How to Braid Leather Straps

Leather braiding can be used to decorate a variety of items, from clothing and accessories to household decor. Braided leather gives a distinctly Southwestern flair to any item. While there are several styles and techniques for leather braiding, the flat, three-strand braid is simple to create.

Things You'll Need

• Leather strap
• Strap cutter
• Pipe clamp
• Rubberband
• Fid
• Beads (optional)

Instructions

1. Cut the leather strap into three evenly-sized strips. Leave the strips connected by 1 inch of uncut leather at the top of the strap.

2. Clamp the top of the leather strap securely in a pipe clamp.

3. Hold the center strand of leather in your left hand and the other two strands in your right hand. Cross the center strand underneath the left strand of leather so the strand originally on the left is now at the center.

4. Cross the right strand of leather over the center strand. Repeat the process. Cross the left strand over the center strand, the right strand over the center strand and so on. Work your way down the piece of leather.

5. If you need to take a break, secure the bottom of the braid with a rubber band to keep it from unravelling. Remove the rubber band, tighten the leather and resume braiding when you return to the project.

6. When you're finished braiding, secure the bottom with a rubber band. Use the fid to tighten the braid, beginning at the top. Push up on each strand where it crosses the braid with the tip of the fid. Work on a few strands at a time, then turn the braid over and repeat the process on the back before moving on. When you reach the bottom, you may have accumulated a bit of slack. Tighten the bottom of the braid.

7. Knot the end of the braid. Consider adding a few beads above the knot for decoration.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep your braid taunt as you work to make the fid process easier.

Resources

• Sartan's Working With Leather: Braiding
• Luis Ortega's Rawhide Artistry: Braiding in the California Tradition