Tips and techniques: Leather wrap bracelet

Here are some tips to help you make a leather wrap bracelet like the ones shown on page 54 of the January 2011 issue.

Published: December 9, 2010

Recycled glass button
The recycled glass button in this bracelet is from eShopAfrica.com, however the last time I checked, they were sold out. Another source to try is Eco Butterfly Organics, ecobutterfly.com. The buttons are fair trade products and handcrafted in Africa from discarded glass.

Siren button
This detailed mermaid button is made of pewter by Green Girl Studios, greengirlstudios.com. If you are having trouble locating it, try looking under pewter buttons. Once on the pewter buttons page, scroll all the way down. The folks at Green Girl call it a siren button.

Choose the right beads
In the bracelet above, I used large-hole pearls because the silk cord has to pass through each pearl two times. In this one I used square copper beads. Like the pearls, these metal beads have large holes. They're also appropriate for a leather wrap bracelet because they are small and a bit weighty, so they don't slip around. If this is the first time you are making this type of bracelet, opt for small metal beads with large holes, similar to these.
If you are looking for more projects with leather, visit BeadStyleMag.com and search for projects using the key word leather.

Contact Jane at jkonkel@beadstylemag.com.

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GAIL LYNN from TEXAS said:

I wanted to make a leather bracelet for my brother, so when I found this in the back issues, I thought it would be perfect. I had already purchased the leather and some wooden beads, but I did not have silk cord with an attached needle. I did have some hemp cord, but it was too thick to go through the beads twice. I separated the cord in half by twisting off 3 stands one way and 3 strands the other. Then I cut off a couple pieces of wrapping wire about 2" long, and glued one to each end of the hemp cord with the G-S Hypo Cement. This worked fine and the bracelet practically made itself. I loved the way it turned out.

Submitted: 3/28/2012 5:44:19 PM (CST)

JUDY REED from ARIZONA said:

4 or 6 lb Fireline works well for this bracelet. You can use 1 - 2 mm waxed cotton cord instead of the leather as well. The bracelets turn out beautifully.

Submitted: 6/14/2011 6:04:58 PM (CST)

JAYNE MARTIN from MINNESOTA said:

I've actually made this bracelet, you need to keep your stitches a little loose from the next bead because if your wrap it 2 to 3 times around your wrist the beads have a tendency to "popup" if they are tight and are tight next to each other.

Submitted: 3/4/2011 2:36:34 PM (CST)

ALLIE D'AUGUSTINE from NEW JERSEY said:

The comment above is simple shilling -- I believe it should be taken down (as well as this comment!)

Submitted: 1/26/2011 3:36:44 PM (CST)

B SURRARRER from ILLINOIS said:

I can't cook without changing a recipe, and never have all the listed materials at hand for a new bead project. This time, I substituted flexible beading wire for the silk thread, and in a necklace used acrylic-painted string (true fact!) that i had been playing with, instead of the leather. Turned out great

Submitted: 1/21/2011 1:47:00 PM (CST)