Handicraft Simplified Procedure and Projects in Leather, Celluloid, Metal, Wood, Batik, Rope, Cordage, Yarn, Horsehair, Pottery, Weaving, Stone, Primitive Indian Craft. Lester Griswold

Straps, Split for Braiding

      The illustrations Figs. 1 to 7 show a method of braiding a split strap. Fig. 1 shows the strap with two slits in it. The straps made by slitting are numbered 1-2-3 from the left.

      Start the braiding from the left by crossing strap 1 over 2 (step 1), and lay strap 3 over strap 1 (step 2) as shown in Fig. 2. Continue the braid, counting each strap crossing a step. Step 5 has been reached in Fig. 3. The next operation is to remove the tangle which has occurred in the other end of the leather. Refer to Fig. 3, you will note the strap still has the smooth side uppermost, as indicated by the letter S. Pass the lower end of the strap through the mesh formed by straps 1, 2, and 3, Fig. 3 from front to back. Pull the strap out straight as shown in Fig. 4. The upper end of the strap is smooth side out, and the lower end shows the under or reverse side. This removes part of the tangle. Step 6. Lay the right hand strap over the center strap. In Fig. 3 strap 2 crosses strap 3. It now remains to remove the rest of the tangle. Pass the lower end through between the right hand pair of straps from front to back as shown in Fig. 5. This operation straightens out the strap, and brings it into position to continue the braiding. Continue the braiding until the split ends become too short for pulling through the mesh to straighten out the tangles. This will leave a space of 2 1/2 to 3″ that is unbraided. This space is filled by lengthening out the braided section until it completely occupies the split portion of the strap and has a uniform appearance.

      Besides the braiding of belts, this system of braiding may be applied to various other straps. Camera case strap, Bridle reins, handles for bags, and wrist watch straps may also be split.