How to Make a Bead Belt

How to make a beaded belt, using a bead loom.

1. Determine the length and width of the beaded strip you will need. Next, determine how many beads wide it will be. The simplest way to do this is to string beads, then measure the desired width against the string.

    

2. Now that you have a width (measured in beads) for your belt, use the graph paper to plan out the design you want. Give some thought to how the pattern will look if you stop mid-design due to the length of your belt. If you are using a pre-made belt, keeping the width to the same width as the stitches that hold both pieces of the belt together will save on wear and tear. The same goes for making your own belt, though where these seams go will be up to you.
3. Make your bead strip. If you do not know how to bead at all, just follow the directions that come with your loom. Actually, a belt may not be the trickiest beginner project, though you might want to try a bracelet or something of a similar width first. You want the strip to be fit from just before the hole you plan to use in the belt, and the edge where the stitches attaching the buckle is.

For a Premade Belt

1. Lay the strip flat on the front of the belt, line it up, and stitch through the edges with clear beading thread. This will be difficult, and you will likely need a very heavy needle made for leatherwork.

To Make Your Own Belt

1. Cut 2 strips of equal size to the width you wish you belt to be. Be sure to leave a bit of room on either side, width wise, beyond where the bead strip will extend. This will show once you have attached the beads, which will save on wear and tear. Each strip should be a bit longer than the belt will be, since you still need to attach the buckle. These strips will be sewn on top of each other to make the belt thick enough.
2. Attach the buckle to one strip according to the directions.
3. Line the bead strip up on the strip with the buckle attached. It should begin right after where you want the hole, and end right before the buckle.
4. Sew along the edges of the strip with clear beading thread to attach it. This will be easiest with a needle made for sewing leather, though quilting needles may work if you don't have a leather needle.
5. Line the bottom strip up under the top one.
6. Mark where you want your hole.
7. How you shape the end is up to you. The usual shape is probably easiest. Make sure you have the two sides lined up well, and pinned together, before you cut.
8. Sew along the edges of the two strips to attach them together. You can either use a straight row of stitches just above where the bead strip, or wrap the stitches over and around the edge of the belt, depending on the look you want. Use contrasting thread for a different look.
9. Punch a hole
10. All done, you now have a beaded belt!

• The sewing part will go a lot easier if you use thin leather or suede, such as deer split. DO NOT use the crappy pre-made very heavy belt material you can buy at a craft store, sewing through it will be a nightmare.
• For attaching the two layers of the belt together, the heavier the thread the better. Embroidery thread will give a nice effect. For a different look, sinew is also good (and will not break).
• If you must use a pre-made belt, look for one made with thin leather or suede at a second-hand store. You can also take the buckle from an old belt, and attach it to a belt you make.
• If you want to leave enough room to make more than one hole, feel free, but remember that you will need to attach a belt loop in that case. The belt loop ends should go between the two plys of the belt.

• Bead loom
• Thin plain leather belt OR two strips of thin leather or suede of the appropriate size and a belt buckle.
• Seed beads
• Beading thread (ideally the clear type that resembles fine fishing line, it holds up better than the thread type).
• Graph paper (the smaller the squares, the better)