How to Make String-Wrapped Leather Bracelets

Leather jewelry is popular among people of a variety of ages and walks of life. The look is stylish and sleek and appeals to both men and women. Here are some simple instructions for making an attractive string-wrapped leather bracelet that can be completed in about an hour. Even novice jewelry makers can easily complete this bracelet.

Things You'll Need

• 2 mm round leather lace Beading thread Scissors 2 thumbtacks 8 by 10 piece of cardboard Beads (size and color are your choice) Closure bead (slightly larger than other beads)

Instructions

1. Measure your wrist and add 1 1/2 inches. Cut a length of leather lace to this measurement. Cut a length of beading thread 4 feet long.

2. Fold the leather lace in half. Hold the beading thread together with the lace and knot them with an overhand knot a 1/2-inch from the folded end. This end of the bracelet will be the loop portion of the closure. Knot the beading thread to one of the leather laces near the knot. This is where you will begin to add the beads.

3. Attach the knotted end of the leather to a piece of cardboard with the thumbtacks. Separate the two leather laces enough to allow the beads to fit between them.

4. Position the beading thread under the leather lace and add the first bead. Slide the bead all the way up so it is tight against the knot. Loop the beading thread over the left leather lace and bring it back under and through the same bead.

5. Loop the beading thread over the right leather lace and add another bead. Loop the beading thread and come back through the bead as in Step 4. Make sure each new bead is tight against the last bead and that the leather laces are positioned snugly on each side.

6. Add more beads in the same manner, alternating back and forth between the left and the right leather laces until reaching the desired length.

7. Tie off the beading thread to either the right or left leather lace as in Step 2. Do not trim yet.

8. Make another tight overhand knot with both leather laces and the beading thread. Add the closure bead to both leather laces and the beading thread. Tie two more tight overhand knots to secure and to finish the bracelet. The loop formed in Step 2 will slide over the closure bead to keep your bracelet secure.

Tips & Warnings

• A variation of this bracelet is to make a longer bracelet that doubles or triples around your wrist. The method of making this variation is the same, except that you would make the lengths of leather lace and beading thread double or triple the length of your wrist. It would also require more beads.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish