DIY Leather Visor

Our love affair with hats isn’t limited to bowlers, skimmers, cowboy hats, baseball caps and beanies. We are crazy about visors. Season after season, we’ve been spotting these sun shaders on the runway. Last year, Rag & Bone‘s straw visors were perfect for the beach. This year, Marni‘s bejeweled, wide brimmed visors were sporty and trés chic. And next spring, we’re sure to see Adam Selman‘s scarf wrapped visors on the streets – or at least on Riri. After collecting vintage leather visors for years, Lauren created a easy to follow tutorial so that you, too, could relish in our visor craze. Plus, it makes the perfect accessory for those sunny fall days!

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You’ll need:

  • 8 x 11.5″ piece of thick leather (here or here)
  • 2 yards of deerskin leather lacing (here or here)
  • visor template (downloadable here)
  • leather rotary punch
  • X-acto or utility knife
  • fabric shears
  • embroidery needle

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Start by printing the template at 100% scale and carefully cut the template out. Trace the two pieces over the backside of the leather with a utility knife. Score the leather lightly without cutting through the material.

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With sharp pair of fabric shears, cut out the shapes.

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Line up the template over the leather pieces and use the rotary tool to punch out the appropriate holes.

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Cut the 2 yards of leather lacing in half. Match the holes from the two pieces together and use the numbers on the template as a guide. Pull one of the laces through the bottom of the middle, larger holes. Bring it back down through the top holes (1).

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Adjust the lacing so the leather coming from the middle hole is one inch longer than the one coming out from the top hole. The longer lacing will now be your working piece. Now bring the longer piece through the bottom of the outer holes (2).

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Then bring the same piece down through the middle again. Use the need to help push it through if necessary. Bring it up the bottom holes (3) and back down the middle again.

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Pull the lacing up the bottom holes (4) and back down the middle. Turn the visor over and tie the two laces together in a single knot.

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Thread each lace through each of the two holes of the rectangular leather piece. Repeat the same steps on the other side.

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Tie the strings together to fasten and you’re done!

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Lauren’s boyfriend Johnny handcrafts the most amazing visors. So if DIYing your own leather visor just isn’t your cup of tea, check out his Etsy store for a selection of incredible handmade visors!

leathervisor

(images by HonestlyWTF)

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25 Comments

  1. Alena wrote:

    Looks super cool in these pics, just not for me 😉
    However again, this is such a great idea!
    Love, Alena | meet me stylish

    9.9.14
    Reply
  2. Mira wrote:

    Looks pretty cool. Amazing diy idea 😀

    xx Mira

    http://www.glamdevils.com

    9.9.14
    Reply
  3. STEL style wrote:

    Beautiful and cool DIY!

    http://www.stelstyle.com

    9.9.14
    Reply
  4. Dominique wrote:
    9.9.14
    Reply
  5. veva wrote:

    You always amaze me with your DIY!
    This is simply great!

    Veva MWI

    9.9.14
    Reply
  6. Riemke wrote:

    heel gaaf!

    9.9.14
    Reply
  7. OMG! This is so amazing! xx

    9.9.14
    Reply
  8. Wonderful i love visor..mostly because it doesn’t smash my hair and i don’t sweat under my hat..
    xoxo
    Yael Guetta

    http://www.ftwwl.com

    9.9.14
    Reply
  9. María wrote:
    9.9.14
    Reply
  10. This visor is super chic! Great DIY idea!
    MIS PERLAS DE MODA

    9.9.14
    Reply
  11. Nadine wrote:

    I love this, very chic….

    9.9.14
    Reply
  12. I love this DIY! I definitely keep seeing visors all over the place, but haven’t had the courage to wear one myself. This one, however, seems right up my alley!

    -Helen

    http://www.sweethelengrace.com

    9.9.14
    Reply
  13. Andie wrote:

    You are soooooooOooOoo creative! Thx for always putting links on where to get materials for your DIYs!

    9.9.14
    Reply
  14. Lauren wrote:

    I love visors, this DIY is fab and it looks really fab!
    Lauren
    livinginaboxx

    9.10.14
    Reply
  15. Geraldine wrote:

    Love working with leather! it looks great!
    https://www.facebook.com/groups/255351937940721/

    9.10.14
    Reply
  16. Zen wrote:

    I’m a big hat lover too! 🙂 This project looks really easy to do 🙂

    10.8.14
    Reply
  17. virginia wrote:
    5.11.15
    Reply
  18. I made one! And its super cute! Though I had some trouble at first. I made one following the template exactly and it was a complete failure. Mostly the forehead strap that you attach the bill to. The two pieces would not come together correctly and the template left out the extra two holes on the ends for the strings to pull through and around your head. They turn out to be important! With out them the square edges flare out and the straps dont pull the shape around your forehead. So I’m not sure if i have a crazy forehead or what but it didn’t work the first time around.

    The bill I already punched holes in shape was a good shape and size. So I got a new strap (longer than the template to accommodate finishing holes) and the bill and held the pieces to my forehead centered in a mirror. I took some tape and kind of taped the bill to the strap until it looked right (lots of checking since two hands is not quite enough here.) Then carefully traced the holes from the bill onto the forehead strap. Punched them, sewed them, trimmed the sides of the straps and added the holes. And it works! I can now use this set as a working template!

    I would suggest making a mock up or somehow testing the template before making mistakes on leather! Its a bummer.
    But luckily the piece I ruined can be used for something else.

    Happy Hat Making!

    6.11.15
    Reply
  19. Denise wrote:

    Anything DIY i love, i friend of mine has made some of her own items using leather and beads to create some beautiful headbands and native American breastplates/. I also cant wait to give his one a try!!

    8.15.15
    Reply
  20. Mike wrote:
    8.30.17
    Reply
  21. olaf443 wrote:
    9.11.17
    Reply