Things You'll Need
Pencil
Paper
Heavy duty nylon fabric, 1/3 yard
Tailor’s chalk
Scissors
Heavy-duty bias tape
Sewing machine
Heavy-duty thread
Knife sheaths are often made from leather and are typically quite expensive. However, heavy-duty nylon offers a versatile, quick-drying and relatively inexpensive alternative to leather for a knife covering or case. Nylon resists moisture and won't crack, rot or cause the blade to rust, as leather can. Heavy-duty nylon is available in several forms, including nylon canvas and the nylon used in bullet proof vests and military jackets designed to protect against shrapnel. Make your own sturdy, long-lasting nylon sheath in a few simple steps.
Step 1
Lay your knife on a piece of paper. Trace around the knife blade using a pencil. Make a straight line across the tracing where the knife blade meets the handle. Remove the knife from the paper. Draw another line 1/4 inch out from the line you have just drawn that exactly mirrors it.
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Step 2
Cut the pattern from the paper using the 1/4-inch larger size drawing as your guideline. This is your sheath pattern and is slightly larger than the knife blade.
Step 3
Fold your nylon fabric in half on a clean, flat surface.
Step 4
Lay the pattern on the fabric. Trace around the pattern, using tailor's chalk. Cut the folded fabric with scissors, using the chalk lines as guidelines, creating two fabric pieces. Place the two nylon sheath pieces together, right sides facing out.
Step 5
Open the fold on a strip of heavy-duty bias tape, place the sheath edges in the fold and work the tape around the sheath edges so it holds the edges together. Leave the bottom sheath end open where the knife slides in.
Step 6
Machine stitch around the bias tape 1/4 inch from the fabric edges.
Tip
All items needed for this project are available at local fabric supply stores. The staff can answer any questions regarding products and quantity necessary for your specific project.
Lining may be added to the sheath to provide extra protection from moisture and provide more protective padding to the knife blade.
If you want to carry the knife sheath on a belt, extend the bottom of the backside sheath piece by a couple of inches when cutting the fabric. Cut two vertical slits in the fabric extension on the completed sheath and thread it on the belt.
"Right sides" is a sewing term referring the the side of the fabric that will be facing out or will be exposed on the finished product.
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