Weaving leather is an ancient form of art, very beautiful and easier than it seems. There are several techniques for braiding leather, including the 3 strand braid and the 4 strand braid. Start from step one to learn how to complete each method quickly and easily.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Weaving the Leather into Three Threads
Step 1. Cut a 2.5 cm wide strip of leather
Determine the length you need and add 1/3 to the measurement you took.
- The braiding process will shorten the available material once finished, so cutting extra material will serve to have the right length once the job is finished.
- Use sharp scissors to cut the leather. A good length to practice with is 20cm.
Step 2. Make 2 parallel cuts up to the middle of the strip, do not cut to the end
The strip should be divided into 3 equal parts. For the next steps, the individual strands will be indicated as 1, 2, and 3 from left to right.
- Make sure that the two cuts are at an equal distance from each other. The gap should be approximately 1/3 of the width of the strip.
- Stop the cut at 1.5 cm from the vertical limit, leaving the strip intact. This technique requires that the strip remain in one piece, unlike braiding the hair or strings.
- If you decide to cut with a utility knife, place a piece of cardboard, wood, or something else under the leather to protect the surface you are cutting on.
Step 3. Take the bottom edge of the strip and pull it up and towards you
Pass it between strips 2 and 3. Pull the strip down from the other side so that it returns to its original position.
- Passing the strip between threads 2 and 3 will fold it, making the individual strips twist and make it easier to weave them.
- When done correctly, the leather strip should create a twist through the center and shouldn't be flat. You should also be able to see through previous cuts.
Step 4. Pass thread 1 over thread 2 starting at the top of the leather strip
Insert 1 into the cut between 2 and 3.
If done correctly, 1 should be behind 3
Step 5. Move the 3 over 1
The top of the strip should now resemble a woman sitting with her legs crossed.
Step 6. Step 2 over 3
There should now be a gap between the 2 and 3 at the bottom of the braid.
Step 7. Bring the bottom of the strip up and towards you
Pass it through the gap between 2 and 3 and pull it down.
This will loosen the twist made earlier in the third step and have completed the first braiding loop. The braid itself should now be held on top of the strip
Step 8. Repeat steps 4 through 6 to weave the individual strands
Make sure you pass the bottom of the strip through 2 and 3 to complete the loop as shown in step 7.
If you have chosen to weave a 20 x 6 cm strip you should finish in two loops
Method 2 of 4: Four-strand weave
Step 1. Cut 4 strands separated by a leather strip
Leave the longer strip at the end as this technique requires more leather.
- Remember that you are now using 4 strands, so the braid will be thicker than the previous method. You will need to cut thinner strips than before.
- Using 4 strands you will form a rounder and not flat braid like the previous one.
Step 2. Tie the top edges of the threads similar to what you did earlier
For the next steps the 4 wires will be indicated as A, B, C, and D from left to right.
- Since you will be working with a lot of threads, try tying the end of each thread to a key ring and placing it under a chair leg. It will help you hold the threads in place so that you can better concentrate on the process which is a bit intricate.
- To help you keep track of the threads, consider the idea of using colored threads. It can be easy to forget which thread is right. Alternatively, you can tie colored thread to each leather string.
Step 3. Take D and move it left over B and C
Now, from left to right, the order should be A, D, B, C.
Step 4. Pass B over D, again to the left
The order will now be A, B, D, C.
Step 5. Move A to the right so that it passes over B and D
The order will now be B, D, A, C.
Step 6. Cross D to the right so that it passes over A
The order will now be B, A, D, C.
If you've done everything correctly, D and A must be in between. Thread B should be on the left edge and C on the right edge
Step 7. Take B and A in the left hand and D and C in the right hand
Pull the two pairs of strands apart to tighten the braid.
Step 8. Pass C left over D and A
The order of the wires should now be B, C, A, D.
Step 9. Move A to the left to make it pass over C
The order of the wires should now be B, A, C, D.
Step 10. Cross B right over A and C
The order of the wires should now be A, C, B, D.
Step 11. Take C and pass it right over B
From left to right, the order should be normal: A, B, C, D. You have completed a cycle of the process.
Tighten the strands in the same way as in step 7. You will need to do this at the end of each loop to prevent the braid from unraveling
Step 12. Repeat steps 3 through 11, until you have used all the necessary leather
Since this process is all about detail, it's best to start with shorter leather strips.
Step 13. Tie the end of the braid once you are done
You could also tie the remaining loose threads to a ring or something similar. This is an easy way to make a bracelet or necklace.
Method 3 of 4: Using the Hair Braiding Technique
Step 1. Cut 3 equal parts from a leather strip
You can leave one end intact so that the 3 parts hang from the other, or you can completely cut both ends and thus have three separate strips.
Remember to take into account the same length and width as before. For a thicker bracelet make wider strips. For a necklace cut strips longer than 20 cm
Step 2. Secure the upper ends
If you have chosen 3 single strips, you can tie the upper ends together or tie and wrap a string around the ends leaving about 2 cm. In the next steps the wires will be referred to as "left", "middle" and "right".
Make sure the ends are aligned. The braid should be as even as possible
Step 3. Pass the left lace over the center
The two will now have reversed positions, ie the left in the center and vice versa.
Step 4. Take the right one and pass it over the new central
Right and center will now have reversed positions.
Step 5. Toggle between moving the left and right laces over the middle one
Continue like this until you reach the desired length or the end of the laces.
If you want to make a bracelet but eventually have too much leather, use scissors to cut off the excess
Step 6. Tie the ends about 2 cm from the end
You can use a similar technique by wrapping and tying a string around the threads.
Method 4 of 4: Making Braided Leather Jewelry
Step 1. Make bracelets out of the woven leather
They can be done in many different ways, one more imaginative than the other.
- As described in the 4-strand method, you can tie the ends to rings such as those of keychains and join them later to make bracelets. While it's the easiest method, it may not be the best.
- Alternatively you can take the leather braid and make a small hole in the end. Thread a regular leather thread through each hole and tie a knot. Adjust the size of the strips to fit your wrist better.
- To make a high quality bracelet that looks like a professional job, keep the ends aligned. Take some hooks - found in jewelry stores - and thread the ends of the braid. Use pliers to close the ends. Now your bracelet has metal ends like those sold in stores!
Step 2. Make a necklace using the same type of clasp as the bracelet
The necklace will differ from the bracelet only in length and you can add other accessories.
- Find some pierced beads. You can thread the braid into a pearl until it reaches the center like a pendant. Or you can fill the entire lower part of the necklace with colored beads.
- Instead of beads, use a locket. Put a picture of yourself and give it to someone special, a gift in the name of your friendship. Or you can find letter-shaped pendants to write your name with. The possibilities are virtually endless!
Step 3. Use a thin braid to make a leather ring
Once you become adept at making full sized braids, try making smaller items.
