FITTING

MATERIALS

Chaps can be made from suede leather, smooth leather, or Ultrasuede™.  Use 3-5 ounce leather, keeping in mind whether or not your sewing machine can handle the heavier leather.  For Ultrasuede™, use the heaviest weight possible.  Fringed chaps look better in real leather and scalloped chaps look best from Ultrasuede™.  For extra stability, Ultrasuede™ chap sides can be interfaced with heavyweight fusible interfacing, but most ready-made Ultrasuede™ chaps are not interfaced, so this is optional.  Zippers and buckles specifically for chaps can be found at leather supply stores.  Fancy buckles can be found at tack and western wear stores.

BUYING LEATHER

The only reliable way to figure out how much leather you need is to lay out the actual pattern pieces (after altering) on the hides at the leather store.  If you’re buying leather through mail order lay out your pattern pieces and estimate the area you’ll need.  Leather is sold by the square foot.  You will always need extra to work around imperfections in the hides.  You might have to piece the chap sides.  The leather company representative should be able to help you order enough. 

APPROXIMATE ULTRASUEDE™ YARDAGES FOR WESTERN CHAPS ONLY AND ZIPPER LENGTHS FOR ALL CHAPS

These approximate yardages assume that the yokes and cuffs are cut on a DIFFERENT grain than the chap sides.  Please study the layout BEFORE buying Ultrasuede™.  If you want the yokes and cuffs to have the nap in the same direction as the chap sides, YOU MIGHT NEED ADDITIONAL YARDAGE.

NOTIONS: 
Western chaps-  one 3/4” buckle, one or two conchos:  1” for childrens, 1 1/4” for adults.  Ultrasuede™ chaps-  optional heavyweight fusible interfacing:  2-1/2 YDS for childrens, 3-1/2 YDS for adults. 

English chaps-  one 3/4” buckle, 1 buckle:  3/4” for childrens OR 2” for adults.