Tuesday, August 19, 2025
Change in plans and a box of tote bag fabric
I received a text from a fellow I use to work with. He asked if I still had his dad's leather jacket. He had given it to me years ago to put a new lining in it. I just kept putting it off. Well, he would like the jacket so I need to get it fixed by Friday. Sometimes I just need a deadline! LOL!! The lining is beyond repair and needs replaced. It's a mess.
I started taking the lining out and noticed some white stuff in several places. I don't know what it was, but between that and how stiff the leather was I knew I needed something to clean it up. After a bit of research and due to time constraints, I decided to head to the AutoZone near my house and see what they had. I bought a bottle of condition/cleaner by the Chemical Guys. Their products had excellent reviews online.
Here is a sleeve before and after. It doesn't look dramatically different, but the leather is softer and the white stuff came off. I wiped off the excess product, but I think the jacket could use another treatment. I figured I would let the jacket have overnight to make sure all the product was absorbed. I will wipe it down with a dry t-shirt rag before I start sewing in the lining. I will probably give it a second treatment after I get all the repairs done.
I will take the lining apart to use the pieces for a pattern.
Here is the new lining fabric that I bought years ago. There is a lot of repair work that needs to be done so I went thru my bin of leather and found a piece of dark brown that may come in handy. The scrap is lamb, but I am not sure what type of leather the jacket is. It is not as heavy as goat so I think it might be lamb. I had made jackets out of lamb years ago when I worked at the shop making clothes for people who showed Western Horses so I have had some experience. It is just a bit scary because I don't want to mess this up.
Wanda sent me a box of fabrics she no longer wanted and I am to use them for tote bags. It is a wonderful eclectic selection of fabrics that will make some fun bags! Thank you, Wanda!
In trade, I will make her some curved top pouches. She sent a piece of fabric she had already quilted, but hadn't made the pouch. Then she sent a cute cherry fabric with woodrings for the lining for two more pouches.
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3 comments:
Well, how fun was opening the package from Wanda?!?! Perfect pick me up after the stressful times with the jacket. You are a miracle repairer so I’m sure you won’t mess it up and I’m sure you’ll be relieved to have the jacket done and returned. I am definitely a deadline person. Give me a deadline and it’s sure to get done…..without a deadline, absolutely no guarantees!
OMG...you are awesome...I would never attempt to repair the lining...yikes. My hubby has to beg me to just hem his pants. I'd rather make a pair of pants vs hemming. HA He really does try to find the right length and now that we don't shop often I haven't had to hem. HA You go girl!
You are braver than me to make a new lining for the leather jacket. I'm not sure I would have tackled that even back in my clothing sewing and alterations days.
I'm glad the box finally got there. There are some weird fabrics in that pile that I hope the customers will like as bags.
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