Learning a new skill is always valuable, especially when it allows you to save money and look good doing it. Whether you make men’s leather bracelets or leather bracelets for women, this is a great way of expanding your crafting skillset. As a material, leather is expensive, which is why you might decide to make your own leather bracelets from scratch. Not only does this enable you to sport a sophisticated piece of jewelry, but it also allows you to be more unique. Detailed below are the steps you can follow to make your very own leather bracelets.
Choose Your Supplies
First things first, you need to choose your supplies. The supplies that you choose will impact the final appearance of your leather bracelet, so choose wisely. For instance, thick strips of leather will result in a bohemian-looking bracelet. On the other hand, thin leather cords will result in a polished appearance.
Measure and Cut the Leather
Next, you’ll need to wrap the leather around your wrist to determine what length will be required. When you do this, make sure you allow room for tying knots and also bear in mind that the braiding will result in the leather coming up slightly shorter. As a rule of thumb, you should always give yourself longer strips than you think you may need; you can cut them shorter, but you can’t make them longer.
Knot the End
Once you’ve chosen your three strips of leather and they’re at your desired length, tie a knot in one end to create the foundation from which you’ll begin to braid.
Start to Braid the Cords
After knotting the end of your bracelet together securely, you can begin to braid the cords. The process of braiding the cords is no different to that of braiding hair; therefore, if you know how to braid hair, the following three steps will be fairly self-explanatory.
Cross the Left Strip Over the Center
In order to start the braiding process, you’ll need to cross the left strip over the center so that it sits between the center strip and the right strip. Essentially, it will become the center strip.
Cross the Right Strip Over the Center
The next step in the braiding process is to repeat it from the other side. So, take the right strip and cross it over the center so it sits between the center strip and the left strip. Again, this will mean it becomes the center strip.
Repeat the Process
Once you’ve got the two previous steps down, you can continue to repeat this process until the three strips are completely braided.
Finish the Braid
During the braiding process, you might find that the strips have become somewhat twisted. Therefore, in the finishing stages, you might flatten out the strips for a more refined finish.
Tie the End
Once you’re happy with the final appearance of your bracelet, you can then secure the end with another knot. Following this, you can wrap the bracelet around your wrist and tie the two ends together. If you’re left with excess material, you can trim this down.
Conclusion
Whether you make bracelets for business or pleasure, this is a fun way to either make money or save money. This is particularly important when considering the current living circumstances, in which finances are tighter than they have ever been before. Similarly, as a result of this, shoppers are more inclined to give their money to independent businesses than large corporations. Establish yourself as a crafter or potentially a business owner by creating your own leather bracelets.