DIY: Leather Wrap Bracelet

Supplies:

Before purchasing your supplies, determine the length you would like your bracelet to be, as the amount/length of supplies depends on this.

• 1.5 mm thick leather cord.  I have always bought mine off of +Etsy.  There is a large number of choices for colors, lengths, and prices on Etsy.  You will need four times the length you would like your bracelet to be.

• Beading thread.  I also buy this off of +Etsy.  There are some good options for buying in bulk from +Amazon.com, as well.  You will need six times the length of the you would like your bracelet to be.

• Beads.  The amount you will need really depends on the size of your beads.  The smaller your beads, the more you will need.  Although it can be more expensive, I usually buy mine from a store (rather than a bulk supplier online).  I like being able to see the real size, shape, and color of the bead before purchasing it.  A great place to look is Michael's Craft Store.  If you're in the Chicago area, I'd highly recommend Beadniks.

• A shank button.  I also buy this off of +Etsy.  I always buy from ButtonJones.  The store has a large selection, prompt delivery, and pretty good prices.  There are a lot of other stores available on Etsy though.  Browse to see what suits you!  I usually use a shank button of size 5/8 in. or greater.  Anything you like will do, though!

• Beading needle.  I found mine at Michael's Craft Store.  A sewing needle will also work fine as long as it fits through the bead hole.
• Tape.  I use masking tape in this tutorial.
• Optional: super glue.

Steps:

1. Fold the leather cord in half and make a knot on the folded end of the cord.  The knot should be just big enough for the shank button to fit thru.

2. Tape the knot to a flat surface.

3. Thread the beading thread through the needle until the needle is halfway through the thread.

4. Tie a knot around the left leather cord string using the ends of the beading thread (the non-folded end of the beading thread).

5. Using the needle to guide the thread, go OVER the right leather cord string, back UNDER the right leather cord string, OVER the left leather cord string, and back UNDER the left leather cord string.  You're basically forming a figure eight pattern around the two leather cord strings.  Repeat this pattern several times to secure the thread.

6. When you have come back over and under the left leather cord string, string a bead onto your thread.

7. String the thread over and back under the right leather cord string.

8. Thread back through the bead.

9. Guide the thread to go over and back under the left leather cord string.

10. Pull the thread tightly to secure the string.

11. Repeat steps 6 through 10 until the length from the knot in the leather cord to the end of the beads is one inch shorter than the length you would like your bracelet to be.  For example, if you would like your bracelet to be 8 inches, the length from the knot to the end of the beads would be 7 inches.

12. When you reach the desired length of your bracelet, you'll want to secure the end of the thread.  Repeat the figure eight pattern described in step 4 several times.  Then knot the thread.

13. Tie a knot in the leather cord.

14. Put the shank button on one of the leather cord strings.

15. Tie another knot.

16. Cut off any additional string.  You can trim the leather cord to the desired length at the end of the bracelet.  Optionally, you can dab a bit of super glue on each knot in the leather cord and on the beginning and end of the beading thread.

You're all done!

Variations

Once you master this technique, you can create variations on this simple leather wrap bracelet.  For example, you can use more than one bead per row or create cuffs: