DIY - Croco belt bag: belt (PART I)

This trend, the belt bag, it just shouted for a DIY. Not only could you make a really simple version of just a small envelop clutch on a belt but in our case, we are gonna make the real deal! To make it even more awesome, it will actually be two DIYs, since we first start with the belt. It’s been a DIY I’ve wanted to make for quite a long time, and today is the day!

What do you need?

This list is for just the belt, the bag for on the belt will be discussed in the next DIY post.

A buckle (that will determine the width of your strap)
A strap of leather (mine was 3 cm wide and the length is according to your waist/hips)
Two strips of leather, for the loops around the belt
2 x Saddlers needles
Matching of contrasting thread
Leather glue
Optional: safety beveler or skiving machine/knife

Step 1 : optional – skive one end to half the thickness

The first part is optional. If you want you can skive the buckle side down to half the thickness. Since if you will fold it over and glue it together, it will not be double the size.

Step 2: buckle pin hole

The next step is to create a hole for the buckle pin. I often use a hole punch on both sides and cut the middle in between with a Stanley knife. In this case, I started off with quite a small hole, which eventually needed to be double the length. The buckle pin also needs to be able to move so, the hole needs to be at least as large as the diameter of the bottom of the pin.

Step 3 – place the buckle

The next step is not that difficult although there are a few minor remarks. First, check if the buckle is placed with the right side up ;). And next, is the pin on the right side?

Step 4: Create the loop keepers

I had to google it actually, but apparently, the little loops on the belt are called, loop keepers. By now, it is time to create two (or more if you wish) loop keepers. I finished the edges already of those little things before it is too late. The first one will be sewed together with the folded buckle end while the other can be loose on the belt. Mine was about 0.7 mm wide.

Step 5: Sew buckle end

There are different techniques to secure the buckle. First, you could just glue it together. Secondly, you could use a Chicago screw to alter the size of the belt later on. But lastly, you could also sew it all together. This latter method is the one I choose. Together with the loop keeper, the buckle would be secured.

Step 6: belt end shape?

There are many options for the belt end shape; a V-shape, U-shape, tapered or cut in, well whatever you like. I choose a cut-off V-shape. It is a simple shape and a little bit more modern, and perfect for the belt bag, compared to the classic tapered shape.

Step 7: belt holes

Final I can use all the tips and tricks I found online and summarized in this post. Since you can read all about it there, I won’t go into much detail. The only thing I wanted it to be able to wear it around my hips (just as belt) as well as around my waist (as belt bag) and therefore added some extra holes. I looked at a belt of me and found an ideal spacing of 3 cm between the holes and ofcourse lined in the middle of the strap.

That was already the last step of the belt for now. It’s not the most durable or ‘fancy-pancy’ belt with beautiful double layers and sewn along the edge but for a first time belt… I am quite happy. Let’s continue quickly to the bag since it is the belt bag after all!