How to Make a Hatchet Belt Holder

Use 1/8-inch-thick leather to make a belt holder for your hatchet.

A hatchet belt holder is a handy way to keep your tool at the ready without strapping on a tool-specific holster. The hatchet belt holder is a piece of leather that slides onto your regular belt to secures a hatchet with a loop or hook. This method of making a homemade hatchet belt holder uses hand strapping --- the process of sewing the leather together using catgut string, a wax-coated string available at locations that sell leather supplies.

Things You'll Need

• 1/8-inch-thick leather
• Ruler
• Leather-cutting scissors
• Leather punch
• Craft knife
• Catgut
• Scissors

Instructions

1. Measure a rectangular piece of leather 3- by 6-inches and 1 1/2- by 5-inches with your ruler, then cut it out with leather-cutting scissors.

2. Punch the narrow edges of the 1 1/2- by 5-inch rectangle with an 1/8-inch punch. Separate each hole by 1/8-inch. Make sure the holes are in a straight line along the 1 1/2-inch edges of the leather rectangle.

3. Lay the 3- by 6-inch rectangle on a flat surface so a 3-inch side faces you. Position a 1 1/2-inch strip 1/2 inch from the edge closest to you. Mark the locations of the 1/8-inch holes on the 3- by 6-inch rectangle of leather by putting the sharp end of a pencil through the hole. Remove the 1 1/2-inch strip. Punch an 1/8-inch hole on each of the marks.

4. Draw two lines across the top of the leather rectangle. The top edge is opposite of the edge where the holes were punched into the leather. Measure down 1/2 inch and 2 1/2 inches from the top edge. Draw a straight line across the rectangle at both measurements.

5. Draw two 1/4- by 2-inch rectangles between the two drawn lines. Place each rectangle 1/2-inch in from the edge. Cut out the small rectangles with a craft knife. A belt will fit through the two small rectangles to secure the holder to the belt.

6. Match the 1/8-inch holes in the 1 1/2-inch strip of leather to the 1/8-inch holes on the bottom edge of the 3- by 6-inch rectangle.

7. Lace the two pieces together using catgut, starting on the right hand side. Cut a piece of catgut 18-inches long. Tie a slipknot in one end. Start at the back of the leather rectangle and put the opposite end of the catgut through the bottom hole and through the bottom hole of the 1 1/2-inch strip. Pull the catgut through the hole leaving 1-inch on the back. Put the end of the catgut through the next hole toward the back of the leather. Place the end of the catgut through the slipknot. Pull the catgut tight to tie off the thread.

8. Put the end of the catgut through the next hole on the back of the leather. Pull the catgut tight. Place the end of the catgut through the previous hole. Pull the catgut tight.

9. Put the end of the catgut through the next empty hole. Place the end of the catgut through the previous hole. Repeat the process until all holes are secured together. Tie off the catgut on the back of the holder. Repeat the process to secure the opposite side.