DIY Suede Patches w/ Common Household Items

[Guest MikeC23]

The Tandy route is a bit pricey, so I wanted to see what I could do with a limited budget....well, actually, NO budget what-so-ever.

 

I dug an old leather jacket out of storage, I've had it for about 15-16 yrs. so it was really dry, brittle and tore as easily as construction paper....

 

 

 

 

I cut the sleeves off and the back out, the sleeves are for the inner-thigh, riding patches and the back section for the mudflap.

 

 

 

 

I raided the kitchen, the medicine cabinet, the garage and some art supplies that I already had sitting around the house...

 

 

 

 

First I painted the gray suede with a couple coats of indelible India ink, let it dry, then a layer of leather shoe dye, tossed it in the oven that was turned off, but heated up to around 125* to bake in the ink and dye.

 

Then I saturated the leather in Olive oil, then laid the pieces out flat then wrapped them up in cellophane, put it back in the oven until the oil was completely soaked up by the severely dehydrated and now stiff (because of the ink), leather and repeated this step about 3-4 times until is was somewhat pliable.

 

Then I soaked it in warm soapy water, I used dish washing soap because of it's really low pH balance, then wringing out the majority off the ink, dye and Olive oil, then let it soak for about 6-8 hours in plain, warm water.

 

Then into the washer set to saturated soak, and let in soak in the warm water with about a cup or more of fabric softener, then ran the washer on heavy duty cycle, second rinse and extended spin, then repeated the soaking and washing cycle.

 

Then I stretched and tacked the pieces to a board and let them dry over-night.

 

The next day, I stuck some Bag Balm in the microwave to soften it up and worked it in thoroughly with a rag, into both sides of the leather, laid the pieces flat, then wrapped in cellophane and repeated the warm oven step until it was completely soaked in.

 

Then I sat there while watching TV, or reading the computer, twisting it up and gently wringing then untwisting it and just worked with it until it was soft and pliable as any high quality leather I've worked with in the past, all with just stuff laying around the house.

 

It's hard to tell, but the black is really a deep and solid black and has alot more rough/raw, suede texture, but it gets washed out due to the flash....

 

 

 

 

 

Here you can see how soft and supple and pliable the suede has become....

 

 

 

 

 

It worked out pretty well, for it being some ancient, dried-out, crap leather from India.

 

 

It sounds like alot more work than it really is, it's mostly just a waiting game, so I would go through a step and leave it and come back a couple, to 12 hours later and then move on to the next step, leave, come back and so on until it was done.

 

 

[4505Marcel]

Great idea recycling an old jacket bro, alot of work though . Although I wouldnt say Tandy is pricey, think I paid £22 with shipping for my pig suede from them. As it goes the hide I got was enough for probably 4 sets of patches and flaps, so if I sell on the rest it would be cheap I feel.

I kept the rest of mine for Predator progect parts, but at the end of the day if the end result is the same good on ya bro. Look forward to seeing your scout come together.

[Guest Rogue Fett]

Interesting method. And yeah, waiting game or not, seems like a lot of work!

[LadySewForUs]

Very creative. One could get an old jacket at a thrift shop or yard sale and do this.

 

Before attaching it, it may be a good idea to try out a small sample in the wash. It would be good to be sure it will hold the color before attaching to the flightsuit. At the very least, you will know if you will be able to wash it, or if you will need to dry clean it.

 

Debbi

[jabbasdead]

Recycle, reduce, reuse....the responsible Scout.

[Guest MikeC23]

Thanks, Guys.

 

I guess we all have different definitions of what constitutes "alot of work", just like the jumpsuit I'm making from scratch, or the the glove modification, it would have been alot faster and easier just to buy a race suit, pre-made boots, vest and cummerbund, or some Sith gloves, but I actually enjoy making it myself, also, I like to challenge myself and see how much I can accomplish with absolutely nothing.

 

Plus, my expendable cash these days isn't what it used to be, so every penny and dime I save with my DIY projects it can now go towards my armour and Ray Gun blaster.

 

 

Lady, after soaking it for hours on end, then washing it through the extended heavy duty cycles a couple times any reaming ink/dye that could have bleed is long since gone. I checked on the last washing cycle and there wasn't any residual black in the water.

As with anything that's dyed it will bleed and fade over time, but just a touch-up with some leather shoe dye should work just fine.

 

Plus, since I'm making the suit out of Gabardine wool, I was going to have it dry-cleaned anyways.

[Guest MikeC23]

Recycle, reduce, reuse....the responsible Scout.