wierdjoy : April 2014

YOU CAN DIY THIS!!

Yay!! leather harnesses. (well not really leather, but for easy understanding i will say leather when it is actually faux.) I've been wanting one since forever, and since buy one is pretty pricey, i decided to make one myself. A warning though, i didn't intend for this to turn into a tutorial but since it turned out so well i had to make a tutorial. This is going to get pretty lenghthy so pay attention and i'll try to make things as clear as i can. (sorry for the "after" pictures, you'll know what i mean when you see it.)

Step 1: figure out what your harness is going to look like. this is my sketch for how the harness is going to look. Then break everything into sections. (feel free to use my design as a base. you can all even more intricate straps by adding more rings and straps) * mine ends up at my waist

dotted line is optional straps. didn't end up doing them

Then you're going to measure all the areas corresponding to your draft. my measurements turned out like this:

A: 10.5+ S.A.
B X 2: 21+ S.A.
C X 2: 11+ S.A.
D: 14.5+ S.A.

now depending on your rings (mine are 1.5 inch in diameter), you have to subtract the diameter of your rings. Since mine are 1.5 inch they will become my "seam allowance".
**TLDR S.A is 1.5 inch on EACH SIDE subtracting the diameter of your rings.

Now that you have your measurements its time to get the supplies.

Step 2:

Supplies and stuff...

most can be bought from Home Depot. except the spikes

pliers/wrench (to pry D rings apart for bolt snaps)
screwdriver or flathead screwdriver
leather hole punch (if your leather is thin then you can use an awl instead, or anything that'll make a decent hole for your spikes)

"after" only packaging left. :(

3~4 belts (buy the longest ones possible. got mine at f21. cheap!)
screws (i bought longer ones to match my spikes because the belt i used were thick.)
spikes
four O rings, or as many as your sketch calls for
two D rings
and two swivel bolt snaps
spikes. (i ended up using 12)
buckle (if you buy already made belts. FREE!!)

left:original screw for spikes right: longer screws from HD

Step 3:

cutting, punching, and attaching.

cut everything to length. you should have 6 pieces total. (section D together)

*when cutting section D i would cut it while attached together. leave some extra holes just in case!

Now comes punching holes. measure 3 inches from the edge. then 1/2 inch in from both sides.

use screw driver to tighten

see the thickness of this belt

Do this to all sides and attach the hardware according to your design. (this is why drawing it out is important!!)Eventually everything will end up attached to everything and you'll end up with this!