When I was 11, my Grandfather gave me a ukulele for christmas. I still have it, and I love it so much. My dad also bought me a blue strap to go with it so i could play standing up. I have grown out of the colour now, and hardly ever use the strap, compared to how much I use the ukulele. I found an old belt at my favourite thrift store, The Salvation Army, or the Salvos, as us Aussies call it, and I loved it so much. At first, I used it as a camera strap, but then I thought that the ukulele strap needed updating. I figured out that the strap I previously had was a similar width to the old belt. So I decided to unpick the old strap, use the leather and buckle from the old strap, and made a new one. The result is below.
This actually worked out really well, and I am really happy with it. You can make one too, and it is super easy, with hardly any sewing involved.
Before and after shots:
Firstly, You need to gather your supplies, I used:
- An unpicker
- An old guitar/ ukulele strap (Which includes the buckle, and leather attachments)
- An old belt (fabric ones work best, but if you know your sewing machine can handle it, you can use a strip of sturdy leather)
- A sewing machine (I used my Mum's, which is a Janome My style 30, but you can use any one, doesn't necessarily matter.
- Iron and ironing board
- (Optional) A pair of scissors incase the belt is too long, but there is an adjusting buckle
- A ukulele! (Or a guitar)
(Sewing machine, iron, ironing board and ukulele not pictured)
Step 1:
Unpick the leather attachments that you loop onto the pegs (I have no idea what the actual name for them is so I am just calling the attachments.)
This shouldn't be too hard if the unpicker is sharp. Take the strap out and put the attachment to the side.
Step 2:
Take the top layer of strap out from the buckle. This will leave you with the other attachment loose. This one will easily slide out, depending on the type of strap you have.
Step 3:
Put the attachments to the side, you won't be needing them at the moment. Use the unpicker to unpick the buckle from the strap, and slide it out.
Step 4:
Put the leather and buckle to the side and get the belt. Use the iron to flatten the belt. The belt is now ready to sew.
Step 5:
Thread one end of the belt through the buckle. Sew the loop back onto itself to secure the buckle in.
(Don't panic about the buckle facing upwards, since it is a buckle, it will flip the other way.)
Step 6:
Position the leather the way you prefer it to face. I like it when the proper side is facing out, it looks better that way!
Now for the hard part. Feed the belt through the right leather attachment, on the very end of the ukulele. The way that you thread the belt through will determine which way the strap will sit, and if it is most comfortable or not. If you want to ensure the strap is the right way, lay the belt out flat, buckle facing the bottom of the ukulele. Fold the strap back and loop it through the hole. Then feed the end back through the buckle. The loop shouldn't be twisted, but flat.
Step 7:
Thread the other side of the belt onto the leather attachment and make sure it is around the right way. When you have it around the correct way, fold it under and turn it over. This leather attachment, you will need to sew.
And... Voila! You are done. Finished product:
Back view:
From a boring old guitar strap, to a pretty, aesthetic new one, from an old belt. This DIY is cute an easy, with minimal sewing involved. It only took 10-15 minutes to make, and it is a good rainy day craft. I really hope you like it and try it out for yourself. Please share, I am on Pinterest. To view more upcoming projects on Flora's Garden, Click Here.