Utility Harness
As we are all aware, 2020/21 have been unlike anything in recent times with regards to adjustments and changes to keep ourselves and others safe and, of course, follow the many guidelines set by the government. Not only has having to keep socially distanced been a huge change, the use of hand sanitizer and having to wear a face-covering is equally challenging. If you are anything like me and feel the need to sanitize after you have touched anything while out traveling to work, using a card machine while food shopping, and any touch-screen ticket machines (the worse thing EVER!) then carrying all the things you need to keep safe and having them easily accessible can be a bit of a struggle. So, I came up with the idea of creating a COVID safety utility harness.
The first thing I did was to make a list of the things I felt I needed each time I go out and how often I needed to reach for them. Obviously, a face-covering is the most important thing we all need to remember to bring out with us these days. When you are either traveling or shopping you need to have a face-covering at hand at all times and if you have a few shopping bags then remembering where you put it can be an issue, so I definitely needed to make a small pouch where I could hold a face-covering and even a spare in case you lose one. The next item which is EXTREMELY important is hand sanitizer. Now through trial and error, I have done a load of research into which type of sanitizer I like. The one that came in this amazing SpongeBob Square Pants bottle was not the nicest smelling sanitizer (it actually smelt like an ashtray) so I quickly used it all up and refilled it with the more pleasant smelling Love Heart sanitizer. It has a good consistency, smells good, and contains 70% alcohol AAAAAAND it is pink so, therefore, I’m all over it. The reason I love this bottle (other than the fact it has SpongeBob on) is the fact it comes with a clip. This is sooooo useful for clipping onto a belt loop or even a necklace so the harness had to have a way to clip this bottle onto it………….. and it also comes with the Ninja Turtles on it too!
What I used to create this useful beauty:
leather pelt or PU fabric
pattern master
tape measure
pencil
scissors
metal hardware for whatever you need it for
matching thread
Copydex glue
press stud application kit
I did attempt to do a LOT of research into how to make a harness, but what came up when I googled it was how to make a harness for your gun……. I was expecting to see more of a fashion harness piece haha. I soon gave up as I didn’t want that kinda thing showing up on my internet history LOL. After struggling with how to find any help online I decided to just go and wing it!
I started off with an ‘X’ shape that would be the centre of the back. I made the ‘X’ 3cm wide and then cut the longest 3cm wide strip I could manage with the pattern paper. I then attached the strip to the top cross, which would come over the shoulder. I had help pinning the cross where it should sit against my back then pulled the strap over my shoulder and, by making cuts left the smallest part attached along one edge (see pic above). I then curved the strap over my chest and under my arm until the strip reached the downward-facing ‘X’ using sticky tape to close the cuts in the paper and smooth the curve along the chest forwards the underarm and it fit PERFECTLY!
Once I had the strap curved and hugging my body perfectly I made the pattern pieces by snipping the straps shorter so they would be easier to fit on the fabric. Then came the scary part of cutting the pieces out in my chosen fabric. I went for a metallic pink leather that I had leftover from something I made at university aaall those years ago. Remember you don’t have to curve the straps for both sides of the harness because if you placed the ‘X’ at the center point on your back the straps will fit you perfectly on each side. I cut four straps out in the leather and two of the ‘X’ for the back.
I then attached the straps to the ‘X’ so it looked like I had 2 harnesses then I stitched the two together, with the wrong sides facing each other.
If you are going to add any ‘D’ rings or clips now is the time to stitch these parts onto the straps. To make the leather parts that attach the ‘D’ ring to the harness, I measured the ‘D’ ring and then cut out a square in the leather 1.5cm larger than the ‘D’ ring. I wanted to avoid sewing through the many layers of leather and I used Copydex and glued the edges over. Once it was dry I then threaded the leather piece through the ‘D’ ring ready to stitch it through the machine when you sew the harness together.
Once I was happy with the placement of where the hardware on the straps was going to be attached I top-stitched around the entire piece both on the in and the outside of the harness. You could use matching or contrasting thread. I kept the stitching 5mm from the edge. If some of the underside leather is showing through, just trim it off to neaten it all up.
Now you're ready to clip on your sanitiser and any other bits you need and go out for your essential travelling/shopping while staying safe!!!
Blue Leather Jacket - ASOS
Long Sleeve Top - ASOS
Belt - Gucci
Jeans - Zara
Hat - ASOS
Ear Rings - ASOS
Socks - Primark
Trainers - Balenciaga
Bag - Moschino
Jewellery - ASOS