Beads Online Leather Wrap Beaded Bracelet Guide

At Beads Online Australia, leather wrapped bracelets are one of our favourite DIY projects — they’re stylish, fun to make, and a little bit addictive! This step-by-step starter guide covers the basics of how to make a leather wrapped bracelet — including how to set up your leather cord, add beads, change threads, and finish your piece. You can create a single wrap or a triple wrap bracelet, depending on your style. It’s a fantastic beginner-friendly jewellery-making project and a beautiful way to incorporate gemstone beads and Toho seed beads 6/0 — the perfect size and available in a stunning range of colours — along with leather cord into your designs.

Whether you're using one of our DIY bracelet kits or creating your own from scratch, this guide walks you through the full process. For bead placement, colour combos, and design ideas, follow the instructions in your kit — or take inspiration from our designs and make it your own.

Setting Up 🧵

1. Refer to the project instructions for the required length of leather cord. Fold the leather cord in half to find the centre and slide a button to the midpoint.
   If designing your own bracelet, use this formula:
   (Desired finished length × 2) + 30 cm
   Example: For a 17 cm bracelet, cut 74 cm of leather cord.
2. Tie a temporary knot at the other end of the leather cord (not too tight).
3. Use the box from the kit — or any box you can wrap around. If it’s smaller, just wrap the cords twice. Hold the leather cord with the button on the left and wrap both the leather and scrap cord around the box. Wrap one end of the scrap cord around the button and tie it in a bow to secure the setup.
   
   Tying the bracelet to a box keeps tension steady and lets you work from both sides. Position the button at the edge — this is where you’ll begin.

6. Cut your thread 1.5 to 2 metres long (whatever length you can manage without tangling). Thread the needle, doubling the thread, then tie a knot at the end and secure it with glue. Let dry, then trim the tail close to the knot.
7. Secure the thread around the bottom leather cord using a lark’s head knot. Pull it tight and slide the knot up close to the button so it sits snugly against the cord — when you begin adding beads, try to position the knot so it tucks neatly into the first one.
   Lark’s head knot: Place the looped end of your doubled thread under the leather cord. Pass the needle and loose ends over the cord and through the loop. Pull tight to secure.

Adding Beads 💎

8. Thread one bead. Bring the thread up from underneath both leather cords, placing the bead snugly between them.
9. Loop the thread over the top cord and pass it back through the bead. Pull gently to secure.
10. Pick up your next bead combination and bring the thread up from underneath, placing the beads neatly between the cords, right next to the last row.
11. Take the thread over the top cord and back through the beads. Pull gently to secure.
    Tip: Hold the beads between your fingers as you pass the thread through — it helps keep the tension even and the rows neat.
12. Repeat Steps 10 and 11, following your pattern, until your bracelet reaches the desired length.

Changing Thread 🔁

1. When you have around 10 cm of thread left on the left side, snip off the needle and thread a new length.
   If your design includes beads with small holes, plan ahead and change your thread before reaching them — it’ll save you frustration later.
2. Take the 10 cm tail and place it under the leather cord, as if you were about to thread a bead.
3. Visually mark — or use a pen to mark — where the thread sits halfway between the leather cords. This is where the knot will go (marked with an X in the diagram).
4. Take the new thread and knot it to the 10 cm tail at the X. Secure the knot with glue (or knot again). Once dry, trim the ends and hide the knot by sliding a bead over it. Continue following your pattern.

Securing the Final Thread - Half Hitch Knots

1. After adding your final bead(s), reinforce the thread by passing it under the bottom leather cord, up through the bead, over the top cord, and back through the bead again.
2. Use the tip of your needle to catch a small thread loop under the bead. Pull through, leaving a small loop, then pass the needle through it and pull gently to form a knot at the bead’s edge.
3. Pass the needle up through the bead and repeat the knotting technique at the top. Finish by running the thread through the bead once more and trimming. Optionally, add a dab of glue to secure the knots.

Finishing Off – Creating the Button Loop 🪡

To finish, take both leather cord ends and tie an overhand knot close to the beaded section. Pinch the cords together and slip the button between them to check the loop size. Mark the spot and tie another knot to form the loop, adjusting as needed for a snug fit. For adjustable sizing, add a second knot further along the cords to create an extra loop. Trim any excess cord to complete your bracelet.