How to Make a Braided Renaissance Belt

Make a Renaissance belt using craft supplies.

If you enjoy dressing up in thematic garb for a Renaissance festival or Medieval fair, you can make your outfit more realistic by wearing Renaissance-style accessories. For example, wear a braided Renaissance belt that you can hang a mug, knife or sword onto. Although artisan merchants or specialty stores sell braided Renaissance belts, you can save money by making your own braided belt using a few materials that can be purchased cheaply from any craft supply store.

Things You'll Need

• Cotton cording, 1/2-inch wide, colored
• Kitchen shears
• Vice
• Cotton twine, thin

Instructions

1. Cut three pieces of cotton cording, each measuring 60 inches long. Place the three pieces of cording together and line up the ends.

2. Cinch the three pieces of cording together at one end into a vice, and tighten the vice so that the cording does not slip out.

3. Hold two of the pieces of cording in your left and one in your right. Fold the cord in your right hand between the two in your left, then collect the two pieces that are on the far right back into your right hand.

4. Fold the cord now in your left hand between the two in your right, then collect the two pieces that are on the far left back into your left hand. Repeat this process until the entire length of cording has been woven into a braid.

5. Cut two pieces of twine measuring 4 inches long. Tie a piece of twine around both ends to secure the braided belt, then remove the vice.

6. Wrap the belt around your waist and tie it into a knot. The ends of the belt should hang down loosely.

References

• The Purse Workshop: Basic Braids - 4 Strand