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Leather 101
Leather continues to be a powerhouse material in jewelry fashions --especially bracelet design! Learn about various types of leather (from straps to cord to finished cuffs), and find tutorials and projects to make your own leather bracelets, handmade leather jewelry, and crafts. You can also shop our
leather cord, leather straps, &
leather bracelet blanks.
Leather straps offer you lengths of leather that are already dyed a variety of colors, and already cut to a certain width. They work great for leather riveting and for making custom bracelet cuffs and wraps. They make great hat bands, too. Check out our projects below!
Types of 1/2" Wide Leather Strips:
10-Inch Strips are made in the USA by TierraCast. They offer a soft, supple texture. The short length works well for making cuff bracelets.
1-Meter Strips are imported. They offer a stiffer surface (that works better with some embellishments), and a longer length that works for wrapped bracelets, hat bands, and other projects that require more length.
How to Set Snaps on Leather
Graphic Tutorial
How to Set Rivets on Leather
Tutorial & Videos
Two Finishing Methods for Leather Straps
Blog Tutorial
Bracelet Cuffs & Bracelet Wraps
Leather bracelets with snaps already in place allow you to focus on your custom embellishments without having to mess with the logistics of adding a clasp! Our selection of cuffs also offers a broader selection of widths than the leather strips.
There are many types of leather cord to choose from, in a wide variety of colors. Use the following list to help you decide which types will work best for your craft and jewelry projects. Then, check out the techniques, tutorials, and projects below!
Greek Leather is superior-quality round cord. Strong & supple. 1.5mm & 2mm widths work for Chan Luu style wrapped bracelets. 3mm width also available.
Imitation Leather Cord ... no longer available. Cotton Cord is an excellent leather alternative.
Deer Hide is extremely soft and supple in 2mm and 3mm widths. It holds knots well and looks great in wrapped bracelets! Flat like suede lace. Made in USA.
Suede Lace comes in your choice of 3mm wide genuine suede and 1.5mm wide synthetic suede. The latter is thin but strong and offers a great vegan alternative.
"Goat-Skin" Cord is economy leather thong. 0.5mm width works great for braiding and wrapping. 1mm and 2mm widths work for stringing large-hole beads and pendants.
Leather Bolo Cord consists of 4 strands of leather braided together into a 4.5-5mm wide round cord. Great as chunky necklace cord as well as bolo cord.
How to Make Wrapped Leather Bracelets
Blog Post
How to Make a Lashed Chain & Leather Bracelet
Blog Post
Make a Lashed Rhinestone & Leather Bracelet
Blog Post
Leather Sheets and Strips
Recently we upgraded from the Sizzix/Vintaj BigKICK (which has great embossing dies for soft metals up to approx. 24-gauge) to the Sizzix Big Shot Jewelry Studio -- which does the embossing that we love PLUS it can die-cut leather.
For jewelry tutorials using leather sheet and Sizzix leather strips, see:
