Now Push it!

Okay. So early spring I found this leather coat at the thrift store:

I immediately started singing PUSH IT, “Salt Salt and Peppa’s here and we in effect!”

This was a great find, but the the wrists and bottom waist band were too soiled to be cleaned AND this was a heavy leather jacket. It doesn’t get THAT cold in Georgia so my ability to wear it would be limited. I decided I would go back to RedoxRenew’s roots and turn this jacket into a bag.

FIRST, I cut the sleeves off. Then, I used the waist of the coat as the opening of the bag and filled in the neck with the leather from the sleeves. I used Leather cement/glue for this step instead of sewing it because I like the look of the original stitching around the collar. I also glued the pockets closed.

Coat with sleeves removed, waistband removed, neck filled in.

SECOND, this was a huge coat (much too big for a practical bag) so I cut a few inches off the waist.

I stitched the arms closed then added a lining. I’m using the lining to absorb the weight of the items I’m going to carry.

I added belt loops and used that cut-off waist piece to make a belt for a play on an oversize sack bag.

Finally, I added a strap made of the same fabric as the lining and leather from the sleeves.

Here’s the finished bag and I love it!

Wide leg pants, headwrap, and leather cuff are RedoxRenew also!

What do you think? Do you love this bag as much as I do?

Do you have an old leather garment you’re not wearing anymore? The leather is quality, but out of style or not the right size? Let’s turn it into a bag!