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Make a Leather Necklace with Pendant
Make a Leather Necklace in Just a Few Minutes
Do you want to make a simple necklace for yourself or a special guy or gal in your life, but aren't sure how to go about it? This simple leather necklace is a good choice for anyone, male or female. All you need is a pendant, a leather cord, connectors, and a clasp. It's a great beginner project for a polished-looking necklace.
Simple Leather Necklace Materials
What You Need for This Project
Pendant - The example is an 18x30 mm sodalite teardrop, which came with a loop attached at the top.
Cord - The example uses a black leather strap, but you can use other thick cords, such as vinyl, hemp, or waxed linen.
Coil Connectors - These are metal coils with a loop at one end, where a clasp can be attached. You want a connector with a coil such that the cord will fit inside it snugly. If you like, you can make your own connector by wrapping 20-gauge wire around the cord, leaving a loop at one end to attach the clasp.
Clasp - I used a large lobsterclaw clasp because it has a sleek appearance, is secure, and is easy to use. If you like, you could make a clasp.
Smooth Jaw Pliers - I used flatnose pliers. No teeth or you will scratch the coil!
Glue - Optional, but nice to have.
This piece brings together several basic techniques to create a beautiful piece of jewelry. You should be able to complete this project in about 15 minutes.
Find Materials for this Project Online
Any beading or craft store should be able to set you up with the materials to complete this project, but you can find jewelrymaking materials online, too.
The historical craftsmanship of Murana glass is brought to life today with distinctive Perla Bella! Intricately detailed glass fantasies are captured in this wonderful selection of Perla Bella glass beads. Ideal for sophisticated trendsetting looks these vividly colored beads are bold and luxurious. New caged and open metal work complements the glass with the delicacy of lace in a glistening gold or silver finish.
Unique Pendant made with Authentic Rare Color SWAROVSKI CRYSTAL and Sterling Silver. This Pendant is 1 Inch Long. Rare color Cube Swarovski Crystal with lots of glitter. In addition to its given beauty when light reflects on them you will see more glitter on it. You do not want to miss this one. We carry almost all the standard Chains. Please note: Image might appear big to you. Please ALWAYS take a ruler and determine the size mentioned above before you buy. That is the best practice to avoid a...
This is a Swarovski Crystal Vitrail Medium Tear Drop Pendant. 1.5 Inch is the Total length end to end. This is a gorgeous pendant. The Crystal has a great amount of glitter. The image above failed to capture the actual glitter. You can wear with any Chain. Snake Chains or Omega works great for this pendant. We carry almost all the standard Chains. Please note: Image might appear big to you. Please ALWAYS take a ruler and determine the size mentioned above before you buy. That is the best practic...
I love this luscious, soft, faux suede cord with the velvet feel! It is tres hip right now for necklaces, bracelets & anklets.
This particular brown color looks fantastic with turquoise pendants. This "suede" is actually made from specially treated microfibers so it is animal-friendly and won't discolor your skin.
Metal beads spacers and findings enhance the beauty of glass beads while adding the finishing touch to jewelry and bead embellishment projects.
Magnetic Clasps are made for people who are either arthritic or otherwise have limited use of their hands and fingers. They hold by a pair of very powerful magnets. These are made in Italy and they are excellent quality because the magnets are crimped in place and NOT GLUED. And they come with a spring ring clasp already attached so the can be immediately attached to your chain. The only word of caution is that heat from Boiling water / Ultrasonic Cleaners will demagnetize the clasps, so dont st...
Simple Necklace with Pendant - Step 1
Take a look at your materials. You want the ends of the cord to barely slide into the coil connector. Can you see how the clasp attaches to the loop on the coil? Put the cord around the neck of the person who will be wearing it and cut it to the desired length.
Simple Necklace with Pendant - Step 2
Cut your cord to the desired length and slide the pendant onto it. Slide or work the end of the cord into a coil connector until the end is flush with the top of the coil near the loop.
Simple Necklace with Pendant - Step 3
For added security, you may want to add a drop of waterproof glue to the inside of the coil before adding the cord. Don't worry if you don't have the glue. It really shouldn't be necessary.
Simple Necklace with Pendant - Step 4
Smash the coil with your pliers to secure the cord. In the example, this was actually pretty hard. The coils were made of steel and didn't want to be crushed. I even double-checked the instructions to be sure I had the right kind of connector. The cord-into-coil connection was pretty snug in this case, and I think the necklace would have been sufficiently secure if I had used just glue and not crushed the coil. Use your best judgement. Expect to use some force to crimp the coil.
Simple Necklace with Pendant - Step 5
You will either need to use pliers to open the loop on the coil to insert the end of the clasp, or else use jump rings to connect the loop of the coil with the loop on the clasp.
Learn How to Make Jewelry
These are books that show you how to make other simple jewelry projects. Feel free to add to the list or to vote selections up/down.
Most beading books include a mix of patterns but call for very specific beads and materials. So if crafters don't like the beads used in the projects, or don't have them in hand, they won't enjoy the projects, no matter how beautiful they are. But Susan Beal has untangled this knotty problem. Bead Simple is the first work of its kind that offers stunning jewelry patterns that can be completely customized with a variety of beads and stringing materials. Based on simple, yet effective beading tech...
“This inspiration-filled volume [has] instructions for more than 70 unique jewelry pieces from a diverse group of designers. Learn the tricks of using a jig, wire wrapping, twisting, coiling and hammering to create incredible effects. Combine...wirework with beautiful glass or semiprecious stone beads to create wonderful necklaces, chokers, bracelets, earrings, hair clips, pins and eyeglass chains.”—Crafts Magazine.
Beading doesn’t get more elegant than this, with such gleaming gems as amethyst, quartz, and lapis lazuli. Valérie MacCarthy—whose work graces the pages of high fashion magazines around the world—has created a magnificent collection of sophisticated, unique jewelry. The 30 projects include bracelets, earrings, necklaces and rings, and they tend to the playful and colorful. In addition, an entire section is dedicated to the different stones and their properties, including their spi...
Now, beaders can create expensive-looking original beaded jewelry that reflects their personal style! Easy Beaded Jewelry features over 50 elegant projects for jewelry.
Everyone can make stylish contemporary jewelry with ease! This beginner’s guide holds the key: simply take widely available manufactured metal parts (hollow tubes, solid rods, precut perforated sheets) and arrange them in repeating patterns that develop into complex designs. The techniques—filing, drilling, piercing, cold connecting, soldering—are simple, and step-by-step photos capture every essential stage of the construction process. Today’s most innovative designers, incl...
Do you have any questions about this leather necklace project or comments about this lens? Here's the place to put them!
Did You Try this Necklace Project?
Great step by step instructions! Angel Blessed and featured on Squid Angel Mouse Tracks in Crafts.
Hi, thanks for the great lens, i really liked it and thinking of trying to make one for my gal, i used to get her presents from www.dreamlandjewelry.com , but i think that a hand made gift will be a more romantic idea.
Thanks again, i will try it out and tell you how it went.