Tutorial: Leather Camera Strap

List of supplies

• 1 strip of vegetable tanned collar leather - Thickness 1.9 mm - Width: 20 mm - Length: 120 cm
• 1 piece of NATURAL vegetable tanned collar leather - CLASSIC - 20 x 30 cm / 1.9 mm
• 2 vegetable leather belt loops - NATURAL - 19mm
• 2 welded round wire buckles with roller and round pin LYS - Heavy series - Nickel-plated Width 20mm
• 6 medium brass rivets (T3) - Nickel plated
• 2 round key ring rings - Nickel-plated - 22mm (or 2 carabiners depending on your camera)
• A cutter
• A 3mm round cookie cutter
• Tokonole
• A tree frog

1) PREPARE THE LEATHER STRIPS

Download the pattern and print it in actual size. Cut the 2 cm wide strip to 106 cm long and transfer pattern piece P1 to both ends of this strip.

2) DRILL THE HOLES

Drill the 3 mm diameter holes with a round punch. For the oblong hole (bezel), you can make two 3 mm diameter holes and connect them with a cutter.

3) CUT OUT THE PIECES

On the 20 x 30 cm piece of leather, transfer pieces P2 and P3. Then, cut them out with a cutter.

4) DRILL THE HOLES IN PIECE P2

For part P2, drill the 4 oblong holes at the locations indicated on the pattern. As in step 2, drill two Ø 3 mm holes, then connect them with a cutter.

5) TRIM THE ENDS

For the P3 pieces, work one of the ends into a bullet and drill the various Ø 3 mm holes at the locations indicated on the pattern.

6) DECORATE THE EDGES (OPTIONAL)

Optionally, using a mold or a former, make a decorative line all around each piece, 3 mm from the edge.

7) WORKING THE SLICES

Work the edges of each piece with Tokonole. Optional: square them and sand them to soften the edges.

8) ASSEMBLE YOUR PARTS

Thread the strap through the oblong holes of part P2.

9) ADD THE PASSENGERS

Thread the leather loop onto the end of the strap, between the last two holes. Pass the pin buckle through the oblong hole. Then, close by attaching two rivets. Repeat this step with the second end of the strap.

10) FIX THE RIVETS

Place the round ring on the end of the P3 piece (the one without the pointed end) and close with a rivet. Depending on your camera, you can also select carabiners (instead of the round rings) . Repeat this operation on the second P3 piece. Finally, insert the P3 pieces into the pin buckles. All that's left is to attach your new leather strap to your camera.