In this project, create a bracelet from scraps of suede leather (felt works, too). Cut a strip of leather, glue on motifs of a contrasting color, and close with a Velcro® fastener. This is a good first leather craft project that requires no special leather craft tools.
Related craft: Make a necklace to go with your bracelet. See how in the Suede Leather Pendant craft project.
Related craft: Use weaving to decorate the soft bracelet in the Woven Suede Bracelet craft project.
Download and print one of the Suede Leather Bracelet patterns. Each pattern sheet has four bracelet styles and three or four motif patterns—teddy bear, paisley, and heart or star, tulip, butterfly and bird.
Tip: The bracelets can be made without a pattern. Just cut suede leather strips 1" to 1½" wide and long enough to wrap around your wrist with a ½" to ¾" overlap.
Patterns are Adobe PDF files. The Adobe Reader is available for free.
All of Aunt Annie's project patterns are designed to be printed on standard letter-size paper (8.5"x11" or A4). When printing from Adobe Reader, you may need to select Auto-Rotate and Center or Choose paper source by PDF page size to ensure the best fit.
Cut out the bracelet and motif patterns of your choice. See the step 6 illustration for design ideas. Aunt Annie includes four copies of each motif pattern in case one gets overused.
Tip: For more permanent and reusable patterns, print or trace the patterns onto cardstock or lightweight cardboard.
Place the bracelet pattern on your piece of suede leather. Hold the pattern down with one hand and trace around it carefully with a ballpoint pen. Repeat with the motifs, using a contrasting color of leather.
Using a pair of heavy-duty craft scissors, cut out the bracelet and motifs inside the ink lines. Leather snipers or a craft knife and cutting mat can also be used. Adult supervision is required when using a craft knife.
Tip: Adjust the length of the suede bracelet strip to fit your wrist!
If using a strip of Velcro, cut off a piece about 1/2" (1.5 cm) long.
With the bracelet right-side-up, glue the hook piece of the Velcro fastener near a square end of the bracelet. Turn the bracelet over and glue the loop piece of Velcro near the opposite end. Use a toothpick or other disposable object to spread the glue. Do not get the glue on your fingers.
Tip: Children should use tacky glue or be supervised closely by an adult when using contact cement.
Tip: Do not stick the Velcro together until the glue has set according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Decide on the arrangement of your motifs. The motifs should be centered on the bracelet lengthwise. Spread glue on the back of the motifs one at a time, and press into place.
Tip: If you are using the animal head (teddy bear) motif, add facial features with a ballpoint pen.
That's it. Your bracelet is done!
Thanks to Janet LaFara for creating the original Suede Leather Bracelet project and patterns for Aunt Annie's Craft Page in 1997.
Tip: Janet made with bracelet with a 2-button closure.
Tip: Make the suede bracelets with rounded, pointed or squared ends. Always attach the hook side of the Velcro fastener to the front of the bracelet at a squared end.
Tip: Use a black ballpoint pen to draw features on the animal head motif.
Tip: Make a Suede Leather Pendant Necklace to go with your suede bracelet.
Tip: Use a button closure instead of Velcro. See how-to details.
Related craft: Instead of a motif, weave strips of suede into the bracelet's center. See how in the Woven Suede Bracelet craft project.
