Every superhero knows that utility belts are the secret weapon necessary for kicking some serious Bad Guy booty (aside from those falsie-muscle latex suits, that is). Utility belts are what set Batman and Robin apart from all those other vigilantes in tight spandex. And today — thanks in large part to the hedonistic camping ritual known as Burning Man — the Batman and Robin essential has become a clothing trend on the Left Coast and beyond.
Considering, however, that the Burner-chic utility belts [1] tend to sell for $50 or more a pop, it may be tempting to just keep on carrying your secret weapons in old grocery bags. But trust us: having an extra set of heavy-duty pockets is insanely useful — whether you're battling super-villains, high desert winds, or just city traffic. My gardening roomates, my fellow electricians, and even hip dads (excuse me, diaper dudes [2]) report not knowing how they lived without them. And with these step-by-step instructions, you can make one yourself out of some old jeans from the back of your closet or nearest thrift store.
What You’ll Need:
- One pair of used, loose-fitting jeans or workpants (you should be able to stick your fist in between the waistband and your body). Pants with zipper or button pockets are best.
- Fabric Scissors
How To:
- Cut the legs off of jeans/workpants.
- Starting at the fly, cut along the seam of the waistband, leaving the button closure and front pockets intact (this obviously works best with stand-alone front pockets with seams). When you reach the back pockets, cut straight down from the waistband, along the side of the first pocket, then across the bottom seam.
- Keep cutting a straight line from the bottom of the first back pocket to the bottom of the second, and back up the side to the waistband.
- Continue along the waistband until the buttonhole. Holy moley, Batkid, you’re done!
Variation: Secret Pockets
Remove the button-down pocket from the back of a pair of old workpants, cutting carefully along the seams. Turn your travel pants inside-out, position cut-out pocket against back pocket of intact pants and pin in place. Sew pockets together with an easy running stitch (over and under, over and under) being careful to stay inside the seams of the original pants pocket where the new stitches won’t be seen. The result: a virtually undetectable place for valuable documents, traveler’s checks, or identification.