Gift Idea: Leather Chaps with Kerchal Leatherworks
Tyler Kerchal, founder of Kerchal Leatherworks, made and designed a Leather Chaps. Follow his step-by-step tutorial and download the FREE pattern to get started!
Products:
- Old World Veg-Tan Bellies SKU 9080-43
- Goucho Whole Hides SKU 9398-21
- Mirage Metallic Sides SKU 9207-16
- Cart Buckles SKU 1607-02
- Roller Strap Buckles SKU 11555-03 (QTY 6)
Instructions:
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Trace entire chap body pattern onto back side of leather, flip pattern over and repeat for opposite leg.
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Cut fringe/decorative piece out from paper pattern and trace onto back side of metallic leather, marking all cut outs as well.
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Trace yoke and panel pieces onto veg-tan, and cut all pieces out.
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Stamp/tool, dye and finish yokes and leg panels to your liking and set aside.
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Preferably using double sided tape to avoid glue residue, roll upper thigh and inner leg reinforcement, sew in place.
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Lay fringe and thigh piece onto the chap body and stitch in place. Tip: Do not cut fringe, until after ALL sewing is done, this will be the very last step.
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Cut leg straps ¾” x desired length. I use 7/8 oz latigo leather here.
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Rivet in place and sew on leg panels. Tip: Remember to keep leg straps flipped out of the way during this process.
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Attach ¾” roller buckles to thigh piece using ¾”x3” chap leather. Rivet in place.
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Cut front belt ¾” x desired length, but generally about 6-8”, again I use a 7/8 oz latigo leather for this as well.
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Glue or tape yokes in place, with front belt straps placed in between the chap body and the yokes. Stitch in place, sewing across the belt straps, securing with a rivet if desired.
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At this point, you may cut the fringe. I cut the fringe at approximately ¼” wide, and roughly a 30 degree angle going down the leg. Bottom fringe will be cut straight, or a 90 degree angle.
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According to you, or your customers waist measurement, cut back belt approximately 2” wide x desired length.
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Stamp/tool and finish to your liking.
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Once finished, punch matching holes in top yokes and ends of back belt. Lace in place.
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At this point you should now have a completed pair of chaps!
Kerchal Leatherworks
My name is Tyler Kerchal, from Curtis Nebraska and I own and operate Kerchal Leatherworks. Growing up, life revolved around ranching and rodeoing, so quality gear was always a must. Looking up to two of my uncles who have always done leatherwork as well, I started dabbling in the trade myself. A few years after high school I found myself making and selling small projects to friends and family as a hobby, using my kitchen table as a bench with a small handful of tools. Years passed, word spread, and I kept striving to be better. At 32, I took a scary leap, quit my job, opened my shop full time, and haven’t looked back since. I enjoy making a wide variety of custom orders for people all across the country, with chaps being one of my personal favorites.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kerchalleatherworks/
