Materials And Supplies

small pieces leather, one or two shades 11/2 yards 3/32" leather or plastic lacing 1!4" belt buckle with prong

81/2"x 11" paper 81/2 "x 11" cardboard

Tools

pair sharp scissors revolving 6 tube leather punch pencil ruler

The belt is made of scrap leather which can be purchased at low cost in a hobby shop or at a manufacturer of leather goods. It can also be made from used leather handbags or brief cases provided the leather is still firm and not too shabby. The belt in the photograph was made of white scrap leather with a red buckle and red lacing.

Figure 24. Leaf Leather Belt.

Procedure

1. Measure and draw one inch squares on the sheet of paper. Using the pattern on the following page as a guide, draw the outlines of the four pieces, and the positions of the holes. Cut the paper patterns out and transfer these patterns to the cardboard. Cut them out of the cardboard. Mark the holes, the corresponding numbers of the holes, the slot on the buckle end-piece, and the names of each pattern piece. Punch out all the holes on the cardboard pattern pieces with the size one hole punch of the revolving leather punch.

On the wrong side of the leather, with pencil trace around the outside of each pattern piece and mark the position of the holes at the same time. You will need about eighteen leaves depending upon the size of the belt desired. If two colors of leather are used, cut half the number of leaves of one color and half of the second color. The colors will be alternated in assembling the belt. Punch the holes as indicated. Cut out the slot on the buckle end-piece. In order to get the points of the scissors into position to cut the slot, first punch a hole any place within the marking for the slot, then cut the balance out with the scissors.

Figure 25. Patterns for Leaf Leather Belt.

2. ;Cut a diagonal snip off one end of the 11/2 yard lacing so that you have a point. Insert the prong of the buckle through the slot in the buckle end-piece. Fold the leather around the buckle and lace holes 1 and 3 together, and holes 2 and 4 together. Fasten on the under side with a knot allowing a short length of three inches to dangle. The belt loop goes around the buckle end-piece at right angles to it. The holes are laced together on the under side with the long length of lacing.

3. ;Place the first leaf on top of the buckle end-piece and match holes 1 and 2 of the leaf with holes 5 and 6 of the end-piece. From the under side bring the lacing through hole 5 of the buckle end-piece and hole 1 of the leaf, go down through hole 2 of the leaf and hole 6 of the buckle end-piece.

Place the second leaf under the first leaf and match holes 3 and 4 of the first leaf with holes 1 and 2 of the second leaf. Bring the lacing from the under side through hole 1 of the second leaf and hole 3 of the first leaf, go down through hole 4 of the first leaf and hole 2 of the second leaf. Repeat this process until the desired length of the belt is obtained. As you proceed place each new leaf under the old leaf so that they are all uniform.

4. ;The belt end is placed under the last leaf matching holes 3 and 4 of the last leaf with holes 1 and 2 of the belt end. On the under side of the belt make a knot with the lacing and slide the lacing under several stitches. End off the three inch piece of lacing at the beginning of the belt the same way.