How to Make a Tool Belt From Blue Jeans

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Anybody who's done any carpenter work at all knows the value of a good t apron for keeping nails, screws, to measure, hammer, square, and other items separate and accessible. "It's senseless to spend $2.00, $4.00, or more on storebought work apron, however," says Bull Wilson of La Mesa, California, "when you can make a perfectly serviceable one yourself ... for nothing! Bull's secret? He fabricates his work aprons from — you  guessed it — wornout blue jeans. Here, how:

STEP 1: Cut the legs off a snug-fitting pair of old Levi's, the same as you would do to make shorts. (See Fig. 1.)

STEP 2: Cut along the leg seams and remove the front half of the "shorts," but leave the waistband intact (Fig. 2). Then remove (and save) the belt loops.

STEP 3: Hem the apron's edges and patch any holes that might exist in the former jeans' back pockets. Sew a couple pairs of belt loops together edgewise, attach them to one or both sides of the apron to act as hammer (or square) holders ... a you're done! (See Fig. 3.)

Linda Brock (wife of MOTHER staff Travis Brock) made a blue denim tool apron (see photo) from Bull Wilson's instructions not long ago . . . and we can vouch for its serviceability. Fact is, we' even go so far as to say that if there's dandier way to keep tools and nails in order while doing carpentry work we haven't seen it!