I saw a thin faux leather braided belt the other day for $30 and thought “I can do that!” So for this DIY project, the only skill you need is the ability to braid.

I wasn’t sure how much chord I would need so instead of starting out with the suede (which will look awesome but is about $2/yard), I started out with this kind since it was only 50 cents per yard.  I bought 10 yards and that seemed to be the right amount for the loose look.

First thing to do is cut the chord in three long strips. If you are dealing with a twisted or braided chord, you need to secure the ends of each strip so they don’t unravel. I did this with a hot glue gun.

Then you need to secure the three ends together. You can glue them together, but it might look messy. I used a needle and thread since you can barely see it.

Next use a safety pin to secure the sewn up side to something heavy. I used a suitcase. Doing this allows you to pull on the three chords as you braid and get a tight result.

Once you finish braiding the chords, all that is left is to sew or glue the three ends together. Then wear it!

If you give it a try, send in a pic. I’d love to see it!

Tags: belt

Categories: accessories, DIY, My Style