Mary May - Woodcarver
  • Blog Home
  • Mary’s Carving School
  • Home
  • Wood Carving Tips
  • Denim Tool Roll

Denim Tool Roll

December 24, 2012 / Mary May / Wood Carving Tips

I have been asked recently how to make a tool roll that can safely carry tools. I made mine over 20 years ago, when I first started carving – and it is in amazingly good condition after a lot of use. I guess that says a lot for Levis! As durable as they come!

When I started thinking about how to explain how to make one, I sat and stared at mine for the longest time trying to remember how in the world I got this tool roll out of 1 pair of jeans. After about 15 minutes of an extremely puzzled look on my face, I figured the only way I could have done this was to use 2 pairs of jeans. Duhh.

Here are the steps – the photos will help, as it is difficult to explain it in words.

I got 2 pairs of levis (these actually have “real” wear marks – not bought pre-worn like you can get now-days).



1. I cut both the legs off one pair of jeans (let’s call them leg A and leg B).
2.  I then cut each leg open at the outer seam (where the seam isn’t doubled up). I actuallty cut out this seam so it doesn’t get in the way.
3. Then on the second pair of jeans, I cut one leg off (let’s call this leg C).
4. Then I cut Leg C down the outer seam (where the seam isn’t doubled up).
5. I then sewed each piece of leg C onto leg A and leg B so there are 2 large square pieces of denim (about 25 to 26″ square). So the roll is basically 1-1/2 legs wide.

NOTE: It is important to have the outer edges of the roll be the double seam, so it stays strong – otherwise, you will need to make your own hem at the edge.

6. Sew these 2 large squares together to make a long rectangle.
7. Fold 5 to 6″ of the edge over on each side.
8. Sew tool divisions about 2 to 2-1/2″ apart.

NOTE: Make sure these stitches are alternating from one side to the other, so the tools fit between each other.

So, I hope you are able to follow that. If not, get a pair of old jeans, cut them up and see what happens – I’m pretty sure that’s how I discovered this process.

NOTE: When storing the tools, I always put the handle in the pocket, not the blade – they hold tighter, and I can see the blade to be able pick out the tools I want. With the alternating stitches, they will be less likely to hit against one another.

I would not recommend storing your tools in anything like denim or leather if there is any possibility of humidity being stored with it. This is a sure way to get your tools to rust, especially if you only get to your carving tools every few months. I use this tool roll quite a lot when I travel and teach, but try not to leave anything in the roll more than a few weeks.

As you can see, my tool roll is pretty weather beaten, with the occasional hole that has been poked through. But for the amount I have used it, it’s holding up pretty well. I can hold 43 tools, and have actually packed quite a few more than that by doubling up some of the pockets. That’s not really recommended, as the tips of the tools tend to do a little more bumping into each other, but it’s a great way to securely hold them and safely carry them.

Comments are closed.

Watch a Sample Lesson from my Online School

Your Free Membership offers 12 Free Lessons. See more at My School of Traditional Woodcarving.
Facebook You Tube Google plus Linked In twitter-24

Recent Posts

  • Carving the Acanthus Leaf Book with Videos and Study Casts
  • Last Chance to Pre-Order Carving the Acanthus Leaf Book
  • Enter to win FREE resin castings of acanthus leaves
  • Preview a FREE Chapter of my Carving the Acanthus Leaf Book
  • Carving the Acanthus Leaf – Now Available for Pre-Order
news-sm

Keep up with my online Woodcarving School

A weekly newsletter tells of the latest video episode. My monthly newsletter announces upcoming video lessons, carving tips and tricks, a free template and class schedule.

Categories

  • Acanthus book
  • Acanthus Leaves
  • American College of the Building Arts
  • Antique furniture reproduction
  • Book Review
  • Brookgreen Gardens
  • Cartouche
  • Carving wildlife
  • Carvings for churches
  • Chair Carving
  • Charleston Rice Bed
  • Creche
  • europe trip
  • Finials
  • Fleur-de-lis
  • Grinling Gibbons
  • Guest Blogger
  • Handworks Show
  • intaglio- maple leaf
  • Magazine articles
  • On-Line Woodcarving articles and TV interviews
  • Online carving school
  • People
  • Philadelphia Highboy
  • Savannah
  • Scrolls
  • Shows
  • Society of American Period Furniture Makers
  • Tools
  • TV Shows
  • Uncategorized
  • Videos
  • Violin Scroll
  • WIA Show
  • Wood Carving Education
    • Ball and claw foot
    • letter carving
    • Mary's story
    • Tips & Tricks
    • Woodcarving classes
  • Wood Carving Projects
    • Acanthus Leaf Repair on Tables
    • Bed Carving
    • Carving faces
    • Carving Hands
    • Carving Reeds
    • Celtic design
    • Church carving in Savannah
    • Coat of Arms
    • College Sign
    • Corinthian Capitals
    • Deep relief carving
    • Dragon Carving
    • Egg and Dart Molding
    • Kings Head Bracket
    • Misc. Antique Furniture Repair
    • Newport Shell
    • Period Furniture Carving
    • Picture Frame
    • Rosettes
    • Shell and Acanthus Leaf
    • Shell Niches
    • Shell wall sconce
    • Sunburst
  • Wood Carving Tips

Archives

  • January 2018 (1)
  • November 2017 (1)
  • October 2017 (2)
  • September 2017 (1)
  • July 2017 (1)
  • April 2017 (1)
  • March 2017 (1)
  • January 2017 (3)
  • December 2016 (2)
  • July 2016 (1)
  • May 2016 (1)
  • April 2016 (1)
  • March 2016 (1)
  • February 2016 (1)
  • January 2016 (2)
  • November 2015 (3)
  • October 2015 (3)
  • July 2015 (1)
  • June 2015 (2)
  • May 2015 (2)
  • April 2015 (4)
  • March 2015 (4)
  • February 2015 (5)
  • January 2015 (9)
  • December 2014 (8)
  • November 2014 (6)
  • October 2014 (6)
  • September 2014 (9)
  • August 2014 (4)
  • July 2014 (8)
  • June 2014 (2)
  • May 2014 (8)
  • April 2014 (13)
  • March 2014 (3)
  • February 2014 (1)
  • January 2014 (3)
  • December 2013 (1)
  • November 2013 (1)
  • October 2013 (5)
  • September 2013 (5)
  • August 2013 (2)
  • July 2013 (8)
  • June 2013 (3)
  • May 2013 (3)
  • April 2013 (5)
  • March 2013 (9)
  • February 2013 (3)
  • January 2013 (3)
  • December 2012 (6)
  • November 2012 (5)
  • October 2012 (5)
  • September 2012 (4)
  • August 2012 (4)
  • July 2012 (6)
  • June 2012 (5)
  • May 2012 (7)
  • April 2012 (8)
  • March 2012 (7)
  • February 2012 (9)
  • January 2012 (11)
  • December 2011 (8)
  • November 2011 (7)
  • October 2011 (21)
  • September 2011 (18)
  • August 2011 (7)

Blogroll

  • Bob Easton
  • Giant Cypress
  • High Rock Woodworking
  • Matts Basement Workshop
  • Modern Woodworkers Association
  • Penultimate Woodshop
  • Renaissance Woodworker
  • The Sunday Woodcarver
  • The Wood Whisperer
  • Tom's Workbench
  • Wood Central
  • Wood Net
  • Wood Talk Online

Links

  • Alan Breed
  • Alf Sharp
  • American College of the Building Arts
  • Charles Neil Woodworking
  • Charles Ramberg Furniture Maker
  • Christopher Schwarz
  • Connecticut Valley School of Woodworking
  • Dan Hamilton
  • Greg Guenther Wood Group
  • Highland Woodworking
  • Kelly Mehler School of Woodworking
  • Lucy Churchill
  • Lumber Jocks Woodworking Showcase
  • Marc Adams School of Woodworking
  • Mark Van Abbema
  • Philip Lowe
  • Pro Woodworking Tips
  • Ronnie Sextion
  • Society of American Period Furniture Makers
  • Studio 3d Creations
  • Thaddeus Stephens College of Technology
  • The Acanthus Workshop, LLC
  • The Mill, Inc
  • The Renaissance Woodworker
  • The Woodwright's School
  • Wood Carving Guide
  • Woodcraft Supply
  • Woodworking Workshops of the Shenendoah Valley
Mary May - Woodcarver - Copyright © Cornerstone Creations, LLC, 2015
Privacy Policy

Thank you

Your feedback have been received.

Close