If you went to Summer Camp as a kid, you’ll totally remember making lanyard keychains with that brightly colored plastic lace {I had tons of them!} …so I thought, why not do it with leather lace? And I did. And I love them! Pair them with stacks of other bangles and bracelets to add a little texture! {p.s. you can also make this into a necklace, headband or belt as well}
So I thought I’d show you how …and if you like, you can buy one of mine because I’ve listed a few in my Etsy shop.
Here’s What You’ll Need…
* Leather lace
* Chain
* Clasp
* Needle nose pliers/Scissors
Steps…
* Cut 2 strips of leather lace. Depending on your wrist size and how loose you want your bracelet, make them between 60 and 80 inches each. You can make up for a too short lanyard by adding extra chain but really, you want these to fit loose, like a bangle. So start with too much and cut away unwanted at the end.
* To begin, find the middle of one of your laces and wrap it twice around your finger. Find the middle of your second lace, slide it under both loops, bring one side over and under then repeat with the other side …slip off your finger and tighten
* Getting the first and last stitches done are the most difficult, so watch these videos for help, but otherwise it’s just loop/loop opposing laces then loop over and under and over and under with the leftover laces, then pulling it tight.
* To secure the end knot, leave your last box stitch loose then with each lace, loop around your nearest loop/under/up through the center …all the way around. Watch video here …trim your leather ends as much as you’d like. {also see last photo above}
* Using your pliers, open a link in your chain . . .
* . . . and loop it through one {or two} of the loops at the end knot. Add extra chain if you like.
* Open another chain, add it to your lobster clamp and loop it through the top {opposite side} or your lanyard.
And… Voila!
I made it with cognac and brown leather as well…
See me wearing it {links to full outfits from photos above}: Stacked with gold bangles, mixed with large and small bangles, bohemian style
Have Fun!
* Find all my DIYs here!
