How to Make a DIY Water Bottle Sheath

I don't know about you, but I don't drink enough water. I also know that carrying a water bottle isn't for everyone. But you have to admit, if you do carry one, you are likely to drink more water than someone who doesn't. Pretty obvious right? These days, we are lucky, anyone who is reading this is likely to have running water at their convenience, yet we still manage to stay mildly dehydrated.

So to solve this quandary, we go back in time when their wasn't water out of every tap and people had to carry their water with them. People would use the bladder of animals, hardened leather, clay and a myriad of other materials. I have a solution... Carry a water with you, BUT LOOK AWESOME DOING IT!!!!

I can't tell you how many compliments I have gotten for my water bottle sheaths. Strangers come up to me and ask me about it all the time.

In this Instructable, I will show you and give you patterns for different sizes and techniques. All of the ones I have in this Instructable are Klean Kanteen brand, mostly because I really like their stuff. I will in the future make patterns for mason jars for those who's budget doesn't jive with the cost of these. Plus, mason jars are great, just not as sturdy.

Step 1: Patterns

You can use these patterns in three ways.

1. take the measurements and draw them out

2. print it out and use it as your guide (you can use folded over tape to stick the pattern and material together)

3. directly input the Illustrator file into a laser cutter and the machine will cut it out for you (be sure to test your material)

I did mine on a laser cutter but if you have scissors and a leather hole punch, it works great too.

The files I have included do not have the artwork in it since it is not my original work, but it is easy to take a wood burning tool and add your own personal touch to your water bottle sheath. Or add an image to the file for laser cutting.

The following pages include three different patterns and techniques. You can switch up some of the techniques to achieve the look you like.

Step 2: What You Will Need

---- Please read all the sheath instructions because the one before is relevant to the next.-------

Adobe Illustrator to see the patterns (you can download a free 30 day trial of Illustrator)

(click on the link above to see the pattern)

27 oz classic , 20 oz insulated wide mouth, or 64oz wide mouth Klean Kanteen water bottle

bicycle chain

bicycle chain tool

piece of small flat metal with a hole bigger than a 1/4 inch (if using all bike chain without rivets)

hammer

pliers

scissors (or laser cutter)

leather hole punch (or laser cutter)

2-3- 1 inch "D" rings (depending on the bottle choice)

nylon thread

straps at your desired length

Step 3: 27 oz Classic (Not wide mouth)

You need a bike tool. Its not worth it to try and disassemble them without one.

27ozClassic.ai1 MB

Step 4: 27 oz cont. Disassembling bike chain

Once you have all your parts, set aside the hollow round parts. You won't be using them.

Re-assemble them with the leather in between. Be consistent with the parts placement.

Place the pins through the holes to hold them in place.

Place the piece of metal on something hard and stable.

Position the pin in the hole in the metal and hammer down until the pin goes through the other side and clenches the leather tightly.

Do one side...

Step 5: 27oz. cont.

Repeat on the other side to close it up. Make sure you start from the middle out. It makes it easier.

Before putting the sheath on the water bottle, assemble the "D" rings in the upper and lower holes

Pull the hat over and sew it to the 6 empty holes on the top of the body.

If you don't want a hat on it, you can cut it off and use the holes on the body to strap leather through and around the lower mouth part and through the other holes.

Sew the bottom together with thick nylon thread/cord.

Step 6: 64 oz Wide Mouth

This bottle sheath is a combination of two of the techniques I use throughout this Instructable.

I bound it up together the same way the 24 oz sheath was, with bicycle chain.

Attach 2 of the 3- 1" "D" rings. For this bottle, I used fancier pieces but "D" rings actually work better because they won't slip off.

64 oz waterbottle.ai1 MB

Step 7: 64oz cont.

Around the top, binding the body and hat, I used bicycle chain and rivet combination

Bend the bike parts to fit the curve of the bottle.

Use rivets to connect the parts and the leather

There will be extra material on the hat. Line up the two rows of two holes and connect them with bike chain.

Add the third "D" ring in the little space between the bike chain and the fold of the leather. You can use this "D" ring or the one below it as the strap holder. The one you don't use you can use to hook to a back pack for camping or whatever you like.

Put the sheath on.

Sew the foot and body together. If you don't like the fit you can cut the little flap holding the parts together to adjust it.

Step 8: 20oz Vacuum Insulated

This water bottle sheath is probably the simplest one to do.

20oz insulatedbottle.ai11 MB

Step 9: Riveting

You put this sheath together much like the other three but it is all rivets holding the parts together, so it is a much simpler procedure.

Pliers work great to scrunch the parts together.

Start from the middle out and do one side at a time.

Step 10: 20oz cont.

Don't forget to attach the"D" rings before putting the sheath on.

Sew the foot onto the body.

Take leather rope and put both ends through two of the holes on one side of the top of the sheath.

Wrap the rope around the bottom part of the mouth and take both ends and put them through the remaining two holes and a bike chain piece.

Tie a box knot up against the bike chain part.

Step 11: Straps

The Straps, I leave up to you to decide the length and width. Do what's comfortable.

If you want something that you can wear over your shoulder, I recommend not going thinner than 1/2 inch .

Step 12: Strap Examples

Step 13: Finish

Finish it with a nice leather oil.

I chose this one just because it was laying around but any brand will do.

Step 14: All Done

Enjoy and drink plenty of water. You have no excuse anymore and you'll look "styley" doing it.