Tutorial: DIY Braided Leather (or Pleather!) Bracelet

Note: this post was lost in the great Blogger-spolsion of last Thursday.  After four days of waiting for it to reappear, I think it's time to give up and repost.  I apologize if it ends up double-posted!




When I came across Kalleen of At Second Street's upcycled bracelets while browsing Pintrest, I was immediately inspired.  Kalleen used some specific pieces of a thrifted bag to make her bracelets, and although I didn't have one of those on hand, I did have the next best thing - a pair of high waisted, pleated, gold leather pants that I found on the dollar rack of my favorite thrift store over a year ago.  I've been gradually cutting the pants apart and using them for various crafts, and this seemed like a great way to put a few more scraps to good use.  This bracelet is easily adaptable for just about any heavyweight material, and simple enough that even a novice jewelry maker (like me!) can handle it without a problem.

What You'll Need: some sort of material for your bracelet (this is designed for leather or pleather, but just about anything will do, as long as it's nice and heavy - bonus points if you upcycle it!); large and small jump rings; a clasp; a short length of chain; needle nose (or jewelry) pliers; scissors; glue; two binder clips; a hammer and a small tack.

Step 1: Measure your wrist and decide how large you'd like your bracelet to be.  I decided to make mine 7.5" around.  Subtract 2" from that number, and cut three strips of leather that lenght, and about an inch wide (so mine are 5.5x1").

Step 2: Fold over each strip lengthwise and glue it shut with craft glue (I used Elmer's - it works just fine for this!).

Step 3: Glue the strips one on top of each other on one end, making sure that the rounded (folded edges) of the two outside strips face out, and that the middle strip sits on top of these (its folded edge can face either direction) - as shown in the photo.  Hold it all together with a binder clip.

Step 4: Start braiding by folding the outside strips in.  Braid all the way to the bottom, then glue the strips one on top of another and clip them together with the other binder clip.  Let everything dry for a little while.

Step 5: Punch a hole in one end, through all the layers of leather.  If you don't have a leather punch, just use a hammer, a small tack, and a thick piece of cardboard.  Hammer the tack straight through the leather and into the cardboard, and you'll have a perfect hole.

Step 6: Take out the tack, put in a large jump ring.

Step 7: Attach the "eye" end of a jewelry clasp to the ring and close it up.

Step 8: Make a hole in the other side of the braid, put in a large jump ring, and attach a 2" piece of chain.

Step 9: Use a small jump ring to attach the chain to the "hook" piece of the jewelry clasp.  All done!

That's it - easy peasy.  Enjoy your new bracelet!