How to Make a Leather Braided Wrist Band
A leather bracelet often reflects punk fashions--with the additions of metal studs, spikes or silver snaps that give these wristbands a flare of attitude. Sometimes the traditional fashion wear of leather bracelets may not be as appealing as personalizing it your own artistic way. Braiding your own leather bracelet lets you customize the look, size and shape for ultimate satisfaction. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- 8-by-8-inch leather fabric square
- 1 cm leather strap
- Fabric sheers
- Ruler
- Tape
- Jewelry wiring
Instructions
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Scout out an 8-by-8-inch square of leather material at a fabric store near you. Buying it online won't let you feel your bracelet material. It is important to choose a leather that will feel soft and comfortable on your wrist. Assess how it rubs against your skin. Factor in the colors of your leather as you may want it a natural brown or artificially dyed for fashionable appeal.
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2
Decide the width of your wristband; a typical width is 1 inch. Lay your fabric square on a flat table. Measure the width with a ruler, and mark the bottom of the fabric with a pencil. Repeat the marking at the top of the leather fabric too. These markings can be erased later on.
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3
Connect the dots. Place your ruler on the edge of both top and bottom dots. Trace a straight line through the body of the leather square. Calculate the three straps for braiding by measuring the full width of your drawn-out bracelet and dividing this section by three. Dot the equal divisions of your bracelet from top to bottom.
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4
Connect the inner dots from top to bottom--just the way you had drawn out the outer boundary of your leather bracelet. Use your ruler to trace straight lines. There should be two parallel lines drawn to make three sections in the body of your bracelet.
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5
Cut out the outer boundary of your leather bracelet, with your sharp fabric shears. Follow the traced line--as accurately as possible--to avoid faulty nicks that will ruin the smooth edges. Cut out the strap lines just as carefully.
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6
Lay the three individual straps out in front of you, with the top and bottom edges leveled out equally from each other. Use a ruler and measure about 3 inches from one end of the bracelet. Knot it once at the 3-inch mark. Tape the free outer strands radiating from the knot onto the table.
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Braid the bracelet. Do this firmly by folding the flaps over each other--without twisting them. End your braiding when you've come about 3 inches from the bottom of your bracelet. Knot it once, tightly. Remove the tape. Test the bracelet out on your wrist to assess the size of it.
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8
Coil silver or copper wire as tightly as you can, at the free dangling ends of your bracelet--at the outer part of the knot. Wrap it about 1 cm thick. Closely cut off the ends right at the silver wire.
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Put on the bracelet and link these ends together with an extra strand of leather. Tie it through the braid and around the metal. Make sure you you can untie and tie this strap again, for wearing and removal of your braided bracelet.
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