How to Attach a Clasp to a Leather Necklace

A leather necklace is a popular jewelry making project. These necklaces are easy to make and very attractive once they are finished. One of the nice aspects of working with leather cording is that finishing a necklace or bracelet is quick and simple. Simply wrap a short length of wire around each end of the necklace and then slip on a beautiful S clasp and your leather necklace is finished.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Two 3-inch Lengths of Beading Wire (20 gauge)
• Leather Cording (2 mm)
• S Clasp
• Wire Cutter
• Needle Nose Pliers

1. Measure in one inch from the end of one of the lengths of wire and make a bend at this point. Bend the wire back on itself.

2. Complete the necklace construction and leave a 1.5-inch tail on each end of the leather cording. Measure in one inch from the end of the leather cording and make a bend in the leather cording. Squeeze the cording to make a loop that will stay there.

3. Place the bend of the wire around the bend of the leather cording approximately one-half inch in from the looped end.

4. Hold the bent wire with the thumb and index finger of your non-dominant hand. Pull the longer end of the wire around to the top of the leather loop with your dominant hand. Pull the wire very tightly as you wrap it around the leather.

5. Use the needle nose pliers to continue pulling and wrapping the wire around the leather loop. Make four wraps around the leather cording with the wire.

6. Squeeze the wrapped wire carefully with the needle nose pliers to straighten it out and flatten it slightly.

7. Clip the excess wires from both ends of the wrap with the wire cutters. Tuck the wire ends into the wrap with the pliers after clipping.

8. Trim off any excess leather cording from the other side of the wrap.

9. Repeat steps 1 through 9 with the other end of the leather cording.

10. Attach the S clasp to each leather loop to close the necklace.

Resources

• S Clasp