How to Make Braided Leather Earrings
Learn how to make braided leather earrings – it’s so easy! Then check out this list of DIY leather earrings you can make. This post contains affiliate links.
Braided leather hoops are a fun trend in jewelry making – and they’re really, really easy. Spoiler: they’re not actually braided. They’re knotted.
First of all, you’ll want to check out this fun technique for cobra knotting string wrapped hoop earrings that I shared a while ago. This is a spinoff of that that creates what looks like a fun little “braid” on the side.
You can turn this “braid” in any direction you’d like. It can be placed on the inside of the hoop, the outside, or on one side – the right or the left. It all depends on the look you’re going for!
Which string is best to use to make braided leather earrings?
I tend to keep a well-stocked craft room and only occasionally purchase things special for posts. While making these braided leather earrings with the cheap faux leather lacing that I had handy, I realized how much better it would have come out had I used thick, soft genuine leather lacing.
It definitely works with the coarser stuff but would just be better with the real stuff.
I thought I had a pack handy and turned things upside down to find it. I didn’t want to delay this blog post. I just had to “leave good enough alone” and show you how to do it with the other stuff.
Then, I found some silk tube cording that was fabulous! It got me a similar result to leather but it’s so much more upscale! I decided to keep it understated and only braid the center portion and love how it worked out.
So you can see that you can learn how to make braided leather earrings to be sporty and casual, or elegant and upscale. It just depends on the string you use!
I also did give it a go with hemp cord, but that was very underwhelming, so I struck that from this tutorial.
What you need to make braided leather earrings
- Hoop earrings
- Flat leather lacing – the softer it is, the higher end earring you’ll make
- Krazy glue
- Scissors
- Loom band (one) or one rubber hair tie
How to make braided leather earrings
1. Create a knot and slide your hoop through at the earring point. Tighten the knot.
You can make sure that the leather cord doesn’t slide right off by placing a rubber loom band or hair tie around it as a stopper. (You’ll see a clothespin used in some of the process photos – it didn’t work as well as the loom band trick.)
2. Take your long string and forward knot it around the hoop.
3. Now backward knot it.
4. Keep alternating between forward and backward knots. You’ll see your braid beginning to form, while you also wrap your hoop. Try to keep the lacing as flat as you can for a neat, polished result.
5. When you reach the back clasp, glue your last knot that you did. Pull it as tight as you can before trimming. Glue your starting knot as well. Trim close to the knot.
You’ve nailed how to make braided leather earrings! Which color will you be making yours in? Comment below!
Fun Trendy Braided Leather Earrings
Materials
Instructions
1. Create a knot and slide your hoop through at the earring point. Tighten the knot.
You can make sure that the leather cord doesn't slide right off by placing a rubber loom band or hair tie around it as a stopper. (You'll see a clothespin used in some of the process photos - it didn't work as well as the loom band trick.)
2. Take your long string and forward knot it around the hoop.
3. Now backward knot it.
4. Keep alternating between forward and backward knots. You'll see your braid beginning to form, while you also wrap your hoop. Try to keep the lacing as flat as you can for a neat, polished result.
5. When you reach the back clasp, glue your last knot that you did. Pull it as tight as you can before trimming. Glue your starting knot as well.
I made a pair of these for me, then a pair for my sister. They were so easy, and they look great!! Love this idea!!
I’m happy to hear! You’re a good sister 🙂