Introduction
Making a woodworking apron from old jeans is a budget-friendly, imaginative way to add some protection to your work wardrobe. The history of aprons in woodworking dates back centuries ago when craftsmen would use aprons to protect their clothes while they worked. Today, the classic leather and canvas aprons are still popular among professionals and hobbyists alike. However, instead of breaking the bank on an expensive new apron, why not create one out of old jeans that you might have lying around in your closet? With a few basic supplies and simple steps, you can easily turn those jeans into an attractive and durable piece of attire that will make every job easier. Here’s how to make your own woodworking apron out of old jeans:
Gather Your Supplies
To make a woodworking apron out of old jeans you’ll need the following supplies:
– Old jeans or alternative denim material (e.g. military surplus canvas, jean shorts, cut up denim fabric)
– Wide waistband elastic
– Buttons or Velcro closure strips (for tying the apron around your waist)
– Needle and thread
– Scissors
– Ruler
– Fabric markers or chalk to mark cuts on fabric and size adjustments if needed
– Iron to press seams and darts in place
Step By Step Instructions
1. Gather the materials needed for making the apron out of old jeans: an old pair of jeans that can be cut, matching thread, scissors, measuring tape and sharp-pointed tailor’s chalk or fabric marker.
2. Put on the pair of jeans you will be using to make the woodworking apron and mark a pencil line from your waist to your desired length. Put the jeans off and remove them from your body.
3. Cut both sides of the jeans legs along on either side of the pencil line, leaving 1 inch margin outside(so when you are wearing it you won’t feel uncomfortable). After that, turn the jeans up-side down so that seams face up.
4. Measure 9 inches in length and mark it with a tailor’s chalk or fabric marker at both sides below where you have previously marked your desired length (this will become pocket length). Make sure each side is even measurements on both sides before draw lines around it in order to prepare for pocket would be placed in later stage.
5. Sew along with marked lines ensuring even measurements remain while sewing to make pockets; alternatively, use overstitch machine if available, which provides more neat finish when sewing around curved surfaces like pockets’ edge.
6. Now place each other at their corresponding positions facing inside and mark 1 inch margin above previous markings about pocket edges and trim off extra materials for proper fitment without any twists or bulges.
7. Reinforce stitching by repeating step 5 above on two separate places (one for left side &second for right) near waistline; This step also helps reduce possible wear & tear along these areas during woodworking operations when utilizing apron as designed protection garments over clothes, protecting them from unnecessary dust/wool particles generated by tools/wood etc..
8Finally create corner shaped flaps directly beneath waistline portion; fold all four corners carefully while securing their raw edges together with pins (place them at half inch spacing apart) or clips provided in sewing kit before actual sewing process begins then top sew folded area twice (left & right) with close up stitches so everything is secured tightly inside apron ready for use!
Optional Steps
Making a woodworking apron out of old jeans is an easy and cost-effective way to create the perfect protective clothing for any job. Start by gathering an old pair of jeans, scissors, mid-weight fabric like denim or canvas and other supplies needed such as twill tape, bias tape and buttons. To begin, cut two pieces from the front of the jeans that include both legs sewn together. Use this section to make the bib of the apron – it should measure 16 inches wide by 14 inches high. Include a selvedge strip at either end of your pattern piece to finish off the raw edges.
Then, you can start to add in extra features for a customized woodworking apron. Pockets are great for holding nails and other hardware, so you can seam two 4-inch pockets on opposite sides of the main body with contrast light weight fabric. Straps from mid-weight fabric can also be added in over these pockets for maximum support when bending or crouching down. If desired, personal embellishments like patches and appliques can be sewed on for extra flair and fun detail. Finally attach coordinating bias tape around neck strap, arm holes and bottom hemline – all this will give your personalized woodworking aprons that professional touch!
Finishing Touches
Before wearing your woodworking apron, it is important to prepare for wear in order to make sure it is safely secured. A few finishing touches can go a long way in ensuring that the apron will remain tight when worn and won’t be easily damaged by sawdust, dirt or moisture from the work environment.
The first step is to patch any holes that were formed during deconstructing or creating the apron. Holes may form from sewing the pockets on incorrectly or from snipping fabric too closely when cutting away the old jeans. Using scraps of fabric left over from the creation process, these can be hand stiched back together after being patched with fusible webbing or iron-on backing material – depending upon what type of denim was used.
Reinforcing seams also helps keep the weight of whatever you are carrying securely distributed within pockets and across your body while working. Use pieces leftover from the original jeans legs and sew these on top of existing seams to strengthen them even more. Make sure to stretch them tightly before and during stitching so they don’t lose their tension after only a few uses!
Finally, adding decorative trim is always adorable but it also adds additional layers that protect fabric edges from future damage as it acts like an armor against sawdust, dirt and moisture. Use buttons, pieces of leather and colorful embroidery threads to create your own signature look for your woodworking apron!
Wear It Proudly
Making a woodworking apron out of old jeans is an excellent way to repurpose your favorite denim pieces into something entirely new and functional. It’s also a great way to add a unique, personalized touch to your woodworking attire. Here’s what you need to know about transforming your old jeans into a custom-made woodworking apron:
Step 1: Gather Your Supplies – You will need scissors or a rotary cutter, straight pins, heavy-duty thread, measuring tape, tailor’s chalk, twill or denim patches for reinforcement (optional), and the jeans themselves.
Step 2: Measure and Mark – Measure the width of the waist of the jeans and mark this size on both front pieces of the legs. Cut along the markers so that each leg piece is now equivalent in size at their top hem–this will become the neckline and waistline of your finished apron.
Step 3: Sew The Front Edges & Hem – To finish out your neckline and waistline edges, sew a seam parallel to these lines with heavy-duty thread. Then choose whether to leave it as is (raw edges) or hem by folding over 1/2 inch and stitching again like Step 2.
Step 4: Add Reinforcements – If desired, reinforce stress points like pockets or areas receiving extra tension by adding handstitched reinforcements with twill or denim patches cut from other denim fabric. You can also sew-on any quirky details or embellishments to give it an even more personalized flair!
When complete, you should have one customized woodworking apron made from your favorite pair(s) of old jeans ready for use! Wear it proudly — be sure to showcase pictures of yourself wearing it in action on social media!
Conclusion
After you have finished making your woodworking apron out of old jeans, it’s time to celebrate the achievement. After all, you just created something new and useful from a pair of worn out jeans! You should take pictures of the completed apron and share them with the world. Post them to social media so that your family and friends know what you are up to. Show off your handiwork, skill, and creativity. Invite comments & ideas from other people who may have suggestions to make your work even better or suggest options for other uses for an old denim apron. And most importantly, enjoy wearing your new creation in the shop for years to come!
Hi everyone! I’m a woodworker and blogger, and this is my woodworking blog. In my blog, I share tips and tricks for woodworkers of all skill levels, as well as project ideas that you can try yourself.
