Turn Your Old Leather Jacket into a Backpack!

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Transform an outdated leather jacket into a modern backpack with hand-painted accents. Elevate your style by breathing new life into a forgotten piece—turn it into a statement-making accessory. With a few creative touches, including hand-painted designs, you can craft a chic, personalized backpack that’s as unique as you are. Discover how this DIY project not only refreshes your look but also celebrates sustainable fashion in the most stylish way possible.

Supplies

You can choose any bag pattern to upcycle your leather jacket, but we recommend the simplicity and clean lines of our Classic Canvas Backpack design. Its boxy shapes provide the perfect canvas to showcase the unique details and character of your leather, allowing it to truly shine. This pattern offers a blank slate, making it easy to elevate your upcycled jacket into a stylish and functional backpack.

Prepare

Using a damp cloth, wipe away any dirt or stains from the leather jacket. Allow to fully air dry.

From the leather jacket, cut two main panels and one flap using a rotary cutting system. If desired, position pattern pieces over existing garment pockets, stitching, or other design details. The featured backpack centered a garment pocket within the front main panel and centered seamlines on the flap and the back main panel.

From the lining fabric and fusible interfacing, cut two main panels and one flap.

Paint

Cover your work surface with cardboard or a tarp. Position the leather flap right side up on the work surface.

Paint the leather rectangle as desired, using a stencil, sketching a design with a lead pencil or painting freehand. The featured backpack has freehand geometric shapes.

Repeat to paint additional pattern pieces if desired.

Allow the paint to completely dry.

Learn how to determine if leather needs to be prepared to accept paint:

Apply leather paint to a leather scrap selected for the finished project. Once the paint is dry, bend and manipulate the leather to check the pain adhesion. If the paint doesn’t chip or crack, the leather can be used without applying a preparer and deglazer product. If the paint chips or cracks, treat the leather with a preparer and deglazer product or select a different leather without a finish. 

To prep leather using a preparer and deglazer product, apply the product to a leather scrap selected for the finished project. The product removes the leather finish that prevents paint absorption. Decorative treatments, such as a metallic finish, may be removed with the product. If the product doesn’t affect the leather look, apply the product to the project leather piece. 

Construct

Fuse the interfacing pieces to the corresponding lining wrong sides according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Install a leather sewing needle and walking foot onto the machine.

Construct the backpack according to the pattern instructions, but only folding the leather upper-edge binding once.

We love how the original jacket’s unique details add both function and flair to the backpack. Elements like pockets, zippers, and stitching bring character, making your new accessory a stylish, personalized piece with a story.

Incorporating recycled textiles into your sewing projects is not only a sustainable choice but also a creative way to breathe new life into your wardrobe. By upcycling old garments, like the leather jacket-turned-backpack, you can create unique, stylish pieces that reflect your personal style while reducing waste. Whether you’re transforming denim, leather, or other fabrics, each project is an opportunity to experiment with design, embrace sustainability, and craft something truly one-of-a-kind. So, dive into your fabric stash, get inspired, and start reimagining your next sewing project with an eco-friendly twist.

Happy Sewing!

Not in the mood to sew a backpack? Explore these other bag sewing patterns that are perfect for upcycling a leather jacket into something equally stylish and functional…