I made a plain sporran strap for my Welsh Dragon sporran. I wore it to the Tucson Highland Games last week. Somehow the strap was a little plain for the sporran and it needed a little kick. I'd seen braided sporran straps before but I knew I could knock some out today and avoid the Jones!

First I made an identical strap to the previous one I had made. A strip cutter works great. Without one I'd have used a metal yardstick and a utility knife.



The previous strap was 5/8 inch so I eyeballed three equal strips and cut them between the buckle and tab leaving enough on each end for attaching the buckle and adding some holes. After I finished I found out that you loose about 10% in both length and width when braiding three strands. So I made another longer strap 3/4 inch with equal 1/4 inch strips. I planned on trimming the ends when the braiding was done. This worked out great.





All edges of the braided section were finished before braiding.

The first strap provided experience in 3 strand trick braiding. I found some braiding instruction on the web and deciphered it. http://www.saroftreve.com/wwl/braiding/3trick.shtml Clamping the work to a firm surface makes it much easier.

If you can braid three separate strands, you can do this. It's simpler than the instructions.

Start with buckle end clamped with smooth side up and tab end towards you. I hold the loose end in my teeth.

Start braiding right over middle and then left over middle.

Take the end straight up and to the right of the middle strand, bring it around and turn over 180 degrees to right.

Continue braiding right over middle and left over middle.

Take the end straight up and to the left of the middle strand, bring it around and turn it 180 degrees to the left.

Now! just braid another right over middle left over middle braid and you have a flat piece of leather ready to go another series. (the last right over middle left over middle brings what looks like a mess on the tooth end up to the clamped end.

Repeat.

It goes quite fast once you get it down.



All braided up. I just messed with it until the tension evened up along the braided length.



Trim 1/16th inch off each side of each end and prepare buckle holes.





Don't forget to finish the exposed edges you just created. Sew or rivet the buckle and you're finished.

I'm going to submit this part, reveal the finished product and maybe make my first video of the braiding technique. I love the internet. Where else can you get free instruction in obscure crafts without knowing someone or searching for a book on the subject?