Recently I had the idea to incorporate DIY accessories in between the bigger projects, to help me balance my work load and hopefully post more consistently.
To kick things off, I wanted to do something elaborate. I had acquired a number of vintage belts that couldn’t fit and was inspired by the Hesse bucket bag from Trademark for this DIY.
This project has opened my eyes to how much work goes into leather crafting. As a result, I’ve gained a newfound respect for leather workers. Since the belts I used were leather, I had to do my research and learn how to go about piecing them together.
I had no idea you had to punch “stitching” holes when sewing leather by hand! That makes so much sense and explains a lot! Now I didn’t have ALL the right tools for this project, but I made do. You could use leather strips or even denim in place of the belts. Whatever you decide, just make sure it’s sturdy enough for the bag to maintain it’s shape.
Materials Used:
Tile or any solid cutting surface
Pliers
Glue Gun
Utility Knife
Cord (3/16 inch; 1 yrd)
Leather Square (7″x7″)
Sewing Awl or Ice Pick
Upholstery Hand Needle (2)
Leather Belts or Strips (at least 7)
Fabric (1 yrd heavy-duty canvas)
↓ Make sure to watch in HD, for the best viewing experience ↓
Here are a few closeups
It was a fun experience and I learned a lot of valuable things. My biggest take away was, I learned I have more patience than I thought! Haha! Let me know in the comments below what you think!
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Yes, I learned the ‘hands on way’ about pre-punching leather before stitching! I tried to make a Christmas present a few years ago out of leather without punching holes and it didn’t turn out very well. You bag is really cool and looks like a way more involved project than I’d be willing to take on right now!
Thanks Natasha! I know what you mean. The hardest part was figuring out the base, then it was smooth sailing from there. To me, it was worth the effort. 😉
What a great idea. I love the design. Great job on the tutorial, too.
Thanks so much Birgit! 🙂