DIY: Leather Cuff with Secret Pocket

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This leather cuff was designed for walkers. We are a family of walkers and some of us are also very competitive. To compare our progress, we wear an old school pedometer and proudly profess our daily count. Even as I write this in my pajamas, I’m wearing my pedomenter to capture every last step. How is this relevant? Well, with all the walking we do, carrying around a purse or backpack becomes tiresome. This leather cuff is the solution. It fits a folded bill, a subway token, and one key in the secret pocket. I’ve even hidden a tampon in there.

If you have wrists that tend to be on the smaller or larger side, adjust size of leather rectangle (the 22cm side) up or down by approximately a centimetre.

Leather Cuff with Secret Pocket

Supplies

• one piece thin tan-coloured leather, 22cm x 18cm
• two black 1.5cm metal snaps fasteners
• strong brown thread and leather needle

Tools

• heavy duty leather hole punch
• hammer and 2 piece setting tool with base
• two mini binder clips
• pencil
• small sharp scissor

Directions

1. Lay leather down on table with longer edge (22cm) on the top and bottom. This is the length that will wrap around your wrist. On the bottom edge, fold 7.5cm from the bottom and press down to make a crease. Hold in place with the binder clip. Fold top edge 2cm down, crease, and keep fold in place with second binder clip.
2. Using a pencil, draw vertical lines at 7cm and 14cm along the 22cm edge. These two lines mark the three panels that will create the pocket. Keep the binder clips to hold down the folds.
3. Thread the needle and carefully stitch the two marked lines, making sure to sew on top of the folds. Now the binder clips can be removed.
4. With the small scissors, cut two small snips up the shorter edge on the inside of the two sewn lines. Stop the cut before the creased fold, approximately 0.5cm from the top edge. See photo below to get a better idea.
5. Use the hole puncher to make two holes on the shorter left edge, approximately 1cm from the shorter left edge and 2cm from the top and bottom (long edges). These holes should pierce all three layers. You may need to try a few times. Repeat on right side.
6. Use hammer and setting tool to attach female snap closure on left hand side, with top of snap facing down. Repeat with second hole on the same side.
7. On the right side, set up male end of snap closures facing down. Before permanently attaching the snaps, roll the cuff around and check that the snaps meet each other and will snap together (basically, that they aren’t backwards). Attach the last two snaps.