How to Fashion: Pop Top Belt

To create this belt, you will need a large number of the pull tabs that come from soda cans - to determine how many, measure your waist. It will take about 4 tabs per inch if you follow this tutorial, so multiply your measurement times 4 to get the number of tabs you will need. In addition, you will two lengths of leather cord 1 foot longer than your waist measurement, 8-12 pony beads, and glue.

To begin, tie knots in one end of each cord and slide 2-3 beads onto each, pushing the beads down to the knot. Measure 6 inches from the knot and lightly mark the cord. Starting at that mark, measure out the waist and make a second mark on the cord at the other end. Take one pull tab and thread one cord through each hole, then slide the tab to the original mark and glue in place.

Lay the project on a table with the beaded ends facing away from you. Orient 2 more pop tops as though they were facing the mouth of a can. Slide a cord into the top opening of each from the back, then over the middle bar and into the second opening. Take another pair of tabs and slide the cord through the top openings from the back as before, but cross the cords before sliding into the second openings. Repeat this pattern until you have covered the area between your waist marks. Glue on the sideways pop top, add the beads and tie as you did on the first end of the belt.

To wear the belt, you simply tie all 4 ends together. A belt can also be made using only 1 row of tabs. Simply follow the same basic instructions, only ignoring the crossovers. Both cords will be threaded into each tab.