How to Make Leather Macramé

Macramé can be far more than the friendship bracelets you make out of plastic cords at summer camp. Macramé can be used to make anything from purses, detailing on shoes, bracelets, plant holders and more. Using leather to make macramé is fun, and can be a way to make rustic jewelry. The following steps explain how to make a leather macramé bracelet.

Instructions

1. Choose a clasp for your bracelet. This you can find at a crafts store, or a beading store.

2. Thread two 2-yard leather cords through the clasp, and fold the leather in half. The clasp should be in the center of the two cords. Now you have four cords with which to make your leather macramé bracelet.

3. Make a square knot to the left with cords 1, 2 and 3.

4. Create a second row to the right with leather cords 2, 3 and 4.

5. Repeat making square knots to the left and to the right until the leather macramé bracelet is the length you want it. Remember to factor in the length of the clasp itself, which can be up to an inch.

6. Add some interest to your leather macramé bracelet by adding a tube bead. This can be of any color or material, and it can match the clasp if you like, If the clasp is silver, you may choose a silver tube bead.

7. Thread all of the cords through the tube bead, and then through the loop on the other end of the clasp. Thread the cords back through the tube bead. If all of the leather cords do not fit through the tube bead, make certain that at least those that hold the clasp thread through the tube bead, thus securing the clasp to the leather macramé bracelet.

8. Make sure the design of the leather macramé bracelet is even, glue the tube beads in place, and trim any excess cord.

9. Experiment by adding other decorations to your leather macramé bracelet. You can use more than one tube bead on either side of the clasp, other beads within the design of the bracelet, and more.

Resources

• eBay sells macramé books.