How to Make a Leather Dopp Kit

You will need a few things before you start this project.

1. A piece of 2oz leather for the outside 370mm x 480 mm, you can actually use any material you want it doesn't have to be leather. It just has to be thick enough to hold it self in shape. I have made this project with 10oz cotton and it worked fine.

2. A 370mm zipper. Pick the colour that will go best with the colour of leather you use. Remember you can always cut the zipper shorter if you get one that is too long.

3. A piece of material for a lining, 370mm x 480mm. I used cotton for this lining but it might be better to use a material that can be wiped clean.

Here is the link to my YouTube Video , How to Make a Leather Dopp Kitt.

Cut out the leather to size. I used a metal straight edge and a sharp knife. Make sure the piece is cut properly.

Cut out the lining just a little larger than you need because it is easier to trim later.

I put double faced tape around the leather and attached the lining to the leather leaving the good side out.

Then trim the lining material to size.

To attach the zipper to the leather place your leather on the table with the good side facing up. Then clamp the zipper to the leather with the good side of the leather against the top side of the zipper.

Sew zipper to the leather.

Then fold over the leather so that the good side of the leather and the top side of the zipper are facing up .

Sew across the leather to fasten the leather to the zipper. This seam will be visible so try and keep it straight.

Now to attach the other end of the leather to the zipper in the same way. Good side of leather to the top of the zipper sew together. Then fold over the leather and sew this last seam across , remember this seam will be seen.

I actually turned this project outside right to make the last seam and then folded it inside out again for the rest of the project.

Fold the project in half so that the zipper is in the exact middle of the material .

Cut the tabs for each end. For the zipper end make a tab about 3/4 inch wide and 2 1/2 inches long.

The tab for the handle is a 3/4 inch wide and 7 inches long.

Sew the zipper tab on the inside of the bag, which is really the outside. Sew this tab in the centre of the bag and at the beginning end of the zipper.

Sew straight across the beginning end of bag, clamp the tab in place as well as the end of the bag so it doesn't move when you sew across the end.

Important : Remember to leave the zipper open half way.

Sew across the other end of the bag as well the handle tab doesn't go in yet.

Remember to be careful when sewing over the zipper and not hit the metal teeth of the zipper. If you hit the zipper with your sewing machine you will bend the needle and possibly put your sewing machine out of time.

I am just saying this from experience.

Cut a 55mm x 55mm square out of each corner so it looks like the picture above.

Push corners together and clamp. Sew across the corners to make a box shape .

On the handle end, put the handle on the inside so that the centre of the handle is in the centre of the sewn seam. Clamp the handle in place as well as the rest of the bag.

Now sew across the bag.

Your bag is complete now.

Turn your bag outside right now.