Pages

▼

Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Making a Shop Apron - 1

For something new and different, I've decided to make a shop apron.

The Frau has complained that I always decided to do woodworking while wearing my best clothes. I don't know why, but I've always avoided wearing a shop apron. I guess I'm just too cheap to buy a nice one, and the cheap ones tend to be a distraction.

Unlike this project...

I've never done very much sewing before, and didn't quite know how to go about it, so I did some googling, and came across a post from a sewing blog. It's good to have a place to start. The other place I looked was the shop apron page on Texas Heritage Woodworks site. Jason seems to be making the best shop aprons out there at the moment.

This project seems to be a good one for someone who has never sewn before. It's not too complicated, and has enough hems to make you want to never do another one again.

A sewing machine would make this project very quick and easy, except for the fact that I am using #8 duck canvas (18 oz.) requiring a heavy-duty sewing machine, and I don't have one.

I do have a Speedy Stitcher. I haven't ever really used it, so I suppose it's a great time to learn.
Working on making some hems with the Speedy Stitcher.
I made some measurements on my body, and then cut a piece of fabric based on the size of the material I had on hand. I free-handed the cutouts for the armpits with a pencil, folded the canvas in half and cut the same shape out on both sides.

Next is about two days worth of sewing hems. A professional seamstress I am not.
After a while, I could finally sort of do it straight.
I am certain that if I did more of this kind of work, a stitching mule would be a big help. This project should be a little rough, but I expect the apron to work just fine.
Finished with the hems!
Next I will sew on some straps I got off of a spare hunk of veg-tan leather. I wanted to see what would happen if I soaked the straps in boiled linseed oil, and so far they look good.
Straps soaked in BLO.
Hopefully this project won't take too much more time. And, hopefully it will be as functional as I am hoping. If not, I guess I can make another one.

But I hope I don't.
at

13 comments:

  1. Jonas JensenApril 19, 2017 at 7:47 PM

    Looking great!
    You might want to check that the soaked leather doesn't stain you nice shirts. That might get you into a lot of trouble if they do.

    Brgds
    Jonas

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brian EveApril 19, 2017 at 8:01 PM

      Luckily BLO is a drying oil, so it shouldn't ooze anything. I might even put some wax on top once it's dry.

      It would be cool if it kept that chocolaty brown color, but I suspect it will lighten up a bit.

      Delete
    2. Mikkel FrederiksenApril 20, 2017 at 1:47 PM

      Vegetable tanned leather always gets darker with age. Ultra violet rays from the sun and all that. Wear will also darken it.

      I sometimes make a special type of grease for my letaher goods. It consists of beef tallow, bees wax and wood tar. Keeps the leather flexible and gives off a nice smokey smell og bacon ;-)

      Delete
    3. Brian EveApril 20, 2017 at 1:50 PM

      Hmmm. All I need for that is beef tallow, and wood tar. And maybe some more beeswax. ;)

      But perhaps you've given me an idea or two.

      Cheers!

      Delete
  2. JeremyApril 19, 2017 at 8:56 PM

    I'd recommend x straps in back instead of a neck strap. I don't wear mine much anymore, for whatever reason, but yours is looking good. While I'm not a tailor, up until recently I used a wallet I made myself, because I could not find one that functioned better, if I had more time, I'd probably revisit it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brian EveApril 19, 2017 at 9:13 PM

      I plan on using x straps. Great minds think alike, I suppose. I've thought of making a wallet, before. But I think after this, I'll be glad to get back to some woodwork.

      Cheers!

      Delete
  3. Gavin RondeauApril 19, 2017 at 11:13 PM

    Brian, did you try sewing the canvas with a machine? I've never sewn 18 oz. stuff but I've sewn together 5 layers of 8 oz. canvas with a cheap Brother machine. Kinda had to baby it along slow but for a one-off project it worked great. Was surprised how well it worked.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brian EveApril 20, 2017 at 5:20 AM

      Hey Gavin, thanks for the comment!

      Unfortunately I don't have a machine, so that's not possible. But, if I had one, babying it along would be far faster than what I did.


      I double folded the hems, so the material is basically three layers. The worst parts were at the corners, where the two hems met, that was six layers. I broke a needle at one of these spots.

      Delete
    2. Gavin RondeauApril 20, 2017 at 5:37 PM

      I've been there. I've broken more harness needles while sewing leather than I care to remember.

      Delete
  4. Gregory MerrittApril 20, 2017 at 5:28 AM

    Looking good so far Brian. That is a pretty big undertaking with a Speedy Stitcher. At least it will keep you out of trouble for a good long while.

    I keep thinking that I should try the whole shop apron thing, but then never do. Outside of my one good suit, all of my clothes are now relegated to "work" clothes status. Maybe I should take heed of the apron wearing crowd.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brian EveApril 20, 2017 at 5:30 AM

      Haha! I feel exactly the same. I figure if they aren't work clothes, they soon will be. Plus, one needs to get finishing rags from somewhere, right?

      Cheers!

      Delete
  5. Valley WoodworkerApril 20, 2017 at 12:10 PM

    Hum that sound so familiar: You are not going to work wearing these clothes are you?
    Why am i overdressed? :-)
    Like Gregory i have lots of "workclothes" for some reasons....:-)

    If you ever come across an older Singer, the old cast iron girl with steel cut gears, it would work just fine in this application. These newer plastic gears machines...not so welll.

    Bob, who should wear a shop apron, i would save so much on clothing :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brian EveApril 20, 2017 at 12:14 PM

      Hey Bob!

      Sadly, there is a trendy restaurant around the corner that has many old foot powered sewing machines that they ripped the sewing machine off, painted white, and put a new marble top on for tables for their restaurant. It's weird, because the treadles still work, they just turn a lonely flywheel.

      Delete