Introduction: Leather Jacket
My very first leather jacket, entirely hand made.
A lot of work, a lot of lessons learnt and more to come :)
Step 1: Choosing
Step One: buy amazing leather from Tandy!
Step 2: Patterning
Cut pieces according to your pattern.
I got my pattern cutting a denim jacket into pieces and adapted them. I would have loved to have created the pattern myself but it was my very first jacket so I didn't feel up to the challenge, I was more focused on the piece itself.
Step 3: Stitching
Start the never ending stitching process!
The leather is pretty thick so I punched each hole with a hole punch and then stitched with waxed thread.
Step 4: Piecing Together
Step by step, start seeing progress...
For the side parts that you can see on this picture, I decided to hide the stitching on the inside.
Step 5: Fitting
If the arm works, you're on the right track!
Again the arms are stitched on the inside which is very scary: I had no idea if I was on the right track while sawing and only knew I did it right when I was done and turned it around!
Step 6: Brainstorming
What you pictured first might not look like would have hoped... change it
Step 7: Deciding
You'll end up with something that fits your vision better.
I stitched each side of the zipper to the leather with waxed thread.
I made sure to hide the metal part of the zipper so that only the brown piece shows.
Step 8: Bottom Band
I then added 3 piece at the bottom:
Two from the front to the sides and one for the back.
Step 9: Almost There!
I decided to go with a simple collar: it's just a strap folded on itself and sawn on.
I the added buttons on the collar and on the bottom strap and finished by folding and stitching the wrists and bottom strap.

Second Prize in the
Tandy Leather Contest 2016
21 Comments
2 years ago
Hey, Sorry a bit late. Did you have to make allowances for movement? As in make them a bit bigger than say a denim jacket. Has it stretched and softened over the years. I am going to make a kangaroo fur jacket for winter. Thanks
Ken
3 years ago
That is such an _amazing_ jacket. I am _so_ irritated that the site didn't let me find this until now.
Not to diminish your design, but this looks _so_ like "The Rocketeer" that if you ever wear this in public you have _so_ got to make a matching Art Deco helmet to go with it!
Thank you so much for sharing your work. This is truly a piece of art :-)
________
Edited to add:-
Just checked your profile. Pardon:-
C'est bien! Merci! :-)
Reply 3 years ago
Thank you so much for your comment :D
Made my day!
3 years ago
Perfect thing you made!
4 years ago on Step 9
This is incredible work. Looks as good or better than what you would buy at a store.
6 years ago
Sorry, I can't find the other part of the tutorial. What should I do after I decided if I want a zipper or buttons? How do I go about installing the zipper? And what do I do next? The jacket in the photo is half way finished so I guess I am missing the other part of the tutorial and I can not see any "next page" or something that would indicate there is "to be continued". Thank you!
Reply 6 years ago
Hi!
Thank you for pointing it out, there must have been a bug in my upload.
I'll take some time to add the missing parts tomorrow. :)
6 years ago
Magnifique ! Je vote
Reply 6 years ago
Merci :)
6 years ago
got my vote
Reply 6 years ago
Thank you! I appreciate!
6 years ago
Fantastic! You have made me want to do this. BIG thanks!
6 years ago
what a great work! ;)
6 years ago
This is awesome!! Great jacket! Voted
Reply 6 years ago
Thank you for your vote!!!
6 years ago
I got the pattern buying a cheap denim jacket, cut it into pieces and adapted to what I wanted to make.
6 years ago
Thank you for your comments :)
Don't hesitate to vote for me!!!
6 years ago
where did you get the pattern???
6 years ago
Ooh, love the jacket! I would also love to learn more about this pattern! The design of the jacket is just perfect :)
6 years ago
I'd like to know about the pattern too