Not everybody considers making a leather belt as a hobby. Qualms about working with leather itself are a big turn off for people in general. Since leather is animal hide there are images of raw hide, stink associated with a tannery and the live animal itself which works against people setting out to make a leather belts at home. However, leather belts are an excellent craft project for those new to leather crafts.

Contrary to popular belief it is quite easy to make a leather belt. The first obvious steps are buying leather and a belt buckle. In case you plan to tool or dye the leather than it is ideal to choose vegetable leather. This type is easier to work with than other kinds. Hand-crafted leather belts make a good gift. While choosing a buckle for hand-crafted belts select a piece that is unique to reflect your personality or the wearer’s personality.

Before you start get the measurement of the person who would be wearing the belt. Now cut the leather using a razor knife. The width will be that of the inside of the belt buckle and the length one foot longer than the waist measurement. In order to get an even cut use a straight edge such as yardstick. The end of the belt will then be fed through the belt buckle. Though crafting a belt is a simple process it is painstaking when doing it for the first time.

Making a hand-crafted belt to gift to a loved one is a great reflection of what they mean to you. Crafting a leather belt is painstaking and requires a lot of patience. Making casual belts is easier than a formal sleek belt as you can really experiment with casual belts. Frayed edges or matte finish also looks good on a casual belt. This goes well with jeans and sneakers or any casual or semi-formal outfit. Before deciding on hand-crafting a belt or buying a hand-crafted o
ne decide if it matches your overall wardrobe.

These types of belts are good to experiment with especially if there are colorful varieties to choose from. Bold colors, tie and dye, embellishments, bells, fancy buckles, psychedelic colors, rustic tones these are just some of the variety available in this type. There are specialized stores that cater to customers looking for hand-crafted leather. There are online websites as well that provide an interesting range of belts.

Hand-made belts do not have to be made from leather. It can be made from a swatch of corduroy or rough cloth, from bright pink to camouflage green embellished with a cloth-embroidered flower or heart shapes. The design is only limited by your imagination. Hand-made belts could also be strings of precious stones looped together to form a band that can be buckled around the waist. It could also be chords of hewn straw braided to form a belt that will complement a summer dress beautifully.

Wearing hand-made belt needs a little bit of thought. These types of belt do not go well with formal wear whether a trouser or a skirt. However when worn with a skirt and a summery shirt of white chiffon shirt it makes for a great contrast and a striking look. Before you decide on buying one of these belts try the variety and available options before settling down on one. Put the belt on to make sure the holes are positioned properly and that the belt has a nice snug fit.

Match the belt to your wardrobe. Usually the hand-made belt may end up being on the rack all week and Friday it’s out. Make the most of the belt. While a belt should not be the cynosure it certainly can be a fitting fashion accessory to your outfit. The simplest rule when it comes to wearing a dress belt is that it should always match your shoes in color and finish. And don’t forget to factor in the buckle size. The bigger the buckle the more casual the belt. A well-matched ensemble meaning belt, outfit and shoes that complement each other is the perfect way to start the weekend.