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I wanted to practice hand stitching with my new tools, so I made a guitar strap. It is lined and has about 11 feet of stitching, so plenty of practice! It is the first guitar strap I have made, so please let me know what you think. I still have to put the slots on each end... More photos here: http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?app=gallery&album=2687 YinTx

Just finished off a nice Ska themed guitar strap for one of my friends. Keep skanking!!

A recent project, the red is acrylic paint thinned with water for a slightly translucent finish. Finished with a mix of Eco Flo Chestnut tan and Fiebings Dark Brown antique. Stitched on my old Singer Patcher.

I set out to make a strap for my black SG and this is what I came up with…….. It pained me to dye it black as the carving/tooling detail almost disappeared in the black. I had my mind set on black with white stitching, the studs were an after thought. I have tried the studs on a few cuffs and was going to add them to a strap sooner or later. My daughter told me it is very cool and asked where I got the patern for the studs. I told her it was just what came to me when I started placing them in the open areas, she was impressed. This is the first time I have done a wide border on a strap and happy with the out come. This is a cut to length strap that is meant for one guitar and is really nice without the extra clutter of length adjustment detail. I used 9-10 oz leather with 3-4oz deertan cow for lining, this makes for a substantial strap. The strap locks can be a challenge to get on as you run out of neck on the collar that goes through the strap button hole. I had my machinist friend make me a punch to compress the leather at the mounting area, makes it just thin enough to get the nut on to tighten it down. you can see the compressed leather in the first couple pics. I know the celtic and studs are a different mix, but I think being black it makes it ok. It looks very sharp on the guitar. Thanks for looking Allan

This is my first post to the forum and I wanted to show off my first guitar strap...I think it came out pretty good...

Here is a strap I did using a Craftaid pattern for tooling, really liked how it turned out. I like the saddle tan dye color. I might do the strap again and hand stitch the linning this time as I also like the look of the strap before I did the leather lace. Can you guys spot my initials in the patern on the end of the strap? Allan

Dual layer adjustable guitar strap. Top layer is 5-6oz veg tanned leather. Liner is 4oz drum dyed leather. Edges are laced following Cheif's Mexican Round Braid videos.

Here are a few shots of a recently completed guitar strap for a friend of mine. You probably can't guess what band he likes. It's about 4 oz veg tan with a deer lining, and a pick holder on back. I bought the deer hide on sale, and it was just crap when it arrived. The grain side was terribly wrinkly and looked like it had been dragged through a coal mine. I kept it anyway and ended up using the flesh side for this and other projects! Props for the deer idea to Colt Knight. This feels like buttah against skin!

Not very much new stuff in this section so thought I would post something new. Allan

This is a strap I made my brother for his birthday(after the one I made him for x-mas), he gave me some ideas on what he would like. one of the things he asked was about getting a copy of his tattoo on the strap and making it multi color. This is what I came up with….. I would like to try spraying on the clear super sheen at the end to avoid the dyes mixing, but I don't mind how it turned out. Allan

I started off by having a strap made for me 8 months ago by a well respected maker. I had spent almost two years looking on his website and finally justified the cost. I really like quality and craftsmanship, I was not disappointed. I have always been good working with my hands and thought I could do this if I had the tools. A couple weeks later I showed my bff the strap and he immediately stated that I should be making these as he felt this kind of work was right up my alley. This was the added bump I needed to take the plunge. So now at this point I was 5-6 straps in really only for my own guitars and the fun of it(just proving to my self I could do it). I run a menswear store and have a tailor shop in the back, I brought a few straps to show my tailor and other staff my hobby. My UPS driver stops for his daily checkin and he sees the straps and says I should take them to a local guitar builder. I state that it is just a hobby and I am not looking to turn it into business, he reluctantly accepts my answer. Up till now I have been getting a lot of urging from family and friends to start selling these, my response has been who is crazy enough to pay $250 plus for a guitar strap. My family has politely pointed out…. YOU DID. A couple weeks later my UPS guy comes in as usual and says that he has talked to the guitar guy. I am to take my straps to show him as he is interested. So I take my straps to show the guitar guy stating I am not sure why I am there as I am not looking to start a business. Turns out he likes them and wants me to make a few and he will hang them in his shop. If he sells them he would take 30% for consignment. I said that the whole point of making a custom strap is to get to work with me and pick all the details, otherwise a person might as well buy a good strap at a store for way less. I decided this was not how I wanted to sell straps if I was to sell them at all. As we were finishing our talk he stated that he really liked them and that he liked to support local business as that is how he makes a living(he builds acoustic guitars). We came up with a strap idea and he stated that he had a friend that he knew would want one. So here are my first commissioned works. This is a modified version of his logo, a challenge to get the narrow font and no room for glaring mistakes as you only get one chance here(I did one practice go on a coaster). This keeper was added later. This cord keeper was also added with the new strap keeper. This is the strap his friend and I came up with. Before:) After… still needs end pin hole. They loved them and were happy to part with there money….. Kinda like when I got mine. I hope this is not too many pictures or too many words, as I know when I read other posts I like to see the details. Allan

Here is a strap that I made for my 12 year old daughter. I copied this from one I had custom made for me, I paid $450 plus exchange and shipping($495CND). Lets just say this cost me a bit less, but about 25-30 hours of time(the love I put into it is priceless). I guess it cost me a lot because the original strap inspired me to start leatherwork. What do you guys think(I used a craftaid) Alan

My first guitar strap, first hand sewing, what do you guys think? I had one made for me and decided I could do it too… Allan.

This is my first custom guitar strap. The customer wanted something very simple, with his name and NO metal or plastic parts. He also wanted it as supple as possible. He has a prominent mustache and wanted one on the strap! The strap was lined with goat suede and machine stitched. The client's guitar is a 1961 Martin D-28. I'm afraid the pics were quick and dirty and I didn't have time to re-shoot. The guitar pic was taken by the customer who lives on the East Coast. Cya! Bob

Here is a picture of a pink strap I just made for a bass player in Tenn.

Hello, I started working with leather when my kids joined an archery class and I made them arm guards. They turned out pretty good (Kids too). I decided to make a guitar strap for a friend as a Chritmas present and am happy with the results. This was the first time I tooled leather and hand stitched. The stiching took longer than I anticipated and was a pain. I used nock point thread ment for an archery bow string, I liked the thickness and durability. I did not edge coat it and left it two tone. I didn't bevel the edge because I have a #4 beveler and it was too much and I didn't like the look. I did wax the edge though. I really enjoyed making this guitar strap and hope to do more in the future. This seems like a great place to learn leather work.

This one was hand stitched with a fixed length. I also had to include a recess to fit the strap locks since it's such a thick strap.

Made a rose guitar strap for a little girl. Let me know what you think. David Woo hoo, finally got a picture to post from an iPad, only took a year.

I made this from one of the police gear struck through black bellies from Springfield. I was afraid the rhinestone buckle set I took off an old belt I found might look cheesy but it doesn't look too bad since I didn't tool a million things on the strap. The police gear bellies are so furry on the back all the edges have to be skived but still was the easiest strap I've ever made. Comments appreciated. Cheryl