How to Make a Leather Necklace

Leather has been around since cows. It has also been known to be durable, chic and looks dang good as a necklace. A leather necklace can add some pizzaz to any outfit, from jeans and a T-shirt to a frilly sundress. You can make a leather necklace in several styles and any color you can find with a few simple steps.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Leather strips
• Clasp
• Pliers
• Beads, feathers and other adornments (optional)

1. Decide on the style. Two fun leather necklaces to create are a braided leather choker and a fringe leather collar necklace. The braided choker is going to need three strips of leather. The fringe necklace requires a thicker strand of leather to act as the base and several shorter pieces of leather to create the fringe, along with beads, feathers and any other adornments. Both need a clasp with a cuff-like bottom to pinch on the ends of the leather strips.

2. Pick a length. Take a piece of string and place it around your neck to the desired length of your necklace. The choker should be flush against your neck but not cutting into it. The fringe necklace can be any length you desire, but will work best if it falls right below your collarbone. Note the string length and cut the leather base accordingly. Remember the braided leather is going to make it a little shorter, so make the choker length several inches longer than your neck measurement. Remember, too, the clasp is going to be attached which may add a little length.

3. Braid the leather for your choker. Take one side of the clasp halves and cuff it around the ends of the three leather strips. Secure with pliers. Braid the three strips as you would an ordinary hair braid. Cut the ends even one the entire length is braided and cuff the other half of the clasp around the ends. Enjoy.

4. Create your base for your fringe necklace. Knot the smaller strips around the base at desired intervals. You can have three, five or however many you feel like creating. You can tie knot them with equal lengths hanging loose or make them uneven. Once they are tied tightly in place, add beads, feathers and other adornments as desired to the fringe pieces hanging down. Add the clasp to your leather base when the beading and fringe is finished.

Tips & Warnings

• If the leather is too stiff to work with, make it more pliable by soaking overnight in water and/or bending it back and forth constantly until it’s broken in.
• For added security on your fringe necklace, you may want to take a needle and thread to secure each fringe knot in place along the base. Use matching thread so it doesn’t stick out garishly.
• You may also want to add beads on either side of the fringe knots, in which case you need to add them as you add each fringe knot.
• You can cut up old clothing, jackets or even shoes to create leather strips to use for making a necklace. Just make sure to wipe clean with a leather cleaner to remove any debris that may be stuck to it.
• Don’t feel compelled to stick with basic black or boring brown leather. You can find leather in other shades. Check your local craft or fabric store or shop online.

Resources

• Colorful leather cords
• Leather strips and accessories