Easy Leather Connector Bracelet

I’ve got another quick bracelet design to share with you today that’s easier than it looks!  You can make this boutique-style leather bracelet in 10 minutes or less, and the supplies you need are really minimal.  What’s even better is that I found the pieces to make this grouped into a kit – which means that even if you have no interest in jewelry design or learning how to make handmade jewelry, you could even pick up this kit as a gift for crafters.

You don’t have to use these exact pieces, either – this is a very easy and adaptable design.  Swap out leather for jute cord, use a different style connector, change the colors, the textures – there are really endless possibilities to make it your own.  But, if you’ve got your heart set on this exact design, I’ll add links below so you can find these pieces at Goody Beads, where I found it.  Plus, if you make a purchase through any of these links, it supports my blog at no extra cost to you – which means I can keep sharing great free designs. You know, just sayin’. :)

So here’s what you will need to make this simple leather connector bracelet:

• 2 mm round leather cord – or the cord of your choice.  You need 36 total inches – the cord I linked to is 1 m (about 39 inches)
• Focal connector, beads, and a magnetic glue-on clasp set – these are available as a complete kit
• Super New Glue or jewelry glue of your choice
• Optional (but helpful) – leather cutter

First, cut four lengths of leather cord 9 inches each.  (Or, if you’re using 1 m of cut cord, you can skip the measuring by cutting it into 4 equal pieces, and trim them off at the end.)  Take 2 cords, double them at the 4.5 inch point, and make a lark’s head knot.  To do this, pass the loop down through the front of your connector.  Then, take the tails, and feed them through the loop you made.  Pull it tight.  Repeat this on the other side

Next, add any slider beads you like!  The kit I linked to includes 2 beads, so I slid them onto the leather, and moved them toward the knots.  Then, I trimmed about a half inch off the ends so that the total length of the bracelet (before adding the clasp) is between 7 inches and 7.25 inches (it depends whether you have smaller or larger wrists – which is the beauty of handmade.  You can make these adjustments easily).

Finally, add a few drops of glue to the inside of your clasp, and glue each end on.  When you’re gluing leather to metal, it takes about one minute before it dries enough to “grab on” – you will have to hold it in place about that long until it adheres enough to let go and allow it to dry the rest of the way.  The good news is, it only takes 10-15 minutes to dry all the way, so you won’t have to wait long at all for your piece to be ready for wear.

The beads will slide around a little, so if you don’t want them to move, you can add a drop of glue to hold them in place (I opted not to – but I have for other pieces).

So what do you think?  Festive?  I think so!