Easy DIY Leather Cord Bracelet with Jump Rings

This cute DIY leather cord bracelet is so easy and fun to make! Once you figure out the looping pattern, it comes together really fast with just two leather cords, jump rings, and a few basic jewelry findings.

I had so much fun making the first one that I immediately made three in different colors. LOL. The hardest part might honestly be deciding which color combination to make first.

These Bracelets Are So Fun To Make Because:

• They’re quick. Once you understand the pattern, the bracelet comes together pretty fast.
• You only need a few supplies. Most are basic jewelry-making findings you can reuse for other projects.
• The colors completely change the look. Make both cords the same color or mix two together.
• They’re easy to personalize. Add charms or choose hardware that matches your style.
• They make sweet handmade gifts. I also think these would be really cute as friendship bracelets.

If you enjoy simple jewelry projects like this one, you might also like my DIY Leather Cord Necklace with Owl Pendant. It uses some of the same basic leather-cord supplies.

How to Make a Leather Cord Bracelet

Supplies

I used 3 mm leather cord for my bracelets with 6mm jump rings. You can use another thickness, but you’ll need to adjust your jump rings and cord ends accordingly.

• 2 leather cord strands, I used 3 mm cord
• Lobster clasp
• About 10 to 15 jump rings, I used 6 mm
• 1 small jump ring for attaching the clasp, around 3 mm
• 2 fold-over cord crimp ends, I used 6 mm
• Fabric glue, optional

Tools

• Bend nose pliers
• Flat-nose pliers
• Scissors

A second pair of jewelry pliers makes opening and closing jump rings much easier. You can hold one side of the ring with each pair instead of trying to wrestle with it using one hand.

Step by Step Instructions:

The printable tutorial card is farther down in the post, but here I’ll walk you through exactly how I made mine.

I prefer working on a flat surface because these jump rings are tiny little escape artists. If I’m using dark colors or metal findings, I sometimes lay down a white cloth or sheet of paper so I can actually see everything.

Step 1: Start the Woven “Braid”

1. Take your two leather cord strands and line them up together.
2. Insert both strands through your first jump ring, but in opposite directions. One cord goes through the ring from front to back, while the other goes from back to front.

It may feel a little strange on the first ring, but once you add the next one you’ll start seeing the pattern.

Step 2: Add the Second Jump Ring

3. Take another jump ring and reverse the direction of the cords. The cord that came through the previous ring from the back will now go through this one from front to back. Do the opposite with the second cord.

This alternating direction is what creates that braided-looking pattern.

Step 3: Continue Adding Jump Rings

4. Keep adding jump rings one at a time, alternating the direction of the leather cords with each new ring. After a few rings, the pattern becomes much easier to see and you’ll probably get into a little rhythm.

5. Continue until the bracelet is long enough to fit comfortably around your wrist. I like checking the length before cutting anything.
   
   I like checking the length before cutting anything. Remember that the cord ends, jump rings, and lobster clasp will add a little more length to the finished bracelet.

Step 4: Trim the Leather Cord

6. Once you’re happy with the bracelet length, trim away the excess leather cord.
7. Leave just enough cord at each end to fit securely inside the fold-over crimp ends.
8. Don’t cut right against the last jump ring. You need those few extra millimeters for the hardware to grab onto.

Step 5: Attach the Cord Ends

9. Bring the two leather cord ends together and place them inside one of the fold-over cord crimp ends.
10. You can add a tiny dab of fabric glue here if you want a little extra security. I consider it optional because these cord ends have small teeth that grip the leather once they’re closed.
11. Use your flat-nose pliers to carefully fold the sides of the crimp end over the leather cords and press them firmly into place.
    
12. Repeat on the opposite side.
13. Give each end a gentle tug before adding the clasp. It’s much easier to fix a loose crimp now than after everything is assembled.

Step 6: Add the Lobster Clasp

14. Open a small jump ring using two pairs of pliers. Instead of pulling the ring apart sideways, twist one side slightly toward you and the other away from you. This helps the jump ring keep its round shape.
15. Slide on one cord end and the lobster clasp, then twist the jump ring closed again.
    
16. Make sure the ends of the jump ring meet cleanly.

Step 7: Finish the Other End

17. Attach another jump ring to the cord end on the opposite side of the bracelet. This becomes the ring your lobster clasp hooks onto when you wear the bracelet
    

And that’s it!

You’ve got yourself one really cute leather cord bracelet.

Of course, at this point I couldn’t stop at one, so I started pulling out different leather cords and making more. LOL.

Leather Cord Bracelet Variations

One of my favorite things about this little bracelet is how many different looks you can get without changing the basic technique.

Mix two cord colors. This makes the woven pattern stand out even more.

Change the metal finish. Silver, antique brass, gold, or darker hardware can completely change the style.

Add a charm. Attach a small charm to one of the jump rings for a little extra personality.

Try different leather textures. Smooth, metallic, stitched, or slightly textured leather cord can all give you a different finish. Just make sure your jump rings and cord ends still fit properly.

I kept mine simple because I really liked how the leather and metal looked together without anything else.

Making These With Kids

Older kids and teens who already enjoy crafts may have fun helping with the looping pattern.

I would let them handle the leather cords and work out the alternating pattern, then have an adult help with cutting and the jewelry pliers if needed.

Because this project uses very small metal findings, I wouldn’t consider it a craft for little kids.

How to Care for Your Leather Bracelet

I try to keep handmade leather jewelry away from water whenever possible.

Take your bracelet off before showering, swimming, or using lotions and perfumes heavily around your wrists. Water and products can eventually change the leather and some metal finishes.

When I’m not wearing mine, I simply keep it somewhere dry with my other jewelry.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Handmade Jewelry Projects to Try

If you like this crafty and easy leather cord bracelet DIY tutorial, you might also love these other handmade jewelry projects too:

A couple of leather cords, some jump rings, and you can make the cutest little bracelets in whatever colors you feel like playing with that day.

I still love how simple mine look, but I’m curious what you would do with yours. Two colors? Charms? Gold hardware instead of silver?

If you make one, tag me on Instagram so I can see it. And if this tutorial helped you, leave me a comment or a rating below. I always love seeing what you create!

✂️ Tutorial

Some really cool handmade jewelry pieces from my favorite bloggers:

• Leather Wrap Bracelets with Charm by Amy Latta Creations.
• DIY Studded braid bracelets by A Pumpkin and a Princes.
• T-shirt yarn bracelets by Blue Bear Wood.

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