Braiding from the skin

Weaving from leather is one of the oldest kinds of needlework, because centuries ago leather was one of the most accessible materials, the threads appeared later. Leather bracelets are woven from leather cords, thanks to the variety of techniques of weaving, you can make a lot of bracelets, none of which will not look like the other.

Where to get the skin for weaving? You can use unnecessary leather things, tofor example, old boots, gloves, briefcases (and if you have a worn out leather jacket or a raincoat at home, you are very lucky). You can also look for production waste in the nearest shoe shops or atelier. The thickness, elasticity, color and texture of the skin depend on the origin and the way of dressing.

For leather weaving you will need some tools. Briefly list the main of them:

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  Knives: for cutting cords and strips and for cutting edges (sherfovaniya);
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  Scissors of different sizes for cutting parts;
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  punches for punching holes;
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  chisels: semicircular for rounding the edges of products and straight with different blade widths for punching punches;
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  hammers: usual and shoe;
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  rulers: metal with divisions for measurements and heavy metal for cutting cords and strips;
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  clamps for cutting the ruler to the skin when cutting.

Also you will need clamps-clamps, gon,compass measuring instrument, blunt awl, screwdriver, glue, paints, brushes for glue and paints and some other tools and materials. If you additionally want to decorate leather products with embossing or engraving, you will need an appropriate set of tools.

In principle, if you just started to master the weaving from the skin, you can not suffer from cutting the skin into strips, and buy in a store selling sewing fittings, finished leather cords. Practically in all weaving techniques (except circular braiding), a skin thickness of 1.2 to 2 mm is required.

You can start the weaving with the simple technique of "maiden scythe". Three leather cords need to be weaved as ifyou weave the most common pigtail from the hair. The main thing is to make sure that they are evenly distributed. The ends of the pigtails are collected with glue in one strip, and then fixed with special details-bracers. By the same principle, you can weave a braid of four laces.

There is also a weaving technique, called a "puzzle", it can be single and double. In this case, not individual cords are used, but a strip of leather with slits. Other popular techniques - Afghan braid, shaving, circular braiding andits varieties (for example, harlequin), weave rings. When weaving from thin leather cords of a cylindrical shape, you can use the elements of the technique of macrame, creating original leather ornaments.

Another type of leather bracelets - the so-called braced bracelets. This is a fairly simple technique that will allowcreate beautiful leather bracelets with your own hands even beginners. For the manufacture of the bracelet is taken the base of the skin, in which the holes are made. A leather cord is pulled through the holes. Varying the shape and width of the holes, the color and width of the cord, etc., you can make a lot of bracelets that are completely different from each other. The main thing is to observe the basic rule: Leather cord should be thinner than the skin of the base.

Weaving from leather can be used not only for making baubles. After a little training, you can learn create belts and belts. Also leather braiding can decorate homemade bags (in this case, around the perimeter of the bag holes are made into which the leather cord is threaded).

Weaving bracelets and other leather products is a wonderful hobbywhich will help you create exclusiveornaments. Starting with the simplest patterns of weaving, you will gradually improve and (if you show due diligence, of course) in time you can make beautiful and original leather bracelets.