How to Make the Leather Earth Tones Bracelet with SilverSilk Hollow Mesh
Cozy up this Fall to create an earthy, cinnamon flavored design with warm, leather cord and SilverSilk Hollow Mesh. Hollow Mesh fits easily over 5mm leather cord. SilverSilk Hollow Mesh is a revolutionary knitted wire jewelry chain. It’s made by knitting wire as thin as human hair into a tubular wire mesh. The result is a 5mm hollow knitted wire tube that can be filled with leather cord, chain, craft wire, seed beads, or virtually any material between 2-5mm found in your beading drawer. The possibilities are endless! Find out more about SilverSilk Hollow Mesh here. Follow along each step in this tutorial guide, as well as in video form, to create this relaxing design.
Before we dive into the magic, let's gather our tools and materials:
Tools:
5mm SilverSilk Hollow Mesh Sizing Tool: Needed for preparing your Hollow Mesh to properly fit the 5mm Leather Cord
Cutters (Lindström Tools): Flush cutters used for making precise cuts to your Hollow Mesh and head pins
Chain Nose Pliers: These pliers will be used for opening and closing jump rings
Round Nose Pliers: Needed for forming wrapped loops above the cord ends and charms
Loctite Glue: Essential for securing the cord ends to the design
Materials:
6-7in • SilverSilk Hollow Mesh in Mahogony
4 • 6mm Jump Rings
6 to 7in • 5mm Round Leather Cord
10 • 4mm, 6mm, or 4x6mm Gemstone Beads
1 • Optional Charm
Leather Earth Tones Bracelet Video Tutorial
Leather Earth Tones Bracelet Written Step-By-Step Guide
Step 1: Preparing Hollow Mesh using the Hollow Mesh Sizing Tool
Using your flush cutters, cut each knit around the diameter of your SilverSilk Hollow Mesh to designed length. Cutting each knit will ensure that the mesh isn’t crushed, and you’ll have an easier time working with it. Using the 5mm sizing tool, gently feed the Hollow Mesh over the tool. Bring it all the way through to exit the other side, then remove the tool and clean up any wire splinters (or as I like to call them “fuzzies”) on the ends.
Step 2: Feeding 5mm Leather Cord through the Hollow Mesh
Start by cutting a pointed edge on one end of the leather cord. Feed this end through the Hollow Mesh. Use a gentle spinning motion and be sure to periodically slide the other side down the cord to make room as you continue to move the leather through the mesh. The sizing tool should have widened the mesh enough to make this the most satisfying process of seeing your bracelet come to life.
Step 3: Preparing the Leather for the Cord Ends
To get your ends ready for the cord ends, cut the ends of the leather cord flush and then pinch and compress the ends of the Hollow Mesh over the ends of the leather cord.
Step 4: Setting Up the Cord Ends and Head Pins
Inset a head pin into each cord end, so that the long end of the head pin is exiting out of the top hole of the cap. Place a couple drops of jewelry glue inside the first cord end. A little bit of Loctite goes a long way and the narrow bottle tip makes it super easy to apply the glue to small spaces in a clean and efficient fashion.
Step 5: Attaching the Cord Ends over the Hollow Mesh and Leather Cord
Start by sliding the cord end over one end of the Hollow Mesh and the leather cord strand. This will be somewhat a tight fit, but you can use your fingernail to make sure the Hollow Mesh is pressed up into the cord end with the leather cord. The cord and mesh will go in about three or so millimeters into the cord end and should be coated with the jewelry glue when it’s all inserted in. Repeat these steps to glue and secure the second cord end to the other side.
Step 6: Stringing Gemstone Beads and Forming a Wrapped Loop
To each end of the bracelet, string a couple of your favorite gemstone beads that coordinate with your color palette and using round nose pliers to form wrapped loops above the gems.
Step 7: Adding the Finishing Touches
Use your remaining head pins and gemstones to create dangle charms. Open a 6mm jump ring and secure the toggle ring to the wrapped loop on one side of the bracelet. Use an additional jump ring to attach any additional charms if you’d really like to jazz up your bracelet. Attach those extra charms to the first jump ring (or to the one used to attach the toggle ring). For the other side of the bracelet, use another jump ring to attach the toggle bar to complete your design.
I hope your new bracelet warms you wrist!
Conclusion:
Hollow Mesh is a very versatile medium for any jewelry design. The beautiful colors available in Hollow Mesh will add depth and texture over any material. We hope you enjoyed this tutorial and feel inspired to make a unique bracelet for yourself or a loved one. Don't forget to check out the full video tutorial on YouTube. If you enjoyed it, give us a thumbs up and subscribe to our channel for more exciting tutorials.
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