Paracord and Leather Belt

Have fun making a paracord and leather belt. The belt has four paracord colours, so choose colours to go with an outfit or just go wild. The leather part can be dyed or painted with leather paints.

This belt has a paracord band with leather strap and buckle fasteners. which makes it easier to get size and fit right.

The paracord part of the belt is made from 4 paracord colours. You don't need to copy the colours I used. Choose colours you like, or just be bold.

The amount of each colour is dependant on waist size - so get a piece of string or a tape measure and measure round your waist from the first belt loop on your trousers (nearest the button) right round the back to the belt loop on the opposite side. Write your measurement down. I'm working in cm.

Paracord colour 1 (Turquoise) - you need 13 x Waist measurement
Paracord colour 2 (Air force blue) - you need 8 x Waist measurement
Paracord colour 3 (Black diamond) - you need 8 x Waist measurement
Paracord colour 4 (Royal blue) - you need 8 x Waist measurement

Cut the length or paracord.

You will also need:
Some sort of jig to hold the rectangle loops at the correct distance for your waist size. You can make something out of a length of wood and some nails. (I just happen to have a steel ruler that has a couple of holes drilled in it at the right distance into which I can slot the ends of my paracord bracelet maker)

1 x 3cm buckle
17 cap rivets, riveting tool and hammer
Lighter for melting paracord ends
2 x 3cm metal rectangle loops
Leather hole punch
Leather paint (Angelus Acrylic paint) or leather dye (Fiebings Pro), leather finish (Fiebings Resolene) and brushes
2 x 2.5cm strips of leather
For the buckle end - the length needed is the distance from your 1st belt loop to the button on your trousers + 10cm
For the strap end - the length needed is the distance from your 1st belt loop to the button on your trousers + 15cm
1 x 1cm x 12cm strip of leather (for the belt loop)
Scissors

Craft Knife
Skiving tool (optional)
Slicking tool (optional)
Pilot marker pen (optional)

Find the centre of your turquoise (colour 1) paracord. pass the centre loop through the metal rectangle and pull the paracord ends through. Now take one of the cords and pass it from front to back of the metal rectangle and pull it through so the end is threaded through itself. Now do the same with the other cord.

There is a lot of pulling through as you are dealing with long lengths of paracord, but just keep going!

Please look at the sequence of pictures to see what I mean.
Attach the threaded metal rectangle to the bottom of your jig.

Take one of the strands of turquoise paracord and thread through the top metal loop from front to back. Form a loop and then thread the paracord through the metal loop from back to front and then through the paracord loop. Pull tight. (Photos 1, 2, 3)

Now do the same for the other turquoise paracord strand. Adjust the length of the strands so that you have two parallel "tram lines" in turquoise on your jig.
Photos (4,5)

Now find the centre point of your royal blue paracord. Make a loop (Photo 6). Pass the loop through the top metal loop between the turquoise and pull the ends through. Before you tighten this down thread the black diamond paracord through the blue loop so that you have equal amounts of cord on each side. (Photo 7)

Now take the air force blue paracord and thread through all the loops (Photo 8)

Photo 9 is what the top loop looks like with all the cords attached.

While working with very long lengths of paracord it is useful to make neat bunches and keep them together with elastic bands.

From the left take the LHS air force blue paracord and thread under the left most turquoise "tram line" and over the right most turquoise "tram line". Now from the right take the RHS air force blue paracord and thread under the right most turquoise "tram line" and over the left most turquoise "tram line" so you have a cross in the middle (Photo 1)

Now lay the turquoise paracord strands and lay them on each side of your jig parallel to the jig and under the air force blue (Photo 2)

Take the left hand turquoise paracord up through the air force blue loop on the LHS, and then the right hand turquoise paracord up through the air force blue loop on the RHS. (Photo 3)

Now take the right hand royal blue cord over the crossed air force blue cords, up through the gap and down. Do the same for the left hand royal blue cord. (Photo 4)

Gently pull all the cords tight and you'll see your belt start to take shape.

From the left take the LHS air force blue paracord and thread under the left most turquoise "tram line" and over the right most turquoise "tram line". Now from the right take the RHS air force blue paracord and thread under the right most turquoise "tram line" and over the left most turquoise "tram line" so you have a cross in the middle (Photo 1)

Now lay the turquoise paracord strands and lay them on each side of your jig parallel to the jig and under the air force blue (Photo 2) Take the left hand turquoise paracord up through the air force blue loop on the LHS, and then the right hand turquoise paracord up through the air force blue loop on the RHS. (Photo 3) Now take the right hand black diamond cord over the crossed air force blue cords, up through the gap and down (Photo 4). Do the same for the left hand black diamond cord. (Photo 5). Gently pull all the cords tight and you'll see your belt start to take shape.

Repeat alternating knot pattern1 and knot pattern 2 tightening as you go, until you have completed the length of your belt.

Try and keep your cords neat so they don't get crossed and in the wrong position.

Once the paracord part of your belt is complete, remove from the jig.

First trim the ends so they are roughly about 15cm long. Seal the ends using a lighter. (Photo 1)

Next thread the royal blue and black diamond cords through from the front to the back (Photo 2)

Now turn your belt over, loosen the black diamond loops nearest the end and thread the turquoise cords through, one from each side. Pull tight and pull the black diamond tight as well. (Photo 3)

Now loosen the royal blue loops nearest the end and thread the air force blue cords through, one from each side. Pull tight and pull the royal blue tight as well. (Photo 4)

Trim the excess cord of the turquoise and air force blue and seal with a lighter. (Photo 5)

Now take the black diamond and royal blue cords, trim and seal with a lighter. (Photo 6)

Ok - that's the paracord part of your belt done.

Take your two leather straps. On the wrong side of the leather mark one of them with a pointed end and dots where you are going to make belt holes. Space the dots 2.5cm apart and start them 10cm from the pointed end.

On the other strap mark an oval shape 5cm from one end. This will be punched out for the buckle.

Now cut the pointed end using either scissors or a craft knife, and punch your holes. If you don't have an oval hole punch, then punch round holes top and bottom and cut the straight bits with a craft knife.

To get the best results you should skive the ends of your leather straps where they are going to be folded.
You don't absolutely need to do this - but your finished belt will look better.

Skiving is reducing the thickness of the leather so when it's folded it's the same width as the rest of the strap. For this you use a skiving tool.

You should also slick the edges of your leather straps. Wet the edges (just us a finger) then rub along the edges with a slicking tool. This gives the edges a rounded polished look.

You can dye your leather straps with leather dye, or use a leather paint.
I'm using Angelus Acrylic Leather paint in Pearlescent Blue

Paint the front surface and the edges. I find the paint goes on smoother if you thin it slightly with water.
Don't forget to paint your belt loop strip too.
Leave to dry.

You can leave your leather straps a plain colour, but why not jazz them up a bit with some zentangle patterns.

I'm going to use a silver pilot marker pen, but choose a colour which looks good on your leather and make sure you are using a Permanent Marker pen.

For zentangle - mark out areas on your belt, straight lines, curves - it's up to you. Then "doodle" a different pattern in each zone.

I prefer to add a coat of Acrylic Resolene front and back on the leather. This helps protect it.
Dilute 50 / 50 with water and brush on thinly.

Now for the final steps.
First we'll do the belt loop. Punch a hole near one end of your small strip of leather. fold it round the two straps so you can get the size right - you need an overlap of 1cm. If it's too long, cut a piece off the end without the hole. Mark through the hole to where you need the opposite hole to be. Punch the hole then rivet together.

Get your buckle into position through the oval hole and make sure it's the right way round. Fold the leather and on the back mark where you want the 4 rivets to go. Punch the 4 holes, then fold the leather over the buckle and mark where the opposite holes will be. Punch those holes. Now rivet together (4 rivets)

Now we'll join the leather to the paracord. Make sure you get your leather and paracord the right way round. Fold each leather strap through one of the paracord rectangular loops. Mark the holes, punch and rivet.

Now your belt is complete.

Wear it and enjoy!