As promised, I have for you part two of how to make your very own 100% unique Native American belt. Perfect for a July Fourth-weekend, but just as suitable for a casual outfit that requires a little eyecatcher to pull the look together.
So I will get straight to the continuation of the instructions. If you don't quite remember where we left off, you can revisit part I here.
WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
Part I:
beading loom
beading thread (0.20mm)
(sewing) needle
seed beads (five colors, 2,6mm, 1 tub each)
tape
toothpick
super glue
Part II:
leather belt
(leather) cord (5m)
drill
(leather needle)
(sewing) needle
beading thread
(thimble)
clothes pins
pencil
measuring tape/ruler
tape
Once you've finished your beadwork, set aside the beading loom and get out your leather belt. The belt should be about 1 cm wider than your beaded band.
Find the center of the belt with the help of a measuring tape and mark it with a pencil. This is where the center of you beadwork will go. Lay it on top and mark where the beadwork ends. From end to end, mark and drill small 2mm holes 0.6cm apart and 0.6cm from one edge of the belt. When the beaded band lies on top, you should not be able to see the holes. Repeat for the other edge, making sure the holes are on the same height.
Tape the end of your cord so that it does not fray and is easier to handle. Start on one end of the belt and thread the chord into the first drilled hole. Don't pull all the way through, but stop once you've reached half of the chord. Go around the belt in an outward motion and thread back through the next hole always going into the hole from the front of the belt, never the back. Repeat on the other side,
Once you've reached the end of the belt, thread the cord back through a few chord loops on the back of the belt and glue in place using a strong adhesive.
(I ended up having made too many holes so I made a little cross with the chord on one end.)
To attach the beadwork, drill another two rows of holes about 1cm apart and 0.5cm from the center of the belt each. If your belt is rather thin, you can try making the holes with a leather needle (Careful, very sharp!).
Place your beadwork onto the belt and pin into place using clothes pins or similar.
Cut and knot a long piece of beading thread. Thread a thick sewing needle. From the back of the belt, thread upwards through the first hole and up between the second and third bead of one of the first bead rows. Make sure you come up on one side of a loom thread and head back down on the other side. Thread back down the same hole. Pull tight, repeat for the remaining holes locking the beaded band in place.
On the other end, knot and snip thread. Glue into place.
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