When I’m shopping at Goodwill Outlet (have you been? you pay by the pound!) I can’t pass up leather, silk, wool, or down-filled jackets. My ‘leather’ bin of potential projects is overflowing so I thought I’d come up with some ideas for how to repurpose a leather jacket! I think you’ll love the recycled leather projects to sew I came up with, and I’ll be updating this post with a new tutorial of my own later this week.
Almost all of these projects would work coming from a skirt, pants, couch, or jacket – have you harvested secondhand leather anywhere else?
If you like this round-up, please check out these posts as well!
- 13+ modern books on refashioning clothing & upcycle sewing
- 10 refashioning tips for successful sewing
- Five Tips for Thrift Shopping to Upcycle & Refashion
- 15+ leather scraps projects
Wondering what special tools you need to sew leather? I’ve had good luck adjusting my stitch length to 4 mm and then using:
- Leather needles
- Wonder clips (instead of pins)
- My walking foot
Pin this list of 12+ recycled leather projects to sew with this link or the collage image below, and please click through to pin individual images from their own sites.
12+ recycled leather projects to sew
Check out my how to sew an upcycled leather purse tutorial here – I have a brand new bag from an old leather coat!
Funky, fringed leather clutch upcycled with a tutorial from Pearls and Scissors. [2024 edit – this website seems to be shut down but leaving it up for visual inspiration]
A funky, modern leather pillow with simple sewing tutorial over at Vintage Revivals.
Another take on the jacket to purse upcycle, with a tutorial from Sustain my Craft Habit.
A pretty upcycled leather pennant tutorial at Lemon Thistle.
I used an old coat to back this easy coaster sewing pattern here on Swoodson Says- it keeps them from slipping!
Funky spray painted jacket makeover at My Poppet.
Quick and easy no sew leather upcycle Christmas ornament tutorial at Heather Handmade.
The cutest upcycled baby shoes from Small + Friendly.
Upcycled leather pen holder tutorial at Pillar Box Blue.
A hobo bag upcycled from another jacket, with a tutorial at Luz Patterns.
A funky leather kangaroo pocket refashion by Thriftanista In the City.
(not pictured)
Video tutorial for sewing a leather barrel bag from an upcycled jacket at We All Sew.