Introduction: Leather Bracelet With Stone Cabochon
This is a project that is fun and looks great.
Step 1: Come Up With a Design Around the Stone You Bought or Made.
Step 2: Print a Couple Copies of Your Drawing.
Your pattern will be sturdier if printed on card stock instead of paper.
Step 3: Some of the Materials and Tools You Will Need for This Project.
- Stone Cabochon, Leather
- Ruler, French Curve, Pencil for drawing design.
- Scalpel, Xacto knife. for cutting out pattern and leather.
- Hole Punch, Stitching Awl, Stitching Needles, Waxed Thread, Stitching Punches, Edge Beveler, Contact Cement, Edge Coat, Satin Finish. for working with the leather
Step 4: Trace and Cut Out Leather From Your Pattern.
Make the backing leather a little larger it will be trimmed after the layers are sewn together.
Step 5: Making the Bezel to Hold the Stone.
- On the back side of the bezel, center stone cabochon.
- Trace around the stone cabochon.
- Using the scalpel angled from the line toward the center, cut out the shape. The bevel will lay on top of the stone to hold it in.
- Using edge beveler, bevel the front and back.
- Lightly wet the edge, use the slicker to smooth the edges.
- Carefully apply Edge Coat to the bezel and let dry.
Step 6: Punching Stitching Holes on the Bezel and Top Leather.
- Center the bezel and apply blue tape to hold the pieces in place.
- Using the stitching punches, punch holes around the edge, between the edge and where the back bevel starts..
Step 7: Apply Finish and Start Assembly
- Apply Satin Finish to top of bezel and let dry
- Apply Contact Cement to the back of the stone cabochon, bezel, and the center to stitching holes on the top leather.
- When dry, center the stone and and press together, then press the bezel around the stone.
- Pull enough Waxed Tread to go around the bezel 2 times.
- Thread your needles.
- Insert needle through one hole and center thread.
- Start sewing from the front insert top needle through the next hole to the rear pull down snug, now insert back needle through the same hole to the front.
- Continue around the bezel. When you reach the start continue over the first stitch.
- Cut off threads being careful not to cut the stitches.
- Using mallet roll over the stitches to smooth them out.
Step 8: Glue the Top and Back Layers Together.
- Apply Contact Cement to the back of the front and the rough side of the back leather.
- Place a strip of Tape about 1/2" wide between the layers to add a keeper.
- Press the leather together.
- Apply Satin Sheen to the back of the bracelet.
Step 9: Sewing the Bracelet Together.
- Punch stitching holes around the border.
- When you get to a curve use the Stitching Awl to pierce the leather, keep same spacing as the stitching holes.
- Pull enough Waxed Thread to go around the bracelet 3 times and thread the needles.
- Remove the tape and insert the ends of the keeper into the bracelet.
- Using the Stitching Awl pierce the holes from the back through the keeper ends between the layers.
- Start sewing as done on the Bezel.
Step 10: Trim and Finish the Edge.
- Trim the back to same size.
- Use Edge Beveler around the front and back.
- Dampen the edge then using edge slicker smooth the edges.
- Apply Edge Coat and let dry.
- Roll the mallet around the stitches to smooth them out.
Step 11: Punch Holes for Closure
- Using Hole Punch punch hole the size of the screw for Button Stud.
- Install button stud.
- Wrap bracelet around insert end into keeper to locate where holes are needed for closure.
- Punch these holes a little smaller than the diameter of the Button Stud.
- Then add a small slit to the hole on the side toward the center of the bracelet, so it will go over the Button Stud.
- You can add more holes to make it adjustable.
Step 12: Finished
I hope you enjoyed and have fun making a bracelet. You may contact me if you have any questions.
Joe