cut the leather. Transfer the paper template pattern to chipboard and cut it out. Trace the chipboard template onto the garment leather and cut out the project body and pocket using the precision knife and straightedge.

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2 Measure and mark the glue lines. Measure and mark the glue lines on the rough side of the pocket and the finished side of the project body using the mechanical pencil, as shown on the template.

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3 Cement the glue lines. Apply a thin coat of cement ⅛ inch (0.3cm) wide to the glue lines marked in Step 3. Allow the cement to dry approximately 30 seconds before proceeding to Step 4.

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4 Adhere the tool pockets. Place the leather pocket onto the project body, being sure to line up the edges so they are flush. Hold for a few seconds, then place under a heavy object to dry for at least 15 to 20 minutes.

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5 Mark the stitching grooves. On the finished side of the pocket, use the adjustable stitching groover to mark the stitching grooves ⅛ inch (0.3cm) from the edge. Use the mechanical pencil or freehand stitching groover to mark the stitch lines not on the edges, as shown on the template.

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6 Punch the stitch holes. Using the multi-prong pricking iron, punch the stitch holes evenly along the three-sided perimeter of the pocket.

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7 Prepare the pocket for stitching. Place the project in a stitching horse (or hold with your hands) and open each stitch hole with the awl.

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8 Stitch the pocket. Using a saddle stitch, sew the pocket around the perimeter of the project body and tie off.

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9 Punch the pocket divider stitch holes. Now that the pocket has been secured to the body with the saddle stitch, go back and punch the stitch holes for the interior pocket dividers using the multi-pronged pricking iron.

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10 Prepare pocket dividers for stitching. Place the project in a stitching horse (or hold in your hands) and open each stitch hole on the pocket divider stitch lines using the awl.

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11 Stitch the pocket dividers. Stitch the pocket divider stitch lines. Start the saddle stitch at the bottom of the utility apron and stitch toward the pocket opening (this will make tying off easier).

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12 Mark the rivet holes. Using a mechanical pencil, mark the rivet holes on the finished side of the project body, as shown on the template

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13 Punch The holes. Using the #2 hole punch, punch the holes marked in Step 12 on the project body.

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14 Cut the belt. Set the strap cutter to ¾ inch (1.9cm) wide and cut a 27-inch (68.6cm) strap of vegetable-tanned leather.

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15 Bevel the belt. Using the #2 edge beveler, bevel the front and back sides of the vegetable-tanned strap.

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16 Trace the belt template. Trace the short and long belt templates onto the vegetable-tanned strap.

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17 Punch the belt ends. Using the ¾-inch (1.9cm) end punch, cut the strap ends to length, as shown on the template.

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18 Punch the buckle holes. As shown on the template, cut the slot for the buckle tongue using the ¾-inch (1.9cm) bag punch; cut the belt holes using the #7 hole punch; and cut the rivet holes using the #2 hole punch.

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19 Install the long belt. Using two double cap rivets and the mini sledge, fasten the long half of the belt to the top-right corner of the apron, as shown on the template.

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20 Install the buckle. Wrap the short strap around the buckle and rivet the first double cap to secure the buckle using the mini sledge.

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21 Install the belt loop. Slide the ¾-inch (1.9cm) metal belt loop onto the strap and secure it by riveting the second double cap rivet using the mini sledge.

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22 Install the Short belt. Using two double cap rivets and the mini sledge, attach the short half of the belt to the top-left corner of the apron, as shown on the template.

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23 Open stitch holes for rivets. For greater durability, install the remaining double cap rivets to the top of each tool pocket at the ends of the stitch lines. Begin by using the awl to open up the last stitch hole that divides each pocket.

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24 Install rivets. Install rivets through the holes using the mini sledge hammer.

Design your own pocket configuration! Add on a third layer of leather for small pockets, or redesign the inset stitch lines for wider or narrower pockets.

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