Introduction: Leather Wrist Cuff

By Ryan
About: In 2020, at the age of 42 I had a stroke in my left hemisphere which left me with a disability called aphasia which means difficulty with speaking and understanding. Reading and writing are also challenging an…

This is a great project to get started with leather working to see if you like it. There are number of different ways to make these leather cuffs. This one uses a marine bow shackle with a 3/16" screw pin, cost me $3.

Materials needed:

  1. Cutting surface
  2. Sharp object like an xacto knife
  3. Ruler
  4. Paper
  5. Leather Fork or Leather punch
  6. Hammer if your using a fork
  7. Leather stitching needles
  8. Waxed thread

Step 1: Pattern

Make your pattern out of paper first. Try it on to see how you like how it fits.

Step 2: Mark and Cut

Use the paper pattern to mark and cut your leather. You will want to lay your paper out on your piece of leather or take it with you to the leather store so you know how much you need to buy. I had to buy my pieces by the square foot but sometimes you can get scraps that will work as well.

Step 3: Punch You Holes

Once the leather is cut out you will need to put it all roughly together to figure out where you will need to punch your holes.

I like to use a punch fork thingy but there are other punches you can get.

Step 4: Stitch

I used a cross stitch, multiply your stitch length by 4 or 4.5 and thread a needle through each end of your waxed thread (that is right 2 needles like the image). Then push one end through each side of the punched hole so the stitch crosses.

Step 5: Bow Shackle

Take your thinner strip of leather and wrap it around your U shackle, punch your holes through both the wide and thinner pieces of leather, then stitch them together. You will now want to do the same thing with the bow shackle pin but don't stitch the thinner band to the wide band on that end so you can take it off. I also added a stitch to the U shaped side of the small band near the end seam of the wider band, this will keep the thin band from sliding off to the side when you wear it.

For a his and her version follow the above steps but complete one without the wide band underneath.

Enjoy and look cool.