How to Make a Leather Wrist Cuff
Wrist cuffs are traditionally used by horsemen to support their wrists and to protect their forearms from rope burns, but the practical accessory has galloped onto city streets as a fashion accent for both men and women. A wrist cuff is made from thick leather that is laced around a wrist with a leather cord. Whether it is for wrist support or fashion, a durable leather wrist cuff can be built using a leather awl and a few woodworking tools.
Things You'll Need
- Tape measure
- Box cutter
- Cowhide, 4 by 10 inches
- 1-by-8 pine board, 1 foot long
- Awl
- Hammer
- Leather cord, 20 inches
- Scissors
Instructions
-
-
1
Measure the circumference of your wrist, subtract 1-inch and cut your 4-inch-wide cowhide to this length.
-
2
Lay your cowhide flat on your pine board and pound eight holes with your awl along each 4-inch edge, spaced 1/2 inch apart and 3/8 inch away from the 4-inch edge.
-
-
3
Fold the hide so the 4-inch edges are together and lace your cord through the holes loosely, as if you were lacing a shoe.
-
4
Insert your hand through the leather wrist cuff and tighten the cord so the cuff fits snug. Do not tighten the cuff so much that it cuts off circulation.
-
5
Tie the cord so it keeps the cuff close to your wrist, and snip off any excess cord with the scissors. The leather wrist cuff will form to your wrist over time with wear.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Add tooling, studs or other decoration to the cuff according to your style and skills.
A fashion cuff can be any width.
Make sure you always put the backing on the press studs or any other studs so you don't scratch yourself when wearing your cuff.
References
- Photo Credit Hemera Technologies/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images
